Tiny Flecks of Color

they aren't going to fight, or complain, or whine, or be anything other than the perfect little angels they will be.

Bwahahaha! Wake up Annie.


Ok ok ok... I know that that isn't entirely true. And while it seems like EVERYONE and their aunt (ha ha literally I have 3 aunts who have or will have babies in the past 9 months) are having children, I know that those sweet little bundles of joy grow to be the attitude laden-"I'm bored" whining-antagonistic adolescents that I deal with on a fairly regular basis.

Don't get me wrong. I love my job. I love the kids. I just also love the fact that I send them back to their parents after I play games with them and give into their demands for cherry soda and sugary snacks. Hey. If the parents don't like it... I suggest coming and helping me out. I'm weak.


They give me puppy dog eyes.

They also on a fairly consistent basis allow the two most obnoxious sounds to exit their lips. Nasally, whiny "waaa whaaaah"s paired with any infuriating phrase (such as "I'm bored" "I'm hungry" "I'm thirsty" "I wanna..." etc. you get my point)

*sigh*
it kills me

it also instigates many conversations between my husband-a-roo and I on how we are going to parent (or remove the vocal chords of) our *someday* children.

Sigh... Someday...
This is my man (visit his blog here) holding his newest cousin, Kurtis. I think my heart just exploded. And my uterus died. Oh sweet Jesus... He's going to be incredible.

So, Annie, get to the point. You have simultaneously complained and swooned over the idea of having kids.

THE POINT! The point in this post (long over due as it may be) on this beautiful day on this not so important blog. Is this quote, “In fifty years it will not matter how much money I make, the size of the house I live in or all the material things I may have, but if I have made a difference in the life of a child.”

One sweet sweet sweet little girl, "R", who actually rarely ever says "I'm bored" or the like... has apparently in the past and actually recently blatantly requested that Chris and I become her parents. She'd like to keep the same grandma, but apparently we would make a great mommy and daddy.
Now of course we are fun and cool and play all the games and all that jazz but I think there is just something about many of these kids that is lacking. In the case of "R" its the love and attention that just isn't there at home. Its the recognition of basic needs like meal times, or hugs, or just a conversation in the car ride home.

In some I see the wanting for some sort of structure. Bed times, family meals, even chores lack definition and the direction I am willing to give - the rules I require to be followed - is what these kids are hungry for. Or just some sort of adult interaction. Kind words, playing together, the direct attention uninterrupted by cellphones, texts, t.v., or other shenanigans their parents cant pull themselves away from for the sake of the sweet little life they created.

Yes, I complain about their complaining, but when you look into these kids eyes and you spend the time to get to know them... you realize that the greatest thing you can do it just love them. Love them enough to give them rules to follow. Love them enough to listen to them no matter how long one story takes to come out. Love them enough to read the books they read, listen to the music they listen to (yes, I know Justin Beiber songs), and know the important things in their lives. And I'm not doing this to try to replace their true Mom and Dad. I'm not interested in being a parent. And many of these kids have amazing parents... but for a few, I give them maybe 2 hours a week where they aren't yelled at... they aren't called names... they aren't ignored or made to feel like a burden.

I am not tooting my own horn. I am by no means going to be the "perfect" parent - and I am not at all the perfect person. But today, one hug from a pair of skinny, bony, 8 year old arms... one smile and a murmured "thanks" from a shy jr. high girl... one text to share good news about an exciting new opportunity from a "coming into his own" high school boy tells me that I am doing my job right.

And in the end I would put up with a million whines just to have the opportunity to love these kids. They deserve it.