Simplicity

Often, I find myself talking or writing about how much I love that my daughters enjoy the simple things in life. Things like bubbles, walks in the park or candy. I do believe that this is one of those special qualities that only children possess and that even though adults talk about it, we don’t seem to learn. Very few adults I know actually enjoy the simple things that this world has to offer. Instead, we seem to be focused on the more complicated, bigger, better, more advanced, more expensive things that man has created to entertain us.

I want to tell you that this got me thinking about how we as parents, all want to believe our children are special and different, when in fact all kids are equally great. However, please bear with me when I tell you about Elizabeth and her taking this notion of enjoying the simple things to a different level. This may not make her better or special, but you’ll have to agree with me that it makes her at least a little different.

Here are some of Elizabeth’s basic favorites:

Favorite ice cream flavor: vanilla
Favorite cake: vanilla, with vanilla frosting
Favorite sandwich: ham, no crust (Note: I’m not kidding, she is not into mayo, ketchup or mustard. She won't add cheese on her sandwich or anything else. Except, of course, when she’s feeling wild and adds lettuce to it)
Favorite kind of hamburger: she doesn’t like hamburgers
Favorite kind of hot dog: she doesn’t like hot dogs
Favorite pancake topping: nothing
Favorite drink: water
Favorite kind of soda: she doesn’t drink soda
Favorite outfit: jeans, t-shirt & sneakers (no princess stuff here)

This simplicity deal is who she really is and I must say I love her even more when I think about her ability to find beauty and fun in the simple things. It makes me wonder why the rest of us make such a fuss out of things that complicates our lives.

Next week is her eighth birthday and in the eight years since she was born, my life has been anything but simple. Every moment of her life has made mine exciting and emotion-packed...I hope she doesn't mind that all that excitement is just perfect for me.