Thankful for dirt

Among the many wonderful things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving, I count the blessing of dirty children.

I am thankful for dirty kids, because their grime tells a story of a childhood being LIVED. It testifies to playing outside, riding bikes, helping with the baking, art projects, catching bugs, sticky snacks and scrumptious smoothies. Far from being ashamed of my dirty kids, I have come to see their dirt as a badge of mothering honor: today I let my kids play. Live. Touch. Feel.

But by the end of the day, I am also thankful that kids are washable.

And they smell so good when they are clean.