People who don't "have to" love your kids...

As Emerson, Sutton and Eastyn’s mama, I’m clearly biased. Their firsts, milestones and everyday accomplishments amaze me and make my heart swell with pride. Let’s be honest, I sort of have to love them. I can’t turn it off, it’s in the DNA :-). You know what amazes me and makes my heart swell a little bit more—the fact that there are people in their lives (who are not related to us) who are just as amazed and proud of the girls’ firsts, milestones, and everyday accomplishments as we are.

This summer I’ve found myself thinking a lot about the people who don’t “have to” love our kids. La La, who cared for Sutton until she was 18 months old, and her husband Michael moved from Lincoln to be nearer their family—our loss is definitely Iowa’s gain. Krys, who has been our go-to sitter for the last five years. Anne, Eastyn’s daycare provider, who elicits smiles and happy squeals from Baby E every morning when we drop her off. Emme’s teachers, Cari and Alyse, at Little Kingdom, whose thoughtful messages sending Emme off to Kindergarten brought tears to my eyes. Sutty’s Bumblebee teachers who told me the other day how much they are going to miss “their princess” when she moves to the Frogs. The list goes on.

When I returned to work after having Emme and was struggling with not being with her all day, every day and the whole daycare thing, a co-worker with a lot of life and wisdom under his belt said very plainly, “just always remember that you are expanding the circle of people who love your children and who they love in return.” Although it made me feel better, I probably didn’t really get it then. Today, I assure you that I get it.

I am humbled and so grateful to those people, who don’t “have to,” but have made the choice to love my children! My kiddos (and their parents) are better for having them in their lives.