Lot of good points there Jim.

After 30 foster kids and our own, just the other day I think I felt for the first time that Karen and I had finally made it as parents. I had taken two laundry baskeys of clean clothes up to the boys' room and something else came up and I came back downstairs to handle the latest crisis. I figured, "What the hell....I'll put them away when I go up to put them to bed."

Awhile later I was getting supper on the table and Tristan, our 8 year old MRDD son, came downstairs with two empty baskets and smile as big as you've ever seen. He proudly said, "I puh closway Daahee," which is Tristanese for 'I put the clothes away Daddy.' Karen and I both immediately smiled, thanked him, gave him big hugs, and told him how proud we were. You know what? We were!!! Sure the second thought was "Oh gawd, I can hardly wait to see this mess," it was truly the second thought. First in our minds was what a great step that was for him and how proud he was of helping. Yeah, there drawers are one hell of a mess........and I could care less. It gets washed again pretty soon anyway.

When you quit sweating the petty crap and the little details and your focus is on happy kids........you're a parent.

Spaw