I have often heard people talk about regrets they have about the years they spent as parents. They will say that they wish they had done things differently and that they wish they had taken time to enjoy their children as children. I can't be certain that I won't utter those same regrets in twenty years, but I do feel like I take the time to enjoy my son, and know I will do the same when his sister decides to finally arrive. Children are incredible beings, spreading joy anywhere we let them. My house is full of joy.

My husband and I have fairly high expectations of our children, at least by modern standards. It is important that our children be polite and respectful and responsible, and there are repercussions when those expectations are not met. But we also have an expectation that they be children. The toy room, living room, and kitchen are the most used rooms in the house. Togetherness is very important, so the toy room is used more to store the toys than as a place to play. Normally our little son takes multiple trips to bring the toys to the living room where my husband and I are reading on the couch so that he can share his imagined story with the rest of the family.

As he plays near us, we watch and revel in how amazing this small person truly is. There is so much joy in a small child, so much creativity and wonder. The world hasn't disappointed young children, so they see everything as amazing and fun. Having children in our lives is an essential part of being human, as they are able to spread that joy and amazement to all the people around them. Since the beginning of time multiple generations have been together for that very reason. Youth is contagious, and adults love to have that energy around them.

Every small child is a unique personality that must be both nurtured and appreciated in his or her own way. I know that I am in for a surprise when my daughter is born, that she will be entirely different from her older brother. He is a child that loves to please, loves to be the center of attention, and loves to entertain. One of the ways we most frequently are able to enjoy him is language. As his vocabulary grows, he comes up with the most incredible phrases. These often bring us to tears of laughter because of the way poignancy and sentence structure collide to make serious things humorous. Just last week a teenage girl was teasing him at his aunt's basketball game, threatening to take away the lollipop he got especially to share with his grandfather. He patiently waited for her to be done, and when she continued he looked at her with sad eyes and asked very politely: "Can you leave, please?" The pride I felt being the mother of such a polite and sweet two-year-old is inexplicable.

I think that enjoying your children as children is something that can be easily ignored, and often is. But I think that it is vital to the happiness of a family for the children to know that you do feel proud of them and encourage their growth as well as play. There is no way to know the aspects of your child's personality that will be celebrated before the fact, but by being an attentive parent you will know your child's strengths and areas for growth. Taking time to acknowledge all the things you love about your child should be a daily practice. I promise you will never regret keeping that bond strong, as your child will remain secure and confident, entering into adulthood with his or her potential still intact.