D is for Daughter #atozchallenge

D is for Daughter, also for a Day late... I had so many idea's for "D" and my Day went like this...

D is for Danger, uh no! D is for Dinner "NO, that's not working either".
D is for Deepak Chopra, "YES, I love him", but nothing seemed to be flowing.  I even watched "Decoding Deepak" by Gotham Chopra and still not feeling it...

Then late last night, a text conversation revealed D is for Daughter.  (Note: This isn't going to have proper english or be "politically correct", I just wanted to share it in it's true context.)


Daughter: "Hey Mom, what ya doin, feeling a bit alone tonight".
Me: "Where are all your friends"?
Daughter: "One is out of town, the other is with someone else".
Me: "I am sorry, I am kinda feeling lost too and your brother is really depressed, I doubt that makes you feel any better".
Daughter: "Why is he depressed"?
Me: "He is just really bored, not sure what to do with his life".
Daughter: "Yeah, I'm just feeling really alone".
Me: "But your not, I am with you :)".
Daughter: "I know".
Me: "What ya doin all by yourself".
Daughter: "Just watchin movies".

I don't want to bore you with all of the nonchalant parts, so we will move past that...

Daughter: "I was watching Hannibal and now I'm scared someone is gonna come eat my brain, lol! And ya, I haven't done anything either, but work and work some more".
Me: "I wish I was working right now, because then I would be doing something. I want to go back to when I loved my job"..
Daughter: "I know. I think you would be awesome at owning your own business or being a manager again".
Me: "Accept I'm old! I was gonna go back to school, but I keep putting that off".
Daughter: "Your not old. You could do it. You just have to put yourself in the right state of mind. I know I am young and have yet to experience life, but I pulled myself out of the crap and I learned to do it from my mommy. So, I know you can too! :) Your strong and I know you can do great things".
Me: "Thank you".
Daughter: "Your welcome. You may not think I listen to you, but I do. I listen to all of the things that you say and I wouldn't be where I am if I didn't have you to help me get through. My brother will be okay. He will find his way. You just gotta think positive, right? lol. We are strong because of you".
Me: "You're gonna make me cry. It's just nice to hear that. I love you sis".
Daughter: "I love you too mom".

So, YES D is for Daughter today and always.....  Love Mom

Love your children and everything will be alright

Keeping in touch with your teenagers is a BIG challenge, but so far I think I am doing a great job. I grew up in a time when home ownership and having the things you need were right at your fingertips, but my situation is far from ideal. The best home I own right now is a run down mobile home with air leaks and mold. I feel like I haven't had the tools my parents had to teach my children responsibility. For instance, we grew up on a simple farm with a few cows, goats, chickens, pigs, turkeys, horses, and a large garden. There was a lot of responsibility involved in maintaining the farm, keeping the house clean, and weeding the garden. My children on the other hand did not have those advantages. Yes, I believe it was an advantage because I learned a lot from that experience. The best I have been able to offer is every other day the children switch dish night or cook a family meal.

This said, I continuously hear from others how great my children are and how responsible and what hard workers they are. How did I accomplish this?, I often ask myself, but somehow I did and they are great kids.

I have always made sure to say as they leave for school "Have a great day" and as they go to bed at night it's always "Goodnight, sweet dreams, I love you". I may not of had a lot to offer, but somehow I have raised wonderful children. Both my teenage daughters are in College. My two younger sons are helpful and loving. So in this imperfect world, love your children and everything will be alright...

Montana View

Momminess Syndrome vs. Empty Nest

You never really know how much you can miss your children. My oldest daughter moved 780 miles away about a year ago and she just got married. I was at the wedding, which was fabulous even with all the chaos surrounding it, but I also left my 2 younger boys ages 13 and 16 with family for a month in the same location. I am feeling complete "momminess syndrome" (that is my new word). I am missing them very much.

You always know your children are dear to your heart. They inspire, motivate and keep you moving forward. This is why their absence brings on a whole new feeling of emptiness that you feel in the deepest part of your soul. You realize your whole life is based on their well-being and without them your purpose is imposed upon.

You start to reanalyze your life, because soon they will have lives of their own and you will not always be able to protect them. This is what I now call the "momminess syndrome", not "empty nest"!

My mother is a perfect example of a nest that has never been empty. After having 5 children and adding 10 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren, her home is always filled with love and family. She is an amazing women, and she still takes care of all of us. I don't know if she would even know what to do without so many distractions. It is her strength and courage that helps me to know my nest will never be empty.

There are many good things about these realizations; you know that you have to live for yourself too. You will always have so many new experiences that still involve your children and hopefully grandchildren.

I am missing my children, looking forward to the future and living for today...

An obvious inspiration

It seems that a rainbow has many meanings and it’s the obvious inspiration.
When I see a rainbow, a smile streams across my face and I experience a sense of peace.
The beauty of the colors, the ominous sky behind it or dreaming of the “Pot of Gold” at the end of a rainbow (the childhood fable that we all believed) but is still an inspiration that brings us hope.
For just that moment it seems you can accomplish anything.

It appeared as I was waiting for my son outside of a school event and it took my breath away as he walked under it. One of four joys of my life and they all make my life beautiful...…