There were so many instances growing up when I just didn’t get it.  My mom would ramble on, and it just went over my head.  But now that I’m a mom, I’m starting to get it.  There are those feelings, reactions, and thoughts that only come with being a mom.  All of these expressions my mom used to say and things she used to do keep coming on like tiny light bulbs above my head — NOW I get it.  For example…

Do you have a good relationship with your in-laws, any relationship? There are many reasons why pursuing a positive relationship with your in-laws is a good thing, especially if you have children.

I love story time.  Story time was one of the first activities I brought my girls to when I became a stay-at-home mom.  I have only had the opportunity to attend the story time at the Weyers Hilliard Library in Howard. But, there are many different story times offered throughout the Brown County Library System.

Unfortunately, cancer has touched so many of our lives, and as many of you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. For the past eight years, when I would start to see the pink cancer ribbons come out, I cringed. It reminded me of my mother’s fight. It brought back memories of those fearful days. It scared me that it would come back.

These life lessons are ones I continue to value more and more with the passing of time.  As much as I wish they were here to teach these lessons to my kids, I need to remember they live on through me.

They have to feel some sense of ownership and power in what is happening, but I am still the parent in charge.  So giving them choices throughout their day is our solution.  It seems simple enough, and I know many others do this as well, but we really make a conscious effort to use them all the time.  

She has mannequins decorating her front yard, rides a Gator ATV, can use a shotgun just as well as a sewing machine, and would rather go dancing than sit in a rocking chair.