It is hard to give my kids my undivided attention. Amidst the work commitments and the school assignments and the homework (oh, god, I still hate homework) and listening to the torturous learning to read (which he has to subject us to for 20 minutes every single freaking night) and bedtime (can I please still have a bedtime? Just make me turn everything off and be D.O.N.E.) and the chores and laundry and the tomatoes that are getting soft waiting to be made into sauce . . . . 

But sometimes, they DEMAND my undivided attention, because they need it, as much as I need them. And, sometimes, they make me wonder how much else I'm missing. 

Husband and I were having an intense conversation about something that had a deadline, something we needed to decide upon RIGHT NOW, at dinner while the littles entertained each other with their banter, or maybe they were squishing banana between their toes.

I became vaguely aware of Middle Child saying, "MOM!" I attempted to "listen" by turning my body towards him while still facing and talking with Husband. 

"Mom. MOM. MOM! Mom mom mom mom-mom-mom-momomomomomomomom!"

"WHAT?!? Jimminy Christmas, is someone on fire? Can you wait TWO minutes?"

"NO! I have an important question." 

This is my child who is so easygoing, that if he doesn't get milk after asking for it once, he will get a chair, cup, and towel, open the fridge, pour his milk, sloshing a little, put the milk away and clean up his mess before I realize what is happening, and he isn't mad. He is just that resourceful. And I know I only have him for a little while, because the world is his oyster, and he will resource his way right into whatever he wants regardless of whether or not I am holding his hand. I've actually asked him, out loud, if he will come visit me when he is grown up, because I know already that he won't need me. 

So, naturally, he had my undivided attention now, eye to eye. "What."

His eyes are wide, and serious. 

"Do alligators ever burp?"

*blink*

What else am I missing?!?