Things we'll do for our kids...

This was the blurb on someone's slice yesterday, and it got me thinking. When my husband and I were dating, we would tell each other our stories. One of his was how when he was growing up in England, his mother would draw a bath for him every morning and then go wake him up so he could get right into a nice, warm bath. And mind you, this was not as a small child, this was as a teenager! I would always tell him that his mother was waaaaay too nice! Of course, this was also colored by the fact that my mother had decided when I was in 4th grade that I could make lunches for my younger sister and me--can you say lots of bologna sandwiches? So, clearly, I did not have a frame of reference for this kind of behavior (although my mom did all kinds of other cool things, don't get me wrong!).


But then it got me thinking about all of the things that I do for my kids that I totally wouldn't do for anyone else. For example, my two oldest children like to take apples in their lunch, and my son hates the peel. So, I always cut the peel off for him before packing his apples (which my husband would never do, as he rationalizes that he can just eat around the peel on the slices). Or constantly sharing whatever I'm eating or drinking with them, when seriously, when my husband asks me to share something I am usually less amenable. Way less amenable. To the point where he has actually mentioned it before! Or starting bedtimes an hour before lights need to be out so I can spend time reading individually to each one (no wonder I am so tired by the time I finish bedtime!). Or singing each one of them their own special goodnight song. It's amazing how things that you think would be kind of a pain to do for someone else seem totally natural to do for your own kids. How can I resist though, when the thank-yous are such awesome hugs and "I love yous" and "You're the best mommy in the whole wide world." Sigh. Clearly, the incentive outweighs anything else!