Just let it all out...!

Ok, serious question.... Do kids literally have to talk constantly? And at what age do they grasp, "You know, this quiet thing really isn't bad." If I remember correctly, I was 22 years old before I fully appreciated a quiet house. Is it complete coincidence that, that is the same age I was when I had Clay? Yeah, I didn't think so. I find myself longing for bed time. I have to remind myself throughout the day... Yes Kristal, 2:00 in the afternoon is too early for them to go to bed. The car is the worst. I swear it's like they just have to SEE the car and immediately think of everything they wanted to say to Matt and I for the last month. We have tried the radio strategy. You know, when they start to ask the same question you've answered 100 times, over and over again, or if they start fighting, you just turn the radio up to drowned them out? It worked for about 5 second. Aaron realized its more fun for him to get on our nerves by making us feel like idiots for trying such a stupid idea by singing louder than our radio goes. And until Matt and I have money to invest in a serious stereo system, Aaron has our speakers beat by a long shot. You know you spend so much time trying to get them to talk or babble, say "Mama" or "Dada". Then when they start and don't stop you realize you've just made a huge mistake. Especially when it is followed with..."I want...." It's amazing the stupid things we teach our kids. Like walking, whose dumb idea was that? I long for the days when I could put them on the floor, on a blanket, walk into the kitchen for a water bottle and come back with them still where I left them! Now I sit them on the couch, walk into the kitchen and by the time I get to the fridge I've got one hanging onto my shirt and the other one crawling up the pantry shelves trying to find the fruit snacks I hid. My life is filled with chaos, noise, frustration. It's a constant battle with our kids to get a moment of silence. Just a moment. Matt and I met a man today that longs for a lifetime of noise. He dreams of days filled with crazy, rambunctious kids that ask a hundred questions. He was diagnosed with Cancer 9 months ago and they have given him days to live. Our friends were visiting him yesterday and their little boy was in his hospice room playing with one of those obnoxious baby toys. You know the ones I'm talking about. The ones that echo in a sound proof room and have no "off" button, so you randomly hear them go off in the car under the seat when you make a sharp turn and they play the same two songs over and over? Our friend had asked the man "is that too loud?" He just replied, "No, it's beautiful." He prays to have our problems. Our hardest task today was fighting our three year old to be quiet. He is fighting for his life and for the opportunity to be surrounded by the noise of his family. It's so easy to loose sight of what is truly important. As I write this through tears at the realization that I have lost sight of the "beautiful" noises my children make. I remember the first time I heard their voice, right when they were born. Everyone waits for that cry. It's a sign of strength and health. Over time it looses its importance and becomes frustration for us parents. Tonight I pray that I continue to be reminded that every day with them is precious, every thought they have and want to share with me is important, every song they sing is beautiful, every noise they make is a sign of strength, life, growth and comfort in knowing they are healthy and thriving.