The new normal

OUR first lost tooth.

I'm tired. So, so tired. I crave snuggles with my children that come effortlessly. Thank the Good Lord that people are still bringing us food because it takes every scrap of energy I have to give all the eye contact and positive reinforcement I can. Who knew eye contact and hugs were so exhausting? We are happy, don't get me wrong, just completely emotionally exhausted.

I was driving my Frodo alone to a 7AM orthodontist appt yesterday and I had a flash of mourning for the simplicity of it. He could talk away and I didn't have to stop him so that I could explain what a grain elevator was.

Charming came down this morning and climbed on my lap and just hung out for a while and I had a flash of nostalgia for a time, not so long ago, when all my kids unabashedly loved me.

We recently had pizza and four of my five kids cheered and the fifth one made rude ooooo-yuck noises and I wished for a time when pizza and burgers pleased everyone in the house.

But after a hard day of miscommunication and power struggles, Iris still wants me to snuggle her to sleep, and that is beautiful, too.