My oldest son (18): He’s the most like me. Too much like me. But he’s not as afraid of people (or spiders) as I am and he’s very smart in ways that I’m not (physics, math). I’m most happy with his biting sense of humor. I wasn’t funny when I was a kid, so he impresses me.

My daughter (16): She’s *so* not like me. She’s outgoing, bubbly, like a ray of sunshine. Fearless.

My youngest son (14): He makes an impression on people. A convert bore her testimony in church yesterday and talked about him. He speaks from the heart. Everyone who tries to describe him says he’s just real.

Son 1 (almost 6) loves people and will make friends with anyone. He’s also a really good chess player, I say “You captured my queen again?”
Son 2 (2 1/2 yo) Has the soul of an angel. He’s sweet, sometimes shy, kind and gentle. He’s naturally obedient and loving.
Son 3 (8 mo) Is a happy fellow who loves to smile and laugh. He’s a chubby, cuddly little guy who doesn’t complain when he gets ignored or accidentally trodden on.

Son #1 was born with the wisdom of an ancient soul. He is also protective of the weak and young
Son #2 can make a friend out of a rock. Everyone knows him and calls him friend. He has amazing musical ability
Daughter #1 is gifted in eveything thing she does. Nothing is too hard for her and she is a hard worker too.
Son#3 is a wizard at the computer. He is a big lovable teddy bear
Daughter #2 is the most reslient kid I have ever met. Funny tho she was born in my heart (adopted) and everyone tells me how she is more like me than the rest of my kids. God certainly has a hand in these things.

(I hate people and am afraid to talk to them.)

Me too, Julie. I’ve always wondered what I’d do with a wildly extraverted child who wanted to chatter to every single person we met on the street or wanted to bring his or her twenty friends over to play every afternoon.

(When I come home I like to run into my house very fast to hide from my neighbors, who might expect me to–horror of horrors!–make small talk.)

My 7 yr old - is fiercely independent and dangerously curious. I think I’ll appreciate this in several years.

My 6 yr old daughter is, well, six and I’m still trying to figure her out.

My 1 yr. old is full of joy and happiness. Her glass is completely full. She wakes up smiling, singing (which she didn’t get from me, since I sound like a cat being strangled.) and laughing. I believe she will always bring joy to who ever she surrounds herself with. I see the hope of this generation in her eyes.

So, ask me this question in another 10 years.

My 4-year old, no matter what has happened, forgives with all his heart. A hug and an apology are make everything OK in his world. I love that he bears no grudge to anyone.

My 2-year old already knows a soft answer repells wrath. He brothers might be rioting, but she smiles a honey smile and whispers a sweet answer, and the whole family is in her hand.

Everyday they teach me things.

I’m always impressed that my 10yo will dump his dry cereal back in the box and eat something else when he realizes that there is only a little milk left “in case you wanted some cereal later, mom.” (Whereas when I find there is only a little milk left, I think, “Woohoo! I got it before anyone else did!”)

I’m always on the verge of tears when my 3yo comes up to me and hugs me, kisses me, and says, “my precious mommy!” (Because I’m not sweet.)

My youngest daughter, at age 8, already knows she has a good sense of humor, and that people perceive her as being genuinely funny and like being around her. This isn’t something I found out about myself until I was in my 20’s.

And they will both take on any challengers in Lord of the Rings Trivial Pursuit, and they’ll probably win.

1) Our oldest son is an incredibly caring person - and couldn’t care less about what others think of him. He doesn’t try to be anyone but himself, and I really admire that.

2) Our second son is a humble warrior. He takes his trials in stride and never thinks to complain. He is a girl magnet, because he truly respects them, listens sincerely to them and makes every one of them feel special.

3) Our oldest daughter is the most natural friend and peacemaker I have ever known.

4) Our second daughter has an amazingly dry, funny sense of humor - and she is a natural born writer.

5) Our third daughter has an innate sensitivity that is rare.

6) Our youngest daughter (6 going on 18) makes complex connections that astound us - and has a memory for vocabulary that astounds everyone else. I’m more than a little sacred of what she will be like by the time she turns 16.

Thanks for this chance to brag in public. Our kids deserve it.