I Don't Need You

We had an amazing, beautiful, insane, off-the-charts busy, blessed, colorful, exhausting weekend.

My parents came into town from Dallas.  We celebrated my nephew's third birthday.  We hunted for eggs three times.  The Easter Bunny came to our home.  We made it through mass.  We hosted meals and brought meals to other family member's homes.  And by 4:30pm this afternoon, my four-year old daughter, Kate had reached her breaking point.

Her older brother and cousin were playing soccer in the backyard while the adults were cheering them on and the baby was happily swinging.  Throughout this time, Kate was insistent on playing "Red Light, Green Light," but no one else seemed to be interested.  After her final pout, a melodramatic walk-off, and the very loud words, "I DON'T NEED YOU!" screamed out of her mouth to her family and to her mother, a soccer ball landed squarely in the center of her forehead and she lost it.

After everyone left, we sat over Easter candy and talked.  I asked if she really meant what she said.  And through chocolate and jelly beans she muttered, "no...I love you."

But isn't this how we feel...when we're done dealing...exhausted...beyond our limitations.  We don't want to be around anyone and we don't want anyone to get in our way.

That's where I'm at now.  The kids are in bed.  The dishes are done.  The party platters are put away.  I'm icing my legs and I just don't want to be needed by a thing in this world.  And yet, I want to be needed and loved by my family more than I can imagine.  Love...it's what makes the world go around, even when you've been loved to the gills on an Easter holiday.