Today we have Kim of Baby Feet, who graced this here blog last year. If you don’t know Kim, you really should – her writing is a constant reminder that sometimes things might be perfect, but, more often than not, they’re far away from perfection. Alas, lack of perfection doesn’t matter – as long as you’re looking to do the best for yourself & your loved ones . . . and, just maybe, are willing to cry or laugh through the adventure.
Thank you, Kim, for sharing a bit of yourself here 🙂
I can’t remember when I started reading John’s blog – but I do know it was back when it was named something like, “John’s Get Healthy Plan.” I fell in love with him and his family – for obvious reasons (uhm, they’re awesome. You all know this, right?). And his commitment to running encouraged me to run my first 5k. I’m not going to lie, when he asked me if I’d guest post I got all teary eyed because I think so much of him and his blog. So, John, thank you very much for letting me inhabit your amazing corner of the web for a few moments – you rock.
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I spent July 5 at the beach, watching my kids play in the waves and build lopsided sand castles.
I watched them run screaming into the ocean as fast as their tanned, strong, perfectly muscled legs could take them.
I watched my children play together as a unit. Watching out for and encouraging each other. I watched it all with a huge smile on my face.
I watched Sarah excel at body surfing, watched this totally anger Violet and then spur her to try harder. I watched John go from playing in the wet sand to throwing himself in the waves in his own personal attempt at body surfing.
And I was so proud. They were perfect, these children of mine. All strong limbs and wide toothy grins, tan lines and salty hair.
Then John refused to drink any water in the 98* heat. And had a nice little tantrum in front of the entire beach.
And Violet refused to wear goggles so she kept yelling about the salt water in her eyes.
And Sarah grunted and whined when it was time to go.
So yes, my children are perfect. Perfectly mine.
John, Thank you SO much for having having me over here! I love it here!
I’m all blushy. Thanks for all the love, Kim!
Kim – thank you, so much, for kicking off the guest posts — I love having your words over here 🙂
Ha! We’re packing up to head to the beach all day tomorrow. This will be us, I’m sure. I love that just in the “perfect” moment, it all kind of falls into a mess of hilarity that makes me want to cry and giggle and just hug them at the same time.
The urge to cry, giggle, and hug, all at the same time, might succinctly sum-up my emotions as a parent.
This is exactly what parenting is.
True, that.
Yup. This sounds about right. I love the snot out of my kids…but…yup, they are perfectly mine 🙂
It really is a shame that, in the hills of Michigan, there are two boys who have no snot, because their mother loved it right out of them :-p
You just described every single day of my fifteen years of parenting.
“It was the best of times…it was the worst of times…”
I keep thinking that, sometime in the next 10-15 years, I might have a “I’m doing everything right day,” but, alas, I know that’s not in the cards.
But, that might be for the best — I mean, if I know I can do some of this “parent stuff” better than I’m currently doing it, well, I’ll strive to be better, all the time.
Or reach for another glass of wine. But I’ll be proactive!
You guys are both so full of the awesome. xo
That Kim sure is, isn’t she?