Around the World In 80 Clicks

My friend T at Send Chocolate Now tagged me with this fun around-the-world-theme-blog-party-pass-the-chocolate-thingie. This little shin-dig started with Her Bad Mother . Go check them both out.

Okay, so I have to tell you 5 things that I love about being a mom. Here you go:

1.) When they were little (they are now 15, 13, and 12), I loved wearing them all around, having them climb up in my lap, snuggling with them in bed. The physical proximity of a little body or three was so beautiful and comforting.

2.) Seeing them take on the world! You know what I mean, making choices and standing firm. Whether that means sharing the last cookie, even though they would love to eat the whole thing, or saying "no" when people ask them to do the wrong thing. It is amazing to see that they are their own person.

3.) Listening to them talk to one another: at night when the lights are off and the boys are in their shared room whispering back and forth or when my daughter and my middle child start talking about string theory. Whatever it is, it is a blessing to know that they will always have one another and actually enjoy each other, for the most part, now.

4.) Hearing them crack the worst jokes EVAH - it is a family trait and to know that my husband and I have passed this on to them and their unsuspecting spouses-to-be is somehow heart-warming. Okay, I may be a little warped.

5.) Mother's Day - I would not have all the power one Sunday a year if I was not a mom! Yes, I have the power to force children to go camping on Mother's Day or go see Speed Racer at the movies. We eat what I want and I get presents. Mother's Day alone is reason enough to love being a mom.

6.) Okay, I am cheating, but I'm the mom and that's how I roll. Motherhood connects generations of moms. Through motherhood, I more fully understood and appreciated my own mom and my grandma. Marriage started the process of more fully identifying with my mom, but motherhood drove it all the way home. How many times have I wanted to apologize to my mom as I see my own daughter throw me attitude just like I had as a teen? How many times did I want to hug my mom for putting my sister and I first - now I see and realize that is just what she did and she did it out of pure love, just as I do it for mine. Motherhood is an equalizer from generation to generation.

Okay, now I have to tag some of my mommy bloggy friends from around the world:

Michelle H. who just moved away :( She is in the California desert.

Aimee at Journey2Learn who has two super kids of her own and 13 teen boys! She is in PA.

Keeper of the Cheerios all the way in Canada!

A Modern Mother on the other side of the pond. She is an ex-pat living with her Scottish husband and three little girls.

JoAnn at Homeschool Distractions is in the Pacific Northwest surrounded by three kiddos with another on the way.

The rules are simple: list your five favorite things about being a mom, link back to me, tag some of your bloggy friends, and comment here so you can be added to the world tour.