The Joy of Toddlers

I've said before that there is nothing more joyous than the sound of a giggling toddler (or baby) ... and nothing more sad than their tears. I love those precious weekend days when I wake up to my almost-two-year-old niece giggling at something she and her mother are playing. I also dread bed time on those days she gets too tired to sleep.

If, like me, you've never had children you are missing out on the joy they can bring to your household. Of course, they are also a lot of work ... I don't know how my sister does it. But my niece knows she is loved by her family, and she returns that love unconditionally.

Relaxing on a Saturday morning

Today, I was in my office trying to come up with something to write for this blog when I heard her out in the hall looking for me. When I came out, she took my hand and promptly marched me downstairs to play blocks with her. We spent several minutes playing with blocks, a toy laptop, balls, and whatever else she could think of before coming back upstairs - at which point she lay down on the couch with her pillow and blanket & had me read a book to her. As soon as she was done reading she pushed me off the couch.

There was also the time I was relaxing in front of the TV doing some crochet on an afghan (which I'll blog about later) when she wanted to count the balls of yarn or "help" me by taking the skein I was winding into the other room.

The point is that little children are precious and I, for one, am very grateful for the experience I've had with my niece. Someone that sweet and innocent needs to be cared for and loved with all your heart.