Ages and stages

Today brings a range of parenting emotions to the fore as my oldest, Ben celebrates his 20th birthday.

It seems like it was only a short while ago that he was a chubby baby, bouncing in his seat, taking in the world around him.  Just like Isobel is now…

And I remember him having the same reaction as Oliver at the prospect of potty training…

And how – like Oliver – he soon accepted that no, he couldn’t be wearing nappies forever and ever.  This acceptance came at us having to agree to any bribery we could.  Unfortunately for Cait, that was the request from Oliver that he could ‘splash my poo and wee in Cait’s face if I do it in the potty?’.

Gross, I agree – but it got him to sit on the pot without screaming.

I think we’ll have to work on another reward though – given that since being warned Caitlin has locked herself away in her bedroom.  Well, you can’t really blame her, can you?

There is a lot of love in the house though – despite the impression Oliver’s request might portray.  Look in the background to the picture above and you can see Eddie trying to fix Libby’s hair.

Or how about this picture taken a week or so ago, when Anna climbed up into Eddie’s lap for a cuddle, and he cuddled her to sleep?

Joseph loves to give everyone big, squeezy hugs… sometimes a little too squeezy!  But don’t you love this photograph of him with Libby?

Libby and Anna adore each other…

I mean, they really adore each other…

Between the very oldest and the youngest, we deal with a variety of parenting issues every day.

Some issues are small.

Some are bigger.

Sometimes we argue.

Sometimes we argue loudly! 

But no matter what is happening in our lives there is one thing that remains consistent.

Love.

We love each other always.

No matter what.

So whilst I may have holes in my socks, clothes I’ve owned for years and half a kitchen because I can’t quite afford to replace it – I have more riches and have been blessed more than I could ever have imagined, and I don’t take it for granted at all.

And that is why I couldn’t say anything to my children any better than Robert Munsch when he wrote:

“I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always,

As long as I’m living, My baby you’ll be.”