Having three boys at home is not easy. I have an eight-year-old a 5 1/2 year-old and a one half year old. They are pretty amazing boys but they're challenging nonetheless. And each one has their own personality as well. This presents its own challenges. Although I will be talking about some of the challenges in upcoming posts this post I want to talk about the joy of being a parent.

Life is never boring when you have kids. There is always something to do, always something to clean, always something to read, something to throw and always something to catch.

Having kids means there's always an exciting greeting when you walk in the door. There's always someone to hug you when you need a hug and always someone to hug when you feel like hugging someone. There is always someone there to smile at you even when your day is not going that well. It's a good thing they don't understand the stresses of the world.

The best thing is when you're putting them to sleep last thing that comes out of their mouth is I love you daddy.

I heard this story of  BEING A MOTHER... And I thought it was important to share with our readers. Life goes by so quickly and we need to show how much we care for our mothers and understand how challenging and rewarding it can be.


........After 17 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take
another woman out to dinner and a movie. She said, 'I love you,
but I know this other woman loves you and would love to spend some time with you.

The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my MOTHER, who has been alone for 20 years,but the demands of my work and my two boys had made it possible to visit her only occasionally.That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie. 'What's wrong, aren't you well, she asked?


My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news. 'I thought it would be pleasant to spend some time with you,' I responded... 'Just the two of us. She thought about it for a moment, and then said, I would like that very much.


That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at herhouse, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last birthday on November 19th. She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel's. 'I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed,' she said, as she got into that new white van. 'They can'twait to hear about our date'.

We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady. After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only read large print. Half way through the entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips. 'It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small,' she said. 'Then it's time that you relax and let me return them favor,' I responded.


During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation- -nothing extraordinary but catching upon recent events of each other's life. We talked so much that we missed the movie.As we arrived at her house later, she said, I'll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you.' I agreed.


'How was your dinner date ?' asked my wife when I got home.  'Very nice. Much moreso than I could have imagined,'I  answered. A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn't have a chance to do anything for her... Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place mother and I had dined. An attached note said:
'I paid this bill in advance. I wasn't sure that I could be there; but nevertheless, I paid for two plates - one for you and the other for your wife.

You will never know what that night meant for me. I love you, son.'
At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time: 'I LOVE YOU and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than your family. Give them the  time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till 'some other time.'


Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to normal after
you've had a baby.....somebody doesn't know that once you're a mother, 'normal' is  history.


Somebody said you learn how to be a mother by instinct ...
somebody never took a three-year-old shopping.


Somebody said being a mother is boring ....somebody never rode in a car driven by a teenager with a driver's permit.


Somebody said if you're a'good' mother, your child will 'turn out good'.... somebody thinks a child comes with directions and a guarantee.


Somebody said you don't need an education to be a mother....
somebody never helped a fourth grader with his math.


Somebody said you can't love the second child as much as you love the first ....somebody doesn't have two children.


Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labor and delivery.... 
somebody never watched her 'baby' get on the bus for the first day of  kindergarten ...or on a plane headed for military 'boot camp.'


Somebody said a mother can stop worrying after her child gets married....
somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a mother's heartstrings.


Somebody said a mother's job is done when her last child leaves home....
somebody never had grandchildren.


Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell her...
somebody isn't a mother.

What is it with video games? They are the bane of existence for so many kids.  Who am I to say differently because I was one of those kids.  I remember looking forward to coming home from middle school just to play Duck Tales and Zelda on my Nintendo.  My situation was the best though. I am a twin so my brother and I always had a competitor and teammate, depending on which games we were playing.
I have a video game system now and I actually can't remember when I didn't have one of the popular systems.  I had Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Nintendo 64, Sega Dream Cast, and now the Wii (this is my favorite).
Now that I am working through my memories and thoughts, It really does make sense why games are so addictive.  They are fun, you can be something that you are usually not (like a Marine or an Olympic Snowboarder) , and they help you forget about anything stressful (until the game stresses you out and you want to throw it through the window).
Kids love games and because of technology so many types of video games are available.  Ipod games, Nintendo DS, other portable systems, laptops/computer games, and all those crazy systems, gaming is and will always be the #1 love of kids.
Think about it.  What other things do kids have to look forward to.  School...uhhh. no.  Homework...uhhh....no, social events...uhhh. maybe.... but what else is there.  Relationships...uhhh. I really hope not.  Sports...sure but still not as popular as video games.
A prime example is my boy, Matt.  He's six and can rock the socks off of Mario Galaxy on the Wii and Lego Indiana Jones.  This is no doubt that this is what he enjoys the most especially when I play along side of him.  The problem is that, just like when I was a kid, it is addictive and we as the parents have to pull the plug when necessary.
Today we had a snow day. We were snowed in.  We read some books, played some board games, built some tents, but the entire day revolved around, "daddy, is it time to play the Wii."  Seriously, we had a great time doing other stuff but we know where the obsession lies. 
It's good that he enjoys it but my wife and I really have to monitor his playing and make sure he balances his time well with other activities and not only video games.  Enough was Enough today when there were certain boards he couldn't beat and he continuously came up to me to ask me to help beat the board, every 15 minutes for an hour.   I would help him and then he would come get me. When I said I couldn't anymore, he said "but you never help me."  HA, really?????  That was the cue to unplug.
Anyway the point is to monitor and moderate the time our kids spend on video games.  I believe it has helped him mature and develop in areas he had been struggling with and the learning games are phenomenal.  They could help your kids too but we definitely do not want to deprive them of the other important aspects of life like spending quality time with the family.


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