Ok, so I have to rant for a moment. I had my first son at 16 years old and got married to his father 6 weeks before he was born. He had a decent job because he was 5 years older, and we paid for delivery up front. We paid the remainder on a payment plan over the next 18 months, even with a complicated delivery. My baby was healthy and happy and had both parents. I graduated high school early when my son was 17 months old. The only help we had was my mother let us live with her for 5 months until we could save for an apartment.

After graduating high school, I had my second son at 19. We had our own insurance and paid for everything in monthly payments. I had my daughter when I was twenty. She was covered by insurance, and we paid the rest in monthly payments, never going on government aid except getting WIC for 4 months when my husband got laid off from work. Stereotypes suck! ALL 3 of my kids graduated high school. All 3 of my kids have gone to college, one graduated, and the other two will be done soon. My oldest is an engineer and my middle one will work for Edward Jones as a financial advisor. My daughter has a dual degree in PR and Advertising she is wrapping up. I finish my Master's degree next May in Education, but have been a pediatric ICU Respiratory Therapist for 15 years. My husband is starting his third year of college to earn a Mechanical Engineering degree since he has done that work for twenty years, but would like the degree. Last year our combined income was over $150,000. 

All teenaged moms don't fail! These kids are a gift from God at any age and not mistakes! If you are a teenaged mom that isn't making it work, shame on you! You can have whatever you dream, you just have to get off of your butt! No one owes anyone anything!! 

10 Important Things I Want My Son To Know

1. Absolutely nothing or noone will ever love you the same way or pray for you as hard as your Mama~ EVER.

2. Regardless of what anyone says, if you have worked hard or it has been more than a day, YES, you STINK, take a bath!

3. You are, and always will be AMAZING, even when you fail or stumble, or act like an idiot.

4. You cannot fly if you wear a pillowcase around your neck and step off the roof, so don"t try! I will always be here to kiss the boo-boos without you taking that step!

4. Always put God first and He will direct your path, even if you have to wait to see where to go next for a minute.

5. Boys do cry, so do Men! It works out the kinks and impurities and everyone need to cry once in a while.

6. Keep your pants on, for GOD's sake! So many mistakes happen without pants on!!

6. When you truly LOVE someone, they should never have to wonder if you do. Show them, hug them, squeeze them, kiss them, shout it from the rooftops and put them first, even before SPORTS or GUITAR!

7. That being said.... NEVER change so much that you aren't YOU anymore. Take time to do the things you love too.

8. You MUST have someone to keep you accountable and love you like only a friend can.

9. When your wife tells you something you know is a Biblical truth and they are right and things would get better if you listened, LISTEN! God gave her to you to be your help mate! She can't be that unless you let her.

10. No matter where you are in life, or what time it is, I will ALWAYS be here to listen! I love you to the end of time! 

Fun times

My 41st Birthday was in February. I don't really feel older, just kindof in limbo, like what's next for my life. My oldest son graduated from college and got married in May and is doing well. We went to see him and his wife for my birthday and had a good time hanging out. It was so awesome to go to his work and see his name on a major project in the middle of a shop floor in a huge company! My middle son just got an internship at a company that sells life insurance and inuities, but is 15 hours away. My husband is taking a guy trip to see him so he can watch a few of his baseball games. He is one of the co-captains for a college club team. I worry about how liberal it is there and how his views and morals have changed since he left home. My daughter is in college about 9 hours away and is doing well, living near my husband's family and now has a group of friends and a church home. I am so proud of all of them! I just wonder why life can't just be more spontaneous. I would love to travel and live in different cities and learn different languages, but my husband is a homebody and likes to travel once or twice a year and still has several years until he has full pension from his comany, so no relocating until then. We are possibly going to Ireland for our 25th Anniversary in the summer! I am searching for employment to use the new degree I earned and not be exposed to so much death at work. Twelve years is quite enough. I have some hopeful prospects, but nothing for sure. Later gators!

Against the grain

First off, let me introduce myself. I am the mother of three awesome college kids, one who is graduating in May. I am in college and will finally get my Bachelor's degree in May. My husband is in college and working on his degree. Our house is usually a mess, as is our diet since eating on the go isn't the best for someone in their 40's and sleep is a commodity around here with deadlines and full time work. I work in the medical field and hope to be a Physician's Assistant someday. I had all three of my kids by the age of 20 and am still married to their dad 24 years later. It was a hard life at first, but it can be done. It makes me sick that people are entertained by watching teen moms on reality television self implode. Kids that age aren't prepared for making their family famous, and we just watch to see them fail. What a great disservice to these kids. How about someone helping that has been there and has answers to questtions they have or a shoulder when they need someone to just listen? I don't understand the need for programming that thrives on failure. How about life-saving encouragement and help??!