How it Feels to be Me Today (aka You may have spaced your kids too far apart when you can't even take an airplane to Europe and then swim across the Mediterranean to get the teen, because you wonder who would watch your toddler while your husband is at work.)

My boy got back from Israel last night, and I am happy.

This is not a political blog. I try and make it a place to come and laugh at life's mysteries, not bemoan them, and to whistle in the dark if nothing else.  But I can only be flippant 99% of the time.

My boy was in Israel with the missiles, and he was there when the airport shut down, and he was there without me.

And though my son flew home, one of the counselors was called to fight.  While I feel relief, other mothers are consumed with worry.

I stand with Israel and I truly, honestly believe that Israel does it's very, very best to do right by its people despite the fact that there will be times when politics get in the way of a simple yes/no, right/wrong answer.

I don't believe that Hamas keeps the best interest of its people in mind.

That said, I risked the nonpolitical, humorous nature of my blog to tell you this: 

  

Children's lives matter more to me than who started fighting first.  Our children and their children are dying.  To quote Leadbelly, "We're in the same boat brother". We can't stop Jewish children from dying without trying to bail out the boat.

I am heartbroken for every baby all the world over who has to suffer for any reason, but particularly for these children. 

  

Still, I have my boy back, so we celebrate. 

And celebrate we did, with Mexican food and Dr. Pepper and Dr. Pepper ice cream. It was pure joy.  With caffeine.

But at the same time I cried.  I cried all day long.  I cried for the babies, the babies on both sides, who happened to be born in conflict, who will be staying in a country at war, whose earliest memories will be of hiding and fear rather than play dough and story time.  And I don't really know what to do with that part, except to write this.

So, here's my view in a nutshell:  

Israel = good.  

Babies = good.  

Fighting = bad.  

Hah!  I found my flippant side again.  

May it last.