These are the Best Days of my Life.

As a mother of two young and LOUD boys I often get comments from older people we meet on the street that these are the best days of my life, to enjoy them because time passes so quickly.  And while I am often stressed and tired, I do enjoy them.  I take a momemt each day to be thankful for what we have together, this little family of mine is precious and I am grateful.  I do this because I think of the people I have known who raised families and loved their spouses and worked and lived.  People who spent a lot of time looking back and reminiscing about young family days.  The memories seem to omit the hard days, the up at night with sick kids days, the I'm going to rip out my hair days and what remains are the beautiful memories.  The love remains in their hearts and minds.  And while I do know in my heart that they are right I actually had a real live person confirm this "best days of your life" theory. 
While walking with the kids on our way to kindergarden we stopped to chat with our neighbours who were waiting at a school bus stop.  There were lots of kids and parents waiting for the bus and the stop is at a corner of our local park.  The boys wanted to play and since we were a little early I told them they could play until the bus came and then we would have to continue on to Owen's school.  After the bus left and the parents dispersed I called for the boys.  One of the adults who put a child on the bus was an elderly man.  Grandparents often seem to help out in the to-ing and fro-ing of our kids.  We started chatting and as I called for the boys repeatedly and became more frustrated he naturally said: "Just remember Mom, these are the best days of your life."
"Yup, best days, uh-huh! BOYS, COME HERE NOW!"
"No really." he says. "My three daughters are now 50, 52 and 53 and I miss those days, I wish I'd spent more time with them while they were young"
So here we go with the reminiscing and the forgetting of the sleepless nights and battles over shoes.
But guess what? This guy truly knows what he's talikng about because he also has a son...wait for it...who is 10!
"Well, you've been a naughty boy" I say.
"Nope, I worked damn hard at it!" he chuckles back.  Then he says "I retired 20 years ago, I've sailed off the Florida Keys, lived abroad and you know what?  Being here, with my son is the best part of my life and I get to spend all the time I want with him"
So there you have it, someone who can look back fondly and KNOW that they are right about raising kids being the best ever because he's doing it again. Crazy.
So remember people, these ARE the best days of your life.
J.