The Best Thing I Get To Do.

In this oh-so-amazing book I am reading, this motherly character says to the child she loves,

"Being with you is the best thing I've ever gotten to do."

And the words struck me. I need to say that to my sweet boys everyday. My boys. They need to hear those words, every single day. And I felt compelled to start right away. It happened to be 2:51 AM when I found this quote (I am nocturnal in many ways, although they are fewer as I get older), so I decided to let them sleep through the night before I began professing my joy over their companionship.

But I started this morning.

I served them their Cheerios, and then I sat with them at the table, and I said, "You know what? Do you know that I like you? I just really like you. Being with you is the best thing I've ever gotten to do."

And Tyler, as if he knew precisely what I meant, gave me this very inquistive look and this up-turned question, "Oh?"

"Yep. For sure. The best thing I've ever gotten to do."

And then Tucker said, "No. No, Mommy. Please. No."

My message was well received. Clearly.

I do not know what prompts these negatives sometimes, but they settle in. And then they started arguing over their fruit bars and whose milk was whose and whose Mommy am I really... and it spiraled. I tried to rally the troops and tell them yet again how much I enjoy them, that being with them is the best thing I get to do... but you know, we were in a different place, the three of us.

But I told them. And I'll tell them again tomorrow. I plan to keep telling them, until they roll their eyes over the mundane expectancy of it. I will tell them. And someday, they will hear it.

And in case they ever really wonder and they possibly ask you, please tell them.

Because I just told you, too.