Yes, you read that right.

Someone actually texted me that.

Someone I went to high school with. And I haven’t talked to her since high school. But somehow she still has my number.

The next day I got another message from another friend. “We aren’t getting any younger, unfortunately. And I can help you get rid of those tired eyes!”

Yes, yes person I haven’t seen in years. I know we are getting older. You and about 15 other women have messaged and texted and emailed me that this week. I know you want to sell me your wonder creams. I’m sure they work. I know you want to grow your business (which seriously, YAY! Go you! I wish you nothing but the best!), but please, please don’t use the fact that I’m a tired mom and getting older to move you to that “next level” of your scheme.

I’m tired of being singled out for being tired. But more than that, I’m kind of ticked off that you singled me out because of my crows feet.

Here’s why.

While some people always comment on people’s beautiful teeth when they smile, I have always gravitated towards people’s eyes. Because one of the things that I loved the most when I was growing up was looking at my mom when she smiled. This woman smiled with her eyes. And every single time she smiled, she would scrunch her nose and her eyes would get all squinty. Growing up, I can hardly remember a time that she wasn’t smiling. Because of this, she has herself a pair of crows feet.

And they are gorgeous. It’s my very favorite part about her.

Because this woman has lived her life with such joy and such happiness, she has smiled more than most women have in their lifetime. And because she taught me to live my own life in the same way, I have already started to develop my own set of crows feet in the corners of my eyes. I have earned this pair of crows feet over the years.

While I blissfully smiled at my husband during the early years of our marriage.

While I doted over my children in those first few months of their lives, starring in awe of their tiny perfectness.

While I giggled with my girls as I swung them for hours on end at the park.

While I sang with my kids during our dance parties in the kitchen before dinner.

While I laughed with my little family when we went out to our pond almost every day this summer for an afternoon of fishing.

I have earned my crows feet by living with joy. So please, please don’t ask me if I want to take them away. If you want to sell me a donut or coffee, I am all ears. But until then, I will keep washing my face with good old fashioned water and using my $5 Wal-Mart moisturizer cream.

And my crows feet? I think that they are here to stay. Because I plan to keep on smiling so that my lines will keep on showing up in all the right places.