I was just thinking about all the bitching I do about my kid and how tough motherhood is. I sound like an ungrateful bitch. Yes, being the mother of a three and half year old IS hard, and yes, I think my kid has spectacular moments off jackassery. But you know what? She’s an awesome kid.

She is so damn smart, and not just book smart – she’s emotionally smart too. She is so intuitive and sensitive to the feelings of others. I once watched her get hit in the head by a classmate, and then run over to console that same kid who was crying over having gotten in trouble for hitting her.

She is also hilariously funny. She loves to tell jokes, which quite honestly aren’t all that funny but the gusto and delight with which she tells them are funny and you have to laugh at the same knock knock joke every time. And she loves to play  jokes on people, which again aren’t terribly funny or even effective but you have to applaud her effort. She also really loves it when you play a joke on her.

The best thing about her is how sweet she is. She may have the normal three year old behavior issues, and she may not choose to listen to a damn word I say, but she is a very sweet natured kid. Last night she slept in bed with me, since my mom was in town and was sleeping in Betsy’s bed. When I scooped Betsy up out of her bed and moved her to mine, she looked up at me sleepily, put her hand on my cheek and said, “I love you, Mommy.” Her first sleep hazed thought upon seeing me was how much she loves me.

And even though I tell her all the time how much I love her and how awesome she is, and how proud of her I am, I don’t share it with the world enough. So please know that if you read my Tweets about her jackassery, or see on Facebook how I’m looking for gypsies who sill buy children, that is just a moment of frustration.

Betsy has my whole heart and I am proud to be her mother.

Except when she’s throwing epic tantrums in the store. Then I park her by the beer and wine and pretend I don’t know her.