I was a fabulous mom.

I was looking through some pictures.

Here's one I found of Blake, at roughly the same age that Abby is now:

Do you know what my reaction to this picture was?

"Gasp!!!!  I let Blake PAINT when he was that little?!?  What was I thinking?!?!"

Followed closely by,

"Yeah...I totally wouldn't let Abby do that."

Erg.  I was a better mom then.

And then I found this picture, 

Taken along with this picture,

From when Camille was about the age that Abby is now.

"Oh yeah- I took those pictures for the book that I had to make Camille for ECFE.  Oops.  I haven't even considered doing ECFE with Abby.  Oh well...it's a hassle, and I would have to put Camille in sib care..."

Yup.  Totally a better mom back then.

Sigh.

It's just a different season, right?  I'm a different mom to Abby than to Blake or Camille, because now I have an Abby and a Blake and a Camille.  Right?  And her life is richer for it.  Right?

(Abby, if you are reading this 20 years from now, know that I love you very much, and trust me...you're probably better off for not having done finger painting or ECFE.  And I'm trying.  Really.  I am trying.  And don't worry.  Blake dropped that bear of Camille's in the campfire somewhere in Wisconsin.  You're not the only one who got the short end...)