Kids, Can't live with them...

"Kids you can't live with them, but even on a bad day you wouldn't trade them for anything in the world."

I am a single mum with three kids, my little man has just had his 10th birthday, and I have twin girls who are seven going on twenty-three. On any given day they can break my heart, only to turn around and fill it with so much love that I feel like I am going to explode. The next day they can get me so angry that I shake with rage, then with a simple word from them I melt into a puddle of mush. They can fill my heart with sadness as they tell me their tales of woe, and yet, when they smile at me through their tears I am filled with wonder at their amazing ability to forgive and forget.

My three kids put me through my paces each and every day. At times I look at my friends who don't have kids and watch as they take off at the drop of a hat to go on holidays, or just have an evening out, and I'll think to myself, "Wow that must be nice." But then one of my kids will come up to me and give me a cuddle, when I ask what that was for they will answer with "Just because I love you." And with that I once again realise just how lucky I am.

As I sit at my kitchen table late at night my heart filled with despair while trying to work out how to pay my bills, all it takes is a glance at the fridge, where I have put their cards and letters that they worked on at school, to put a smile back on my face.

When my little man, who is rapidly approaching that age where it's just not cool to be seen with your Mum, comes up to me and gives me a hug while his friends are watching, and says "It's okay Mum, I know you can't afford this." It breaks my heart, but his capacity for understanding that sometimes you just can't get everything you want never ceases to amaze me.

There are times when my girls, who are like chalk and cheese, in fact they are so different that at times you wouldn't even pick them as sisters let alone twins, have frustrated me so much that I don't know whether I am coming or going, lighten my heart with a simple look passed between the two of them as they stop asking why they can't go somewhere and instead offer to help by cleaning up their room.

Every night, no matter what type of day I have had, all it takes is for my kids to give me a kiss and cuddle before going to bed and once again my heart is filled with love. I go to bed knowing that whatever tomorrow brings, and whatever emotion is put to the test, I know I can handle it because all it takes is a look at my kids. Seeing them look at me with that look of unconditional love that only your children can provide and I am a mum ready to face the morning.