Little vonerables, without you I would never have walked through Target broadcasting "I am Optimus Prime" as I inadvertently activated the toy squeezed under my arm, my hands too full to hold the Transformer box any other way. (Because I always think, "I'll just need a basket this time. Who wants to push a half-empty trolley around, right?")
Without you I might never have examined so many of my theological concepts and assumptions. Like God having no beginning and no end. And whether there will be poo in heaven.
Without you, I would not have re-learnt to see clouds, bugs and junk modelling as miracles of creation. Or had the joy of watching Grandma teach you to knit. Or see you master a hard song on the piano. Or freestyle. Or tying shoelaces.
I would not have such a big tummy or so many spidery veins. I would have more time and energy to do something about said tummy. (But apparently I am nicer to cuddle than Daddy, who is too hard.)
Left to my own devices, I would have read many, many more novels but never appreciated the artistry and depth of insight of Quentin Blake and Lynley Dodd.
I would have been less tired, more organised and far more even-keel. Pre-children, I would have considered myself patient, well informed, and other-centred. In the last ten years, I have discovered my patience, knowledge, and generosity to be sorely lacking, along with my ability to withstand lack of sleep and whingeing children. I have been pushed to the end of myself on nearly a daily basis and (you knew this was coming, of course) I am convinced that I am richer for it. I know you, my little vonerables, haven't in any way intended to help my personal growth, developmentally-appropriately-egocentric little beings that you are, but I am still grateful to you for being your little selves.
