What a Mother Can't Do

I can snuggle with my kids
in their beds to wake them up at 6am.

I can laugh at their knock-knock jokes
until I want to scream

I can tell them I love them each and every
day and hug them til they beg for me to let go

I can tell them "because I said so, that's why"

I can force them to go to Sunday School and church

I can force them to try green vegetables and other "icky" foods

I can bribe them with rewards when I'm so tired I want to scream

I can't cry when I see them cry
I can't let them cook at the stove for fear of being burned by open flames
I can't let them sleep in our bed every night or I would never sleep or spend alone time with Kam -EVER
I can't laugh when they knock each other down
I can't leave them at Target ( even though I make the threat sometimes)
I can't love them anymore than I already do

Because those two kids have me wrapped around their little fingers - heart, body and soul. I've never done anything so amazing before or since as help create those two perfectly imperfect beings I call Noah and Emily. And I thank God for them each and every day.