After 2 years of being a parent I have finally realized why I love having kids. Besides the obvious facts of experiencing a whole new level of unconditional love and witnessing the miracle of birth, it’s because I will enjoy the simple things in life all over again.
It hit me the other day at the store when the clerk handed my 2 year old son a sticker. Seeing how happy he was over a simple sticker was one of those “stop and smell the roses” moments for me. I think it’s also hitting me that he’s at the age now where his imagination is really starting to show and I get to be a kid all over again! He is also starting to say “I Did It!” and to witness the joy of your child learning and doing something for the first time is just one of the best things ever.
The other afternoon he spent hours playing with his cars and trucks, lining them all up, talking to them, moving them from the table to the couch, and it started bringing back my childhood memories of spending hours playing with my dolls, changing their outfits, styling their hair, and creating stories with them. The hours my siblings and I would play restaurant with our play kitchen and fake food, creating handmade menus, taking turns being the customer and then the server, it was so fun!
Now I understand why my mom said babies are cute, but the toddler years are the most fun. I’m excited to see where my kids’ imaginations take them and for the many laughs we’ll have together during playtime.