This morning we had a big tickle fight in the back of the car where I was sleeping. I guess they figured that I had slept long enough. Actually I was having a sweet talk with my Clarissa. It was a wonderful teaching, sharing, and listening moment for both of us. I think that we miss so many opportunities to teach because we are in the thick of thin things. But it really started last night when I wanted to sleep alone in the car and have the rest of them sleep in the tent. Okay, Sometimes I snore and it is embarrassing, so I just wanted my privacy. Well, I tried to make that decision but I also kept having this niggling that I really should just stop being prideful and selfish and have her sleep with me. She had been begging. How often does a 16 year old beg to sleep with her mother. So, I listened to the small voice. Then this morning as I was waking up I just wanted to read and doze and then this question came to my mind with the thought to ask Clarissa. I did, a bit reluctantly but I did and then Wham! The spirit came and we were able to have a very open conversation about some things that have been hanging out there in need of being discussed, for quite some time and it was lovely. A sharing moment that I would have missed because of my own selfishness.
Towards the end of our conversation little faces started to appear at the windows. They circled several times before they finally got the courage to storm the castle. We had a lovely snuggle with all 11 of us in the back of the van and then of course it had to turn into this big tickle fight. Oh the joys of being a mother of such lovely daughters.