Solarisms: You're not coming up until you give me a kiss...

It's amazing to me how family culture is born. And how much kids love repetition and will grab hold of any random moment and turn it into a family tradition. One day, a long time ago, I raced up the stairs and shut the gate before the kids could past. I demanded, "You're not coming up until you give me a kiss!" And it's now such a common thing around our house, that I can't even remember when a kiss wasn't expected as payment for opening the gate. Nowadays, it's Max and Ava demanding kisses to open the gate. Every time we come home, they race up the stairs and stand waiting, lips puckered. I have to admit it makes me smile...