What A Bargain!

As I reflect on Mother's Day, I can't help but think about how blessed I am to be called "Mama" by my three precious little boys. However, I must admit each day presents its own challenges as Jeff and I try to raise these guys and teach them important life lessons and values. I sometimes lose patience and wonder if I've really got what it takes to be "Mama." But then it never fails, I receive the encouragement I need that reassures me God knew exactly what He was doing when He gave me the gifts of Jonathan, Aaron, and Caleb. Like when Caleb told me all day on Mother's Day, "Happy Mother's Day! I love you!" Or when Aaron told me today "I like your clothes, Mama. You look so pretty!" (and I was just wearing some work-out clothes). And how I loved it today when Jonathan's face lit up as Jeff and I peeked into his classroom at school whenever we went to read with him for their Summer Reading Kickoff. And these are just a few recent tastes of their sweetness.

So I try not to focus on the difficult challenges we face raising the boys. Besides, the joys far outweigh those challenges. Here is a cute e-mail we received a few months ago that I think fits well with my thoughts on parenting. I hope you enjoy!

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition. But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:

* $8,896.66 a year, * $741.38 a month, or * $171.08 a week. * That's a mere $24.24 a day! * Just over a dollar an hour.

Still, you might think the best financial advice is don't have children if you want to be "rich." Actually, it is just the opposite. What do you get for your $160,140?

* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!

* Glimpses of God every day.

* Giggles under the covers every night.

* More love than your heart can hold.

* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.

* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.

* A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.

* A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites

* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140, you never have to grow up. You get to:

* finger-paint

* carve pumpkins

* play hide-and-seek

* catch lightning bugs and

* never stop believing in Santa Claus.

You have an excuse to:
* keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh

* watching Saturday morning cartoons

* going to Disney movies and

* wishing on stars

You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.

For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for:

* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof

* taking the training wheels off a bike

* removing a splinter

* filling a wading pool

* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs and

*coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.

You get a front row seat to history to witness the:

* first step

* first word

* first date, and

* first time behind the wheel.

You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match. In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits. So, one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost. That is quite a deal for the price !!!!!!!

Yep! What a bargain! I sure wouldn't trade being called "Mama" for the world!