Recently a few things have happened or been said to me that have got me pondering. My Mother-in-law pointed out to me how good my kids are after watching other kids pull out every toy and being talking tornadoes in her house.  They don't do that [often] and if they do they will clean it up.  And today as I was vacuuming, I asked Mikey to pick up his room so I could vacuum in there, and without me asking, he cleaned up his sisters room  without me saying anything so that I could clean her room too.  Now, there's probably some ulterior motive there involving the Wii but for the moment I'll sit back and be grateful, impressed slightly amused.

It dawned on me that since Mikey has been alive, we've been through 3 deployments, and countless months of Jeremy being gone at school or business.  And we've had it easy compared to some families.  Jeremy's been home 1 year right now, and has only gone away about an additional 4 weeks.  Not too shabby!

Mikey has always been a good kid, and very laid back unlike his sister who is the sweetest firecracker you'll ever meet who keeps me on my toes for sure.  They're in no way Saints, and I'm in no way the perfect Mom.  But I have always been strict about them cleaning up after themselves - if they don't the toy disappears for a while.  And I've always made sure that we help each other out. And for the most part they do clean up when I ask.  Sometimes I get whining and eye rolls, but they mostly do it without a lot of pushing from me.

But anyway, I have heard so many spouses whine about their kids and how its so hard to keep a clean house because their kids make a mess, their husband isn't home to help, ...yadda yadda yadda....I've been there when I'm at my wits end and I'm simply too tired to clean.  But the next day I'll be better and I clean up quickly. I have to ask for help sometimes and that's OK. But instead of complaining, the kids and I have always been a team, and I've always been forced to be strict on some issues like picking up their room. 

I see it as a blessing. I'm not a single Mom, I don't have family near by, but yet these continual separations and deployments have molded myself and my children into better people. I've learned to be strong, capable and to realize it's OK to sit back sometimes and not be perfect.  And that it's better to cry in the shower - it keeps your nasal passages from blocking up.  And I'm so proud of my kids for being as wonderful as they are.