1. They will change your life. Before you have them you will say they won't but they will. You'll see.
2. Everything you said you wouldn't do, well....you do a lot of it. "I remember when..." "Because I said so..." - do these sound familiar? LOL
3. They are the beings you would fight most feircely for and yet they are the beings that drive you more crazy than you ever thought possible of someone you love.
4. Discipline is very important. I know there are many that subscribe to the my children are my buddies plan of parenting but in my opinion (so no hate comments please) my kids have enough friends, they need parents.
5. When they say "I love you" there are no conditions. They just do.
6. When they are asleep it is a like an angel has come down from heaven and inhabited their bodies. You can look at them and love them and all is good (as long as you don't wake them up for God's sake!)
7. The depth of your love for them is almost scary. You may have thought you loved your partner but this is something completely different.
8. Sometimes as much as you love them you want to be free. That's ok, as long as you know that you need to take care of them and you can't really leave them.
9. For me particularly, I am great with babies. No matter what they do or how loud they scream I can handle it.
10. Again, for me, when the kids hit 4 years old something happens and I'm suddenly not so great. I think it is because they are now thinking quite independently and are not so keen on doing what you say. Yes, at 2 and 3 years they are starting this but they are mostly just learning. At 4 they know. They know how to push your buttons! (Did I mention I have a 4 (almost 5) year old?)
11. They are the source of inspiration for a lot of things. They make you want to try harder and be better.
12. It is hard to have good quality time with your partner with three kids. We have suddenly found a wonderful babysitter and after almost seven years of maybe two or three nights out a year (yes, I said it, a year!) we are going out regularly. Thank the good Lord for that!
13. When my kids are grown I want them to look back and think that I was a good Mom. I want them to know how much I loved them and that I believed in them.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens: