Being grateful.

Yesterday, my (oldest) son looked out the window and griped about the weather. Now granted, it IS April, and he should be able to go out and play by now, but anyways, I said to him “you know, you ought to be lucky we’re not in Virginia. Look at all those people who aren’t going home to their parents, kids, husbands and wives tonight”. His facial expression changed immediately and he asked me not to talk about it anymore.

I do not shield my son from the horrors of the world. Well, I don’t let him WATCH them unfold, but I do tell him what’s going on. I keep him (generally) informed, because he needs to understand and appreciate what he has. Whenever he complains about his sister, I remind him of her age and of the fact that we’re very lucky that we HAVE a healthy 3 yr old baby girl who can drive him crazy, instead of one born unable to see, or talk, or walk. I want him to be grateful for what he has, because that’s ALL he has. Of course it’s not always easy to remember these things. Even for me – my daughter has been driving me NUTS lately, with her apparent jealousy over the baby. But I DO take a step back and remind myself just how incredibly LUCKY I have been in the draw of life – if 1 in 133 babies are born with autism, and my 3 haven’t, that’s a pretty good draw.

Hell, I’m just grateful that I am not one of these parents that apparently has no moral compass and can possibly do this to their child, or let it be done. I HAVE a heart, and it’s full of my children. Their health, their welfare and even their little butts.

It is with this in mind that I take up this challenge posted here. I may not get to it every day, but whenever I do post, I’ll include something that I’m grateful for.

Today, I’m grateful to have all of my children in one place, safe and sound. That’s the biggest and best to me.