Tonight

Some nights I reflect on the day (or weekend) and am especially proud of how I parent and my kids. Tonight is one of those nights. Thanks in part to Jeff and Beth Mehmen and Amanda Young making me feel this way!

Amanda watched the boys on Friday night while we were at a work dinner and then out with friends. She took Graham and Pierce to Pizza Ranch (bless her just for that as I never take them and they love it) for dinner while Max was at a birthday party.  Her first thing to tell me when we arrived home, "You have to know your boys are the best behaved kids I watch." Now this could be a stretch - the "best" part - but she did go on to talk about so many things they did well - they stayed by her when she said they couldn't wander from her, they said please and thank you, they didn't fight, Graham gave Pierce the last piece of taco pizza when they both wanted it, they didn't leave the table, and that about covers it. Then she said that although Max could have stayed up a bit when he got home, he came in, said "hi" and told her about the party, went to the bathroom to shower and then came out and said he was going to bed. All three kids went to bed without fussing, asking to stay up later or needing any pushing. She said, "they were so good the entire night." She's been around us long enough to tell the truth about a night.

Mehmen's came to watch Max play baseball today. We've clearly missed seeing them and us them since the boys are not on the same baseball team. They were so positive and complimentary of the kids and especially Max. After the game, Jeff sent Mitch and me a note about the game, telling Max congratulations on later winning the tournament and then "Max is a great kid." Means a lot from someone who I respect and has a couple of great kids himself (Tristan must have played catch with Pierce for a half hour during the game, with a smile the entire time.)