I Believe in Families

I believe in families.

I believe in Band-Aids and the power to kiss it better.

I believe in moving mountains with a teaspoon.

I believe in Crayons and blocks and Legos, and then I believe in putting them away.

I believe in chores and homework.

I believe in learning how to spread peanut butter and jelly on fresh bread all by yourself.

I believe in kneeling to teach a child how to tie her shoes so they won’t come undone.

I believe in candy canes and M and M’s.

I believe in drinking milk and brushing teeth and reading bedtime stories.

I believe in training wheels and picnics.

I believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy.

I believe in freckles and wrinkles.

I believe in saying, "I’m sorry."

I believe in fixing dinner and eating it around the table and doing the dishes.

I believe in birthday parties.

I believe in loving people the way they came and the way they are.

I believe in sticking up for your brothers and sisters, even if it means getting a black eye.

I believe in curfews and telling parents who you’re with and where you’re going.

I believe in buying shoes.

I believe in Thanksgiving Dinner and ringing bells on New Year’s Day.

I believe in stocking up on toilet tissue, shampoo and Kleenex.

I believe in buying more shoes.

I believe in attending band concerts and dance recitals and soccer games.

I believe in parent-teacher conferences and PTA carnivals.

I believe in book fairs.

I believe in going to church and paying attention to the sermon and praying.

I believe in my parents and my children’s parents, and I believe in home, because . . .

I believe in families.