#1

My husband took the boys to Lake Arrowhead for two nights, and I have enjoyed Keira's company, as well as the relative quiet. But, I have missed the boys, and I am looking forward to seeing them tomorrow. Now, I have to admit that I have a small worry nagging at the back of my brain: that Ryan and Luke will have had so much fun with Daddy that I will be replaced as Number One in the Parenting Top Two.

OK, so maybe that is entirely selfish, but I can't help it. I have stayed at home and raised my kids since Ryan was born almost seven years ago. I am the one who got up at night with them when they were babies. When they are sad, hurt, afraid, or sick, it is me they turn to first for comfort. I relish that fact. Ryan, as the oldest, needs me less than he used to, which is a little hard to accept. Luke is still my little cuddle-bug, who will crawl up on my lap "just because". (In fact, talking to him on the phone tonight, I could hear that he misses me.) Keira always wants Mommy, and hates to share me with the boys, so I think I'm safe as her #1 for quite some time yet.

I truly am glad the boys are having fun, and that Don is doing a good job with them. I do have to add, however, that he has NEVER had all three kids by himself for more than 5 or 6 hours, and even then, he usually called in the reinforcements (a.k.a. his parents). I won't even go into the flip side of that; the fact that I don't get "me time" for longer than that, and those occassions are few and far between. I would be digressing, and I will save that topic for another day.

For now, I guess, I'll just wear my blue ribbon proudly for as long as I can.