Recently at Marc and Angel Hack Life, they posted an article titled 70 Things To Do Before Having Children.  This inspired me to create my own list.  I agree that it is often easier to do some things before kids come into the picture, but life doesn’t end when you start a family.  On the contrary, you come to discover that your children open up a whole new dimension of living.

So, today I thought I’d share my list of 70 great things about having children!

1. Getting a goodnight kiss from a 3-year old.

2. Seeing their beautiful smiles!

3. Watching them pull up into the standing position.

4. Having a tickle-fest!

5. Christmas morning.

6. Easter morning.

7. Halloween night.

8. Coming home is always a celebration even when you’re only gone a little while.

9. Family hugs.

10. Going on a family vacation.

11. Taking them to the first day of kindergarten.

12. Watching them learn to read.

13. Being called mommy or daddy.

14. Looking at pictures from when they were younger.

15. Measuring to see how much the kids have grown in a year.

16. Hearing them laugh for the first and every time.

17. Throwing them a ball.

18. Feeling pride the first time they catch it.

19. Watching them perform in a school program.

20. Seeing them do things on the playground that they used to need help doing.

21. Experiencing their unadulterated excitement.

22. Getting swept up in their excitement.

23. Seeing the world anew through the eyes of a child.

24. Helping them catch their first fish.

25. Going camping as a family.

26. Hearing them talk about God.

27. Listening to them pray.

28. Having them remind you that you forgot to say grace.

29. Snuggling up to watch an animated movie.

30. Having them crawl into your lap when they are scared.

31. Watching them do something amazing like jumping off the high dive!

32. Hearing them tell you, "I love you, Daddy."

33. Sitting down to a family dinner.

34. Seeing a great report card from school.

35. Playing outside together.

36. Teaching them to ride a bike.

37. Watching as they get it and peddle away.

38. Teaching them to love chocolate.

39. Giving them more than you had when you were a kid.

40. Hunting crawdads in the creek.

41. Having "live performances" in your living room.

42. Seeing how adorable they look in their new clothes.

43. Marveling at their tiny little toes.

44. Finding a baby doll on the floor after they’ve gone to bed.

45. Kissing their little feet.

46. Carrying them around the house wrapped in a towel after a bath.

47. Seeing the joy a bubble bath can bring

48. Giving them their first childhood dog.

49. Reading their name in the newspaper.

50. Hearing that they look just like you.

51. Watching your parents become grandparents.

52. Listening to them sing, "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star".

53. Witnessing their first haircut.

54. Taking a picture of them without their two front teeth.

55. Dropping them off for their first sleep over.

56. Picking them up from their first sleep over.

57. Throwing birthday parties.

58. Hanging up the great picture of them in the living room.

59. Having your refrigerator covered with their masterpieces.

60. Spending an afternoon at the zoo.

61. Seeing your kids wearing shades.

62. Reading the book they love over and over and over again!

63. Eavesdropping when they’re playing alone in their room.

64. Building a snowman.

65. Going down a water slide together.

66. Blowing kisses from the car as you leave.

67. Seeing their beautiful smiles.  (did I mention this already?!?)

68. Teaching them the value of money.

69. Melting when they make you feel really good about yourself.

70. Having your eyes fill with tears because you love them so much.

Was there life before kids?

Whatever life I had before my children came along was nothing compared to the life I have now.  Yes, I occasionally miss the freedom and independence, but I would never trade my life now for it.  I love my kids!  They are beautiful and they make my heart sing.

What do you think is great about your life with kids?

Photo by Seeding-Chaos