Little Reminders

Every day I pick up around the house. Twice a day, as a matter of fact. First time is after I've put the kids down for naps, the second time is after they've gone to bed. Some might say I'm crazy (for picking up twice), I say it helps keep me fit. It's all about movement, baby! For me, a cleaner and more organized house has symbolized something even more important- my health. I'm not sitting very much!

I digress.

Picking up the house, as good as it is for my body, is still not the most exciting chore in the world. Something that makes it a little more fun, however, are the glimpses I see into my children's imaginations.

A window sill had become a train track for Buddy's two small train cars. Remote controls had become beds for Rosie's little people. The spot under the table had become a fort. The end table had become a highway for matchbox cars.

Everywhere I look, I see Little Reminders of my little children. They're still little, but not for long. How many more years will I find princesses in my boots and stickers on my slippers?

Even on the hardest days, these reminders make me smile. It makes me remember that imagination is a gift, one that adults should try to use more often.