Taking Stock

So...I'm a big believer in self-reflection. 

Or perhaps, more accurately, life reflection.

For example, writing this blog every day is an unintended way for me to appreciate the little things and stay in the here and now. 

But every so often, it's fun for me to reflect on a larger scale to keep this lovely thing called life in perspective.

Like last year, when I spent one evening tediously calculatung--Leap Years and all--the official date when the hubby and I had lived more of our lives together than apart. It was September 5th, 2016, in case you were curious ;)

Or more recently, when I realized I'm smack dab in the middle of my preschool years with the kiddos. Because Chica is four years and soon-to-be seven months old, and Little Man will start kindergarten in four years and soon-to-be seven months from now.

Crazy, yes???

And TERRIFYING. And amazing. And hormonal weeping-inducing.

It's just nuts to think that I'm halfway through the more than nine years of devoted, intensive preschool time. And, theoretically, as Chica starts school and two years later, Chicklet starts school, things should lighten a bit, yes?

But.

BUT.

There ain't no lightenin' going on in my present life. In fact, the hubby and I have discussed it, and (contrary to my previously erroneous claim about making it through the worst of it when Little Man started sleeping through the night), I think we're currently in the most demanding phase we have been in or will be in (in terms of hands-on needs, because, yes, I know teenage life will be "fun" in a different way).

Our kiddos are LOADS of crazy, loads of love, loads of fun, and loads of work.

So to close out this midway point reflection, I'd like to give some thanks to my children for the trio of anti-aging products I purchased last week. 

Winner: one container of anti-wrinkle night cream

Thanks: go to my son, for toppling over Daddy's shoe cabinet onto himself and touching one of the exterior landscape lights, thereby singeing his left hand, both within a 24-hour period. Without his harrowing, constant exploration, I might not be in need of the fine line and wrinkle-combating cream that is now apparently burning a layer of my skin off and forcing it to (hopefully) rejuvenate looking younger.

Next...

Winner: one tube of wrinkle repair eye cream

Thanks: go to my Chicklet, for learning a new "trick" of dangling from the handlebar of the playroom trampoline by her nightgown (pictures are really necessarily to accurately describe), thereby wrapping herself so tightly in her nightgown that it had to be cut off of her to avoid strangulation. Without her physical fearlessness, I might not have needed the eye cream that is now pretending to soften my growing crow's feet.

And lastly...

Winner: one container of triple moisturizing, anti-aging lotion

Thanks: go to my eldest, whose legs are a mile and a half long and whose wit and intellect are growing by leaps and bounds, leaving me in daily fear of the day (mere weeks from now) that she will turn eighteen, become a legal adult, and leave me forever.

I love love love my kiddos.

(And I really hope my skin stops burning soon.)

P.S. Little Man was (miraculously) not hurt from the toppling shoe cabinet and is now wary of it. And his hand is red but not second-degree burnt. And the cut nightgown and Mama's lectures put the fear in Chicklet strongly enough that she has never since attempting her nightgown maneuver. And Chica, well, I can't do anything about her aging. Despite trying.

I will continue to do my very very best to keep them from the ER. (Myself, however, I make no promises).