Peter, Robert, and Patrick

It is a lazy afternoon in Whittier, California and I am across the street on Tedemory Drive visiting with my neighbor, Mrs. Jenner.  She has successfully raised her two sons to responsible adulthood.  I stand with my right hip jutting out in a heralding of chiropractic visits yet to come- balancing chubby Peter.  Patrick is clenched on to my right thigh and out of my peripheral vision I focus on Robert scaling a nearby tree.

“Oh Honey!  Treasure this time!  These are the best years of your life!”  my dear neighbor advises.  I’m sure I looked at her as though she had four eyes.  I was a tired, overworked young mom with half read books and have baked friendships.  I couldn’t seem to focus on anything in those days besides watching little boys for hours and hours on end.  I was thinking more along the lines of “These are the days that try men’s souls!”

But I must admit that on this particular afternoon my heart took a picture.  Three little boys playing in their Mervyn’s finest- challenging the neighbor children across the street to a water fight.  On this day I wanted nothing more than this moment being this mom to these three little munchkins.  Life was good and there was no where else I wanted to be than on the other side of this camera.