We underwent several significant home improvement projects recently. I say “underwent” because we didn’t do the actual work but instead paid contractors who knew what they were doing.

One of those contractors was a local handyman who brought in his wife to help with the multi-day project. Their kids are grown but they enjoyed interacting with our young’uns.

In a moment when the boys were being particularly rambunctious, I asked if she missed this phase of having young kids.

“I’m glad we lived it,” she said.

In the moment I took that to be a polite way of saying “I’m grateful we went through it but also that it’s over.” Which was probably accurate to an extent. But I see it now as a richer sentiment: to be glad you got to experience something even though it was challenging, and that you really lived it—not just suffered through.

It was yes-and parenting in the wild, and very much appreciated.