The "glad I have kids" thread

I am utterly amazed whenever they share their perspective and it is so utterly different (not wrong, just different) than mine.

I had a great excuse to watch Shrek.

Just watching them, their mannerisms, obvious and subtle similarities to me or their mother.

I got to watch Mark M break the homerun record while my oldest was sitting with me and I was holding (he was a baby) my youngest.

The pride I feel when they do things as simple as holding the door for someone or helping their mother without being asked or saying please and thank you.  I am not sure if their mother knows how to open a door on her own.  The immense pride I feel when I see how my oldest son treats his girlfriend.

The joy I got from teaching them how to play and respect the game of golf.

The sadness I felt when I first realized I pushed too much and how it took my oldest son to teach me this.

Did I mention that it gave me an excuse to buy an xbox and play Halo? 

I could go on all night but I have to pack because I am leaving to go see them tomorrow. 

Edited by melle 2010-08-11 10:58 PM

Ok, I'll add a few.

1. Watching them excel at something they enjoy

2. Remembering that joy can come from simple things

3. Seeing my baby's smile everyday when she wakes up


and x2 on the kid movie thing. I was secretely very excited to see Toy Story 3.

We owned most of the pixar and dreamworks movies that were available well before we had a kid.

There are too many things to list, the one that is most prominent at the moment needs some back story first.

To say that I loved skiing as a kid/teen is an understatement. I used to sleep in my ski boots a couple nights a week starting in August through late November. I burned Ptex and sacrificed old skis to Ullr. The best day of the summer was the day in August when the new issue of Powder Magazine came in the mail nevermind that school was about to start.

The love has continued into adulthood. As far as professions go, the happiest I've ever been was the two winters I taught skiing full time.

The greatest thing about having a kid is teaching my daughter to ski. I've been waiting to teach my children to ski for as long as I can remember. Long before I had them or was even married. Last winter I got my daughter out a few days and it was as awesome as I've dreamed. It highlighted many of the greatest things listed by other posters. For instance, getting to see something through new eyes. Rediscovering something that's become routine. Simple pleasures bring great joys. Last week we spent an hour snuggled on the couch flipping through last season's Powder Mag and talking about how excited we were for ski season this year. She wanted to go put on her ski helmet and goggles right then.

This season is the season.






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Carrying the three kids to bed when the suddenly "fall asleep" in our bed. laying them down, and having them giggle and say "fooled you!!!". I get fooled quite often....

Waking up in the morning and seeing him smile at me, and then laugh as he tries to tickle me.

Watching the 5 year old boy explain things with all the seriousness in the world.

Watching his twin sister explain, after kicking her brother in the head during karate sparring, "well, I wanted to WIN".

Watching the twins sit quietly on either side of their 7 year old brother, watching him as he plays on his DSi, read them a book, or explain the sequence of a Pokemon battle.

Seeing the daughter go and hug her mother to make her back ache go away, bring her twin brother his stuffed animals when he isn't feeling well, and trying to cover for her older brother when he is caught misbehaving.

Trying to figure out how the 7 year old can remember where every country in the world belongs on a map, how he can explain comets and stars, how he can read all the harry potter books within a few days,  how he can explain, and diagram, how satelites and GPS works. I know he didn't get the brains from me. Must be the wife.

Watching the 7 year old and the 5 year old girl holding their medal's from their first tiny-tri. next year, the older one does kid's of steel. And I get to practice with him. Eagerly waiting till all three can train with me, match me, and yes, one day beat me.

Watching these three amazing kids, and remembering that they came from us, were so helpless at the beginning, and so surprising and wonderful now. Realizing that this adventure will go on for years, and thankful to be able to share, and hopefully guide, their journey.

Thank you for starting this thread.

Kids keep you young and remind you to have fun.  It's like you get to relive your youth only this time - because you are consciously doing it - it's way more fun.

They ask the important questions: "Why does that man live on the street?"  Helping you get your priorities aligned!

Personally - I love instilling confidence in my child so that she is able to try new things - things that as a child I may not have had the courage to do - and as a result - she empowers me to do the same.

PB&J for dinner isn't such a bad thing and dessert is a component of EVERY dinner.

Learning about the world again - "Do you know what the longest fish in the world is?"  "Did you know that the first people..."

Noticing the simple pleasures - lady bugs, ice cream, bubbles, rainbows, thunder & lightening - it's all good stuff!

Geez!  And of course the best one - having them snuggle up to you - their little arms around your neck.  Sloppy little kisses on the cheek.  Knowing that they feel safest when at your side.

+1  I second this.. 

Yeah, well, every once in a while I get tired of the political threads and want to talk about something good for a change.

Oh, here's another one for me:

Listening to my daughters spontaneously decide to play their guitars/banjos/ukeleles/harmonicas/piano and sing.  It's like having our own personal house band!

I home schooled my kids for several years....the joy of teaching your child to read then watching them enjoy reading is awesome.

Seeing your chid master something that was once difficut for them is amazing.
Getting to go to kids movies is fun, amusement parks even better!
Seeing your own strengths and weaknesses in another human being is humbling.

My kids are the best thing that ever happened to me:- they keep me honest with myself as they are perfect mirrors for thoughts, prejudices, etc- they gave me a context for determining where my life priorities are- they let me see things in a fresh, different way than the lens of my own experiences- they make me want to be a better personSorry for formatting no idea why using the iPad loses cr/lf

Edited by Out2BeALoser 2010-08-12 7:43 AM

Nerf Guns, and Legos.

My kids (like all of yours I am sure) are the most amazing thing I have ever done.  Even though they are only 4, 3, 3 and 6 months, I am so proud that I have had a hand in creating these wonderful little people.  The are loving, empathetic, kind, palyful, forgiving, and smart.  I love when one of my 3 year olds tells me I am his best friend.  Their kisses, hugs, and singing bring tears to my eyes.  They are so proud of my swim/bike/run, it doesn't matter to them if I DFL.  They make me want to be better than I am at everything.

without kids my wife would think I was weird for watching Phineous and Ferb on Disney Channel.

without my kids my wife would think I was weird for watching Phineous and Ferb on Disney Channel.

^^^
This, definitely...

And also as it says in someone's sig line here on BT, "the bogeyman checks under his bed for my kids" 
 

Infant smiles, toddler splash parks, little hugs, falling asleep on Daddy.

Yes, they make me question my sanity at times, but I can't imagine life without them anymore.

way too many positives to mention but I am so happy to have them!  They have made me a better person.

My child is a bit of a tomboy - never liked dolls or Barbies but plays with hubby's old GI Joe. 
One day while playing she says:?? "I wish I had a Barbie"
Me:  "Really? I thought you hated Barbies!? You had one and sold it at the yard sale."?
?Child: "Ya but I really think now that GI Joe needs someone to play with"?
?Me:  Giggling?
?

You learn something new everyday, whether about the world, your child, yourself, or someone/something else.