MORE

Snapshot: the puddle is trying to eat a bottle through the chain link fence. She looks like a baby goat trying to suckle and it’s just strange.

Tres has been eating a chocolate granola bar and her face is covered with brown smudge.

Dos just fell off the bed and is howling her knee hurts. (I checked… she’s not injured.)

Uno doesn’t want to take a nap. She doesn’t understand in our household naps are mandatory because without them mama’s grasp on sanity will make a snapping noise and fire will start coming out of her mouth.

It’s a normal day in our house, one filled with laughter and grief, alternating with mind-boggling swiftness.

I talk to people who wonder if they should ever have kids, who look at the women wearing mom jeans with frazzled hair, the dads who check out and watch football, ignoring the childish activity around them. And I understand why they wouldn’t want kids.

No argument, our lives are more complicated because we have the girls. We have much less disposable income, we ride an emotional roller-coaster, we think parenting is the hardest job we’ve ever had.

But, without the girls… oh, my. Each day I would miss an opportunity to laugh. I would miss the awesome wonder of seeing a tiny hand nestled in my own and recognizing its perfection.

Without the girls I would sleep through the night… but I wouldn’t feel the contentment of holding the squishy, beautiful lump of a sleeping child in my arms.

I would need far less Band-Aids… but I wouldn’t have the joy of seeing my child dare to try something new that stretched them beyond their limits.

If I didn’t have little ones piping, “Mama!” non-stop, my head would be clear to think about my hopes, my dreams, my ambitions… but I wouldn’t be in a position to help my kids realize the world is theirs to explore, and is a place that desperately needs their input to become a better.

There are a lot of valid reasons people shouldn’t have kids. I am never, ever going to stand on a soapbox and announce every family should have kids, no matter what. We all know enough heartache in the world exists and wish some people had never been given the opportunity to destroy a child’s life.

But… I’m desperately glad for my girls. They make my life more difficult – but richer!, more emotional – but passionate!, they make my life…

…MORE.

And I am grateful for it.