I watch as the big orange sky fades to dull grey, listening to the sounds of my children playing in their room.

Constant negotiations, laughter and tears, a dog in the middle of all the action, searching for stray popcorn.

Tonight was to be our “family movie night with popcorn treat.” 

But apparently, they had more energy to burn off than desire to watch tv. 

I thought about sending them to bed, slightly disappointed at the lack of snuggles on all sides that I’d been looking forward to all day.

But they were having so much fun. 

I remembered how that felt with my brothers, how much fun we had using our imaginations, 

how little we really cared about tv.

So now I sit on the couch, one child sprawled across my lap while the other two play. They change places from time to time, but mostly the middle child holds the fort while the other two play superhero’s.

I feel the warmth of happiness in being present in this moment. 

Inhale, exhale, 

repeat.

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