Lauren and Casey; Casey and Lauren #AtoZchallenge

Lauren and Casey. Casey and Lauren. Turdbirds Numbers One and Two (no idea, ask my Mama where she got that nomenclature from — hmmm, might’ve been Meme). Even though they have singly and, sometimes, as a unit driven me slightly bonkers (and they’ve been threatened with defenestration), I can’t imagine what my life would be like without them.

Well, OK, that’s a lie. Like all honest parents, I have had thoughts now and then when one of them is dragging your last nerve around the room and playing jump rope with it about “what would life be like without children” but not seriously.

Or at least not seriously for long.

And I’d never actually want that.

No………

No, definitely not.

They are both steadily growing up, in fits and starts, both too quickly and too slowly, into beautiful, smart, funny, weird in their own ways, and, I hope, strong women. Sometimes dragging. Sometimes cajoling. Sometimes pushing. Sometimes just attempting to be a good example.

They are mine. And I am theirs. And I love them both very much.

Even if I really do think I’m going to torture them a little in my will — which they are both aware of.

Funny, I always scoffed when my Mama said I’d always be here little boy — even though it always sounded like the truth. I’ve included only a few photos of them when they’re younger because I can always close my eyes and see them as they were.