Not everything about parenting is terrible.
Parents love to commiserate about the diaper horror scenes they've walked into, three-nagers (yes this is a real thing and lord knows my boys fit the description), the hourly tantrums over nothing, the public meltdowns... the list of what new parents and non-parents deem negative experiences goes on and on. Grandparents will also chime in and fondly recall what they went through raising you/your friends, and may view your struggles with a great big (somewhat sadistic) grin.
But it's not all bad.
I once had a friend ask if there were any good things about having kids. Yep. In fact, a good 80-90% of my life has been improved for having kids, and I wouldn't trade them for the world. Here's some moments that have happened in the past couple weeks alone:
Oliver said "Love you, Papa!" in a video for my dad. And then "Love you, Kelly!" in a video to my best friend/his godmother. He's very quiet and generally shy, so that he said that so enthusiastically and clearly, with big smiles, is a big deal.
Negi colored somewhat within the lines of a dinosaur coloring book, and showed it off proudly when we put it on the fridge.
Izzy learned to say "Uh oh!" when he throws/drops toys out of his reach.
I get so many cuddles. Izzy tired himself out last night and clung to me like a koala when I picked him up. Both older boys will give me hugs randomly throughout the day.
Eric is the favorite parent. Izzy (who cosleeps with us) cuddles up to him in his sleep every night, and is asleep within three minutes if Daddy picks him up at night. Negi and Oli are so excited when Daddy gets home, and one of the first things they ask me in the morning is "Where'd Daddy go?"
The very first thing the boys greet us with is their smiling faces opening the door, and shouting "Good morning Mom! Good morning Dad!" Granted, it's usually followed up with Negi pointing out which of them is poopy, but it's still a great note to start the day.
Oliver says my cooking is "Mmmm, good!" and eats all of it.
Izzy started taking a big boy bath with his brothers, and splashes and loves every moment of it.
Izzy had mac and cheese on his plate (not just fed to him) for the first time, and he looked like a chubby baby cheeto by the end.
Negi proclaimed Barky as the best dog friend ever.
Oliver carried around an Imaginext Martian Manhunter and treated it as his baby. He made him talk in a deeper voice which was hilarious. (Negi picked that set out for Solomon Grundy, and Eric caved right away because it's awesome. Definitely some of the most played with toys!)
Negi sat with me and played World of Warcraft. His running commentary is awesome, and he suggested my Gnome Hunter get a Microraptor pet asap. He named it PumpkinSkeleton, after his favorite Minecraft toy.
Izzy built with his blocks, not just knocked them down.
Izzy chased his older brothers through the house as they ran around pretending a Spinosaurous was after them. The solid twenty minutes of shrieking laughter and chaos was fantastic.
Oliver crawled in my bed next to me and took a rare, spontaneous nap all cuddled up to me.
Knowing that there's not one, not two, but three little people who love us unconditionally, no matter how majorly we mess up, and will always look up to us and be shaped by our actions and words... it's the biggest, most terrifying and awe-inspiring responsibility. They get me out of bed every morning, and give me a reason to keep going when I can't find enough within myself. Kids have changed our lives entirely, and it's absolutely for the better.