If Children were Puppies...

This morning my toddler and I were sitting on the couch watching a little morning television when she piped up, "Ewww, nasty," then she proceeded to wipe poo on the belly of my shirt. Yes, my sweet little girl stuck her finger in her diaper and wiped it on me! So, it started me thinking, if children were puppies, there are days I would seriously consider finding her a "better" home.

If children were puppies, we could try them out for a while and if they weren't a good fit, we could put them in a box in front of the grocery store with a FREE sign scribbled in Magic Marker on the front. When we weary of the extreme volume of self-expression, we could put them outside with a bowl of water and a chew toy. On a REALLY bad streak, they could be dropped off at the animal shelter, and hope someone comes along and thinks they're cute. No kill, of course!

Like many other (I hope) stay at home moms, I sometimes fantasize about what it would be like to have no, or maybe just one, kid. Life seems so much simpler with just one. Or, if none, I could have a nice office (or even lettuce picking) job. I could go to work every day and the house would be just as tidy as I left it, grocery shopping would be faster (and quieter), I'd have a hundred less loads of laundry every week, and the only butt I'd have to wipe would be my own!

But, oh the things I would have missed by not having children. What a privilege it is to watch my three girls grow into lovely young ladies. I know that I know that even the poo smearer is going to be a dynamic force to be reckoned with in her adult years. She has a world to conquer and I'm pretty sure she'll do it with style!