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| Nick in Florida last summer |
Although some people disapprove, our boys have often ended up in our beds at one point or another. Both Kieran and Nicholas slept in our beds as infants, as I nursed them through the night. All of the boys have gone through stages when they have ended up in our bed in the morning for a snuggle. (Nick is going through a nightmare stage, so he comes barreling down the stairs in the middle of the night and slips into a sleeping bag on our bedroom floor.) This morning, as Nick climbed into bed with me (while Mike was getting Kieran ready for school), I realized how fleeting this experience would be. He has a year and a half left of part-time preschool, and then he’ll be off to kindergarten every day, bright and early in the morning. For the last 14 years, I have had a boy to snuggle with, nonstop.
I realize we are extremely lucky because our boys all continue to be affectionate. Chris and Kieran often come up and give me hugs or tell me they love me. They seem genuinely glad to see me when I come home. Kids get more angular when they get older and lose their baby softness. As they grow up and become more independent, they seem less likely to reach out for affection…even the affectionate ones.
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| Me and Kieran at the “Rain” performance, January 2010 |
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| Family dinner at Marco’s |
I hope I never take my children’s affection for granted. I also don’t push it…when I drop Chris off at stage band rehearsal at school two mornings a week, I do not expect a goodbye hug or kiss! Just not cool at school, you know? I can handle that.
Nick tells me that he doesn’t like kisses because he doesn’t like getting wet. So I kiss him on the top of his head. If my kids ever get tired of sloppy affection, I can always inflict it on my three sweet little nephews, who are just as affectionate as my kids!
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| Kieran and Garrett, Vancouver, BC (August 2010) |
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| Kieran, Daniel, Nick, and Ryan (Vancouver, BC, August 2010) |
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| Mother’s Day 2010 |
Every Day Is a Miracle 