Good, *sniffle*, morning....

It's been over two weeks and this cold is still hanging on!  Actually, it is much better, but I have sinus pain and pressure.  I probably have a sinus infection, and I should probably go to the doctor....but I'm sick of going to the doctor!  So....I will just wait it out with my trusty bottle of tylenol and box of kleenex.  Cold aside, we had a really nice weekend.  Saturday we went to our daughters basketball game, then she and I went to get my hair cut and then I took her for ice cream.  She just loves going out together and talking.  So, we took our cones and sat outside. I love listening to her talk.  She is such an imaginative and smart child.  I love listening to her tales of school, her thoughts on her teachers, her basketball game, our family.  It's amazing what you can learn just by listening to your child.  I know that I need to savor these moments with her, while she is still willing to talk so candidly with me.  I realize this when I have conversations with my teenager.  She is a really good kid, but I see her searching for her independance.  She tries to deal with problems herself, before coming to good 'ol mom.  I am proud of her for that, but a part of me is so sad that the days of needing "mommy" are almost gone.  I wonder if anyone else feels this way?  When I hear moms at the store telling their chatty children to be quiet, I cringe.  I realize sometimes we get headaches, or have a bad day....there's nothing wrong with that.  But I don't ever want to look back and realized that I had missed out on a moment of conversation with my child. I want to cherish each and every time she has something to say, and to make her feel that she is important.  I hope that my oldest feels that way....and I think she does.  Parenting is such a strange and wonderful thing.  Sometimes I'm scared I'm not a good mom, and other times I feel that I've got it down pretty good.  Whatever the case, I just want my kids to be happy and know that they are loved.