Grateful

Ah yes, I am grateful too, since this is the time of year to fill it to the fullest. Never think that I don't count every day with my family as damn lucky, even when I complain and get all mean and naggy. Ewww, I do the scary daughter, sister, mom, and wife thing too well!

This is my boys' third Christmas and we have been together for every one of them. Sweeeet. We also just celebrated the third year anniversary of our family (Thanksgiving Day). Well, I use the term 'celebrate' loosely. Right now it's more limited to, well boys, it was three years ago today that we first met you . . . lame. Got to find more meaningful traditions . . .

Some things, conversations with 4 year olds or their parents at my boys' preschool have rubbed it in lately (see below). My boys attend Head Start where they mingle with a good diversity of people. Some kids are disabled, poor, or a little broken, although from what I see, most--all--are adorable lovely little people with a great appetite for love and learning. I like the super quiet ones when you think they are scared little mouses or unable to talk; I'll look at them and say a few things and suddenly out comes this little voice telling you about their lives: my mom's a nurse or my twin sister sleeps with me. Whoa, such little people with great big voices. (Two of my three have the littlest voices of all . . . a little girl the other day asked her mom why they wouldn't talk to her . . . I told her they don't talk much, but they are really nice!) Then there are the ones, always super excited, barely touching their feet to the ground (my boys!).



Conversations at Preschool:

Boy: Does Tsega have a mom?
Me: I'm Tsega's mom!
Boy: You're Tsega's mom???!!!!!
Me: Yes! Do you have a mom?
Boy: (Sad, head down.) She lives really far away. But I have a dad.
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Me: Are you a parent or do you work here?
Woman: (Confused look) Well, I am her biological mom. [I am wondering huh, weird, why the emphasis on 'biological'?] But she's in foster care. I was so happy I was able to come today.

Note: Both foster parents came that day too and little girl called both women 'mommy' and both women adored her as did 'daddy'.
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Girl: Mommy! Tsega has a daddy too!!!

Note: Single parent households dominate our preschool community so dads are sort of worshipped here. Not that I don't know some super single moms out there! ;)
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I love most of all those cozy moments when you feel it overwhelmingly. Last night was like that. So, yeah, gratful.