What are the Benefits?

I have a friend that asked me a couple weeks ago what the good thing about having kids was.  It was a light hearted conversation about life, so we joked about the tax benefits, and she argued with me that they cost more then the tax refund.  After some additional light hearted conversation we went on to talk about other things.  On my drive home that night I starting thinking more about her question.  Over the last couple weeks this type of question/discussion has come up.  As a mother of three, you would think I would be able to easily answer this question, but it's not!  Why is it not? What are the benefits of being a Mother/Father? 

We joke all the time about the sleepless nights, the mass craziness of kids, the house being covered in toys, the mountains of laundry, the timeouts, the temper tantrums, and the bodily fluids (need I say more)!  We laugh at stories about embarrassing moments and out of control kids.  So it's very easy to understand why the question would be asked...It's understandable.

I don't know if it's a sad statement that people with out kids might now know the joy or benefits of having kids, but the more I thought about it, the more it bothered me.  So...Here it is...

The first moment you see your child for the first time you can't imagine every loving anything as much as you love that baby.  But then they start to grow, and smile at you!  You never thought a smile smile or even better yet, a laugh could melt your heart.  As they grow their personality starts to develop, and you start to understand what they think and how they act.  You are the one person that knows every secret, and knows every story.  You get hugs and kisses just for being you, and there is no one in the world they trust more.  No one else that can make there skinned knee feel better, or that they want to snuggle with when they don't feel good.  They make you laugh, they make you cry, the make you want to pull out your hair.  They tell you that you look pretty, and that they love you.  So what is the Benefit of Having kids.  There is not just one, there are a million but the best way I know is to say...

They are my life!