Four Wishes

To set the scene, it was noon on a school day. Books were moved aside to make room for a quick lunch of leftover Mexican casserole from the night before. I am a little frazzled from yet another set of hoops we have to jump through for this adoption. Believe it or not, there is still MORE paperwork. My mind is racing from one thought to the next. What are we going to have for dinner? Is it time to put in another load of laundry? What subjects do we have to complete today? Do I have everything ready for these subjects? You get the idea...

My thoughts are interrupted by an endlessly chatting eight-year-old. "Mom, if you could have 4 wishes, what would they be?" Live-in maid, laundry service, private tutor, and a personal assistant come to mind ... Instead I casually reply "Boy Honey, I 'd have to think about that. " I go back to those never-ending thoughts of what I must get done.

"I know what I'd wish for." I push the thoughts away and listen to her list.

1. "A new baby." I am touched by the sweetness of a girl who not ten minutes ago was fighting with the sister she has over who got which cup. Still, Pope John Paul once said the best gift you can give a child is a sibling. Who am I to argue with the Pope?

2. "To never throw up again." I can understand that one. I wonder if she realizes that her first request most likely dooms me to several months of queasiness and throwing up daily?

3. "To go to heaven." See, there is some Religious Education occurring. She has a great CCD teacher (her dad). Even if it wasn't number one on her list, at least it made the cut.

4. "To have this for dinner each night." What better words can a mom hope to hear? Even the leftovers were good.

Later that evening, I wanted to hear dh's 4 wishes. So we asked him. The response, "Four more wishes of course." Give the man an inch, he'll take a mile.