A Quiet Afternoon

I remember how different things were back in 1992. Life was difficult for me, but somehow, within all the difficulty it was peaceful. Looking back, I can only assume that no matter what I was going through, it didn't matter. I had my girls and I was a Mom. That was all that ever mattered to me.
I can tell you that I will never forget those afternoons I sat on my front porch waiting for my daughter to get off the school bus. She was this tiny little thing, not able to step off the bus on her own. The big steps were to hard for her to climb. Her bus driver, a friendly lady would always say how cute she was, but "ever so quiet" she would say.
At home, that wasn't the case. My daughter would come out of her shell as soon as she walked into the house. Turning on her favorite cartoon, filling the house with her singing, or helping me in the kitchen. Often, on those rainy days we would open the kitchen window and listen to all the rain. We would sit and read her favorite stories over and over, all the while the raindrops hitting the sidewalk.
When the phone would ring, she would jump to answer it. Often times, it would be her Dad, on his way over to take her for icecream. She would put on her Spring jacket, call out to her sister and off they would go. I would watch them pull around the corner, then I would go back inside to clean up there room, all the while enjoying the fact my girls had everything they needed.
We weren't rich, that's for sure, but what we had was more then money could buy. My girls were happy with the small things in life. The trips to the ball park with Dad, the long rides in the Van with Mom, listening to all the top 40 music. We had the special things money could never buy. We had time, that can never be erased. Moments that will stay with us forever, and memories that I can write about now. I had my girls, and no matter what else was going on, my love for them sustained me through it all.