I have come to the conclusion that no matter how much I want to, I do not have power over who my kids are. I had always believed that parents could control how their kids turn out...you know, if they are "good" or "bad", what they like, their personalities. But then I had kids! All of a sudden I didn't know everything! I know it's up to me to keep them safe, happy, and healthy, but most everything else is up for grabs.

I have my little Sarah, my only daughter and I am aware that she is a tad more high-maintenance than most 5 year old girls. She's definitely spunky and mischief follows her like a second shadow; she possibly borders on the edge of normal behavior as far as trouble-making goes. But I don't think she is too strange....

Luke is as close to the perfect baby as you can get, in my completely unbiased opinion. ;) A little clingy, but I like that in a baby.

And then there is Patrick. He's...a challenge. This is not a bad thing necessarily. Just the way it is. Just the way HE is. I have tried to show him which behaviors are acceptable and which ones are not by example, with bribes, by explaining, basically you name it I have tried it. Nothing works-he is definitely his own person. And that drives me crazy! It is so hard to let go of that control...the control I think I am entitled to because they are MY kids. I finally realized they are only mine to raise-they actually belong to God-He only blessed me with the (sometime very difficult) job of taking care of them. I have often asked God why he chose these particular children to be matched with this particular mother. He has not answered, and if He has I was too busy cleaning up some disaster to notice.

Everyday there is something that Patrick does to make me seriously wonder if there was some mix-up at the hospital...did he really come from ME!? Is this weird? I don't know if it is normal to feel that way about your own child? I love him the exact same way as I love my other kids, but he is the only one that makes me question if the right mom got the right babe.

For example: the other day Luke was minding his own business when out of nowhere PatPat walked up to him, bent down, and picked the baby's nose...and ATE what came out. ATE IT! How disgusting is that!?!? It's not enough for him to pick his own nose, he has to do it to his brother, too. All I know is that did not come from MY side of the family.

Another example of Patrick's odd personality: he truly believes he is Peter Pan. Truly. I am just waiting for the day to come we have to visit the ER (again) because he thinks he can fly. For now he is satisfied with jumping off the couch, but I know he will try a more ambitious (read: dangerous) location and it is just a matter of time. He carries a stick around and says it's his "dagger" and he is always rescuing Wendy.

He watches TV on the couch. Seems normal, right? Wrong! He watches it on the couch...upside down, standing on his head. And he comes out of his room every single day with his underwear on backwards as well as his pants. Every day.

Anyway...I guess there's no point except Patrick puzzles me. I hope I'm doing this parenting thing right...