Wow! The less I am around home, the harder it is to be there sometimes. Isn’t that odd? I miss spending time with my kids and partner, but the less I am there, the less tolerance I have for the crazy messes – the cars, the little men, the castle parts, the doll house parts, the jigsaw puzzle parts, and the books scattered everywhere. The noise is a bit insane sometimes, especially compared with how quiet work and school are. Then again, I look around, and my two-year old plops herself down on my lap with a book and asks in the sweetest voice, “You read this to me, Mama?” and all the craziness is worthwhile.