Why kids are great

The Reasons:

1.  They are usually cute.

2.  They often make me laugh.

Sammy colouring the inside of his nostril.

3.  They can be put to work.  (ie: loading and unloading the dishwasher, helping with laundry, clearing the table, sweeping... if they can reach it, I make them do it.  I'm all for child labour).

4.  They can be dressed up and paraded around for adults amusement.

5.  They make you appreciate sleep.  Oh, remember sleeping in?  Do you!? 


6.  They say funny things.  This week Charley responds to anything you say with a hearty "Are you kidding me?".


7.  They're cute when they are all clean.  Briefly clean.

Charley and Sam in their nightly 'otter brothers' ritual.

8.  They are super great when they're new and mooshy.

9.  They force you to learn organization, schedule and the art of zen.  They make you think about what's important right now.  They change the way you do things.  They make you learn patience in abundance.  They make everything different, sometimes in great, great ways.


10.  They make you happy to have them.

Thanks boys.

______________________

Yesterday, the body of Katie Hadley, Phil's neighbour, was identified in Haiti.  She was an engineer and 30 years old.  She checked into the Hotel Montana just an hour or so before the earthquake struck.  The facebook group that gathered to await information on her swelled to thousands and the words on the page speak to the kind of person she was.  I hope that her family finds the support from this outpouring of love and finds some amount of comfort in it.