So I sit here and think about all the things that irritate me and you know what?! It really doesn't matter....no one cares about how I feel or what I think they only really take time to think about them and how what I think or how I feel about something only really inconveniences them. Though they would not word it that way much less admit any of it is true. What I think and how I feel only really matters if they are not feeling put out.
I have never allowed smoking in my house or my vehicles, but for some reason my husband thinks that it is ok to smoke in the car because it is too damn cold to smoke outside....well my opinion is if it is too damn cold to stand outside go without! You do not need to smoke bad enough to endanger MY children! Nothing pisses me off more than to put my kids into my vehicle and have it have been smoked in.
Then to make matters worse someone felt the need to smoke in the basement bathroom and I guess they figured that the fan would pull it outside...hm forgetting that the fan and dryer are vented through the same vent. So now my dryer smells of stupid smoke and so did all the clothes I dried....I guess me and the kids don't matter because what we want and what is good for us health wise is an inconvenience to them. Their "need" to smoke is more important than us. And NO I am not being over dramatic because not intentionally subjecting us to their smoke should be a higher priority than whether or not they can smoke in the house.
I am not a smoker, I cannot stand smoking, but if you smoke fine just have respect for those of us who don't. My house should be the one place I can go to get away from it and NOT have to deal with it. If I go to a smoking establishment then that is my choice to subject myself to smoke. If I go to someones house who smokes again my choice....being in a smoke free environment in the confines of my own home should also be my choice. But my choice gets taken away by the selfishness of a smoker...who only thinks about themselves and what they want and how doing what I want and ask of them is an inconvenience to them.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Regrets
Have you ever made a decision in your life that affects the whole rest of your life and then sat back down and regreted it?
I pushed Mike to get a vasectomy knowing full well I was done having kids. Together we had 8 and did NOT need anymore. I was positive this was the right thing to do. He knew he did not want anymore kids (and if he didn't then he never told me). I knew without a doubt that I was done. I had my last little bundle of joy and ready to just move on in life with the wonderful children we already had and give them the best life possible.
Now that Mike has went through with the procedure (months ago) I am actually heart broken. I feel we did not talk it through enough and that we made the wrong choice. I regretted the decision shortly after it was too late to do anything about it. I wish someone would have tried to talk me out of it or tried to tell me to stay on birth control because you never now if you will change your mind or if your feelings or life situation will change. It is really weird, but it is like as a mom there is an innate need in me or maybe it is a want or desire, but the longing to once again be pregnant and carry a child inside of me and to look at their little face after birth....I wish I had really taken the time to think this through.....I am so angry at myself for pushing Mike forward on this.
It is my nature to nurture and love and care for such a tiny being and now knowing that will never happen again crushes me. I look at my little one getting bigger and knowing she is my last breaks my heart. Why do I listen to all those around me (esp on this topic). Everyone says we have too many kids, or we didn't need another and I allow their voices to impact me and how I feel and I allow all the guilt they put upon me (even if unintentionally) to weigh on me and make what I feel now was an irrational decision. Thinking about it now I feel the timing was especially bad because I had a new baby (she was almost a yr but still). My hormones were not back to normal yet. I was not even back on a regular cycle...I hadn't even had my period. So I don't know if it was hormones then that causes me to make the decision or if it is hormones now making me think crazy.
There was nothing (except the morning sickness) that I didn't like about being pregnant. I LOVED it. I never grew tired of being pregnant though I did get impatient waiting to hold my new gift. I also didn't want them born too soon. I wanted them to stay there as long as they needed and be born when they were ready so they would be nothing less than the perfect little being God had intended them to be. I would have loved them NO less had their been any issues afterall either way they were MINE.
I deal with the pain and the guilt of our decision and really there is nothing I can do about it. I am afraid to tell Mike I feel we made the wrong choice. I am afraid of what he might say to me. I don't know that I could handle it givin the hurt and pain I already feel from the choice we made. What if he thought I was nuts/crazy because I could even think of wanting another one? Could I really handle that type of verbal rejection? Then again what if he feels the same way I do and doesn't say anything to me because I pushed for the vasectomy in the first place? All the what ifs make my head spin.
In a perfect world we would know the right thing to do...but I sit here with all the what ifs in my head to afraid to speak.
It is not like we need to rely on anyone else to take care of our kids. We do not enlist friends and other family members to help us. We do not live off of the government as Mike makes good money. We do our job ourselves and I think I make a pretty damn good mother.
I do know now however that I would NEVER encourage anyone to ever get their tubes tied be you male or female....afterall life changes, feelings change, your circumstances change....just because you feel one way now about something does NOT mean you will always feel that way. I say stay on birthcontrol until you can no longer concieve. You never know when you might change your mind.
I pushed Mike to get a vasectomy knowing full well I was done having kids. Together we had 8 and did NOT need anymore. I was positive this was the right thing to do. He knew he did not want anymore kids (and if he didn't then he never told me). I knew without a doubt that I was done. I had my last little bundle of joy and ready to just move on in life with the wonderful children we already had and give them the best life possible.
Now that Mike has went through with the procedure (months ago) I am actually heart broken. I feel we did not talk it through enough and that we made the wrong choice. I regretted the decision shortly after it was too late to do anything about it. I wish someone would have tried to talk me out of it or tried to tell me to stay on birth control because you never now if you will change your mind or if your feelings or life situation will change. It is really weird, but it is like as a mom there is an innate need in me or maybe it is a want or desire, but the longing to once again be pregnant and carry a child inside of me and to look at their little face after birth....I wish I had really taken the time to think this through.....I am so angry at myself for pushing Mike forward on this.
It is my nature to nurture and love and care for such a tiny being and now knowing that will never happen again crushes me. I look at my little one getting bigger and knowing she is my last breaks my heart. Why do I listen to all those around me (esp on this topic). Everyone says we have too many kids, or we didn't need another and I allow their voices to impact me and how I feel and I allow all the guilt they put upon me (even if unintentionally) to weigh on me and make what I feel now was an irrational decision. Thinking about it now I feel the timing was especially bad because I had a new baby (she was almost a yr but still). My hormones were not back to normal yet. I was not even back on a regular cycle...I hadn't even had my period. So I don't know if it was hormones then that causes me to make the decision or if it is hormones now making me think crazy.
There was nothing (except the morning sickness) that I didn't like about being pregnant. I LOVED it. I never grew tired of being pregnant though I did get impatient waiting to hold my new gift. I also didn't want them born too soon. I wanted them to stay there as long as they needed and be born when they were ready so they would be nothing less than the perfect little being God had intended them to be. I would have loved them NO less had their been any issues afterall either way they were MINE.
I deal with the pain and the guilt of our decision and really there is nothing I can do about it. I am afraid to tell Mike I feel we made the wrong choice. I am afraid of what he might say to me. I don't know that I could handle it givin the hurt and pain I already feel from the choice we made. What if he thought I was nuts/crazy because I could even think of wanting another one? Could I really handle that type of verbal rejection? Then again what if he feels the same way I do and doesn't say anything to me because I pushed for the vasectomy in the first place? All the what ifs make my head spin.
In a perfect world we would know the right thing to do...but I sit here with all the what ifs in my head to afraid to speak.
It is not like we need to rely on anyone else to take care of our kids. We do not enlist friends and other family members to help us. We do not live off of the government as Mike makes good money. We do our job ourselves and I think I make a pretty damn good mother.
I do know now however that I would NEVER encourage anyone to ever get their tubes tied be you male or female....afterall life changes, feelings change, your circumstances change....just because you feel one way now about something does NOT mean you will always feel that way. I say stay on birthcontrol until you can no longer concieve. You never know when you might change your mind.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Falling together!
As I sit here trying to decide what it is I want to right today I feel lost. I feel the urge to write/blog, but I really have nothing.......so I sit, and I wait....and think about all the crazy happenings in my life....and I ponder and think some more about all the love in my life.
This is where I smile because I know my life is complete! Even amoung all the crazy topsy tervy backspins and flip flops I know I am the happiest mother and wife alive! We have our moments and our issues, but I could not really ask for anything else in this life! I have an amazing husband, wonderful children, a great family and an AWESOME GOD who saw fit to give it all to me. I have to put my trust in him and know he knew what he was doing when he entrusted me with these 6 little lives and when he place my husband and I together. He knew we both needed to work on who we were to become better people and he knows together we can figure it out....but we NEED his help. We cannot do this on our own....
I am trying to find my place. I know that sounds funny esp coming from me. But right now I am feeling a bit out of sorts. I love being a stay at home mom and I am the happiest I have ever been. I do not have to worry about anyone or anything outside of my family and that is the best feeling in the world. Though I find myself wanting to be there for those who have always depended on me in the past. I find it hard to let go fully, but know I need to. My husband and my children come first and in order to be who and what they need I need to let all else go.
Like I said trying to find my place and in some cases my groove....I look around and know that this is what I should be doing. I need to get our lives back on track and put back in order. Nothing makes me happier than getting to play with my lil girl and know that I will get no outside interuptions if I don't want them. She can have my full undivided attention and I LOVE it. I like knowing that at night my other 5 children are not competing with anyone else for my love and attention, it is just them.
Things seem so much quieter and more peaceful. We finally have a grip on us....Now onto the organization...I cannot seem to find it. The house is coming along great one moment, but I find it so easy to slack off. I need to get things in order so things feel more peaceful!
I have the most wonderful, supportive, loving, patient and kind husband anyone could ask for. He is my rock and my shoulder for comfort. I know with everything in me that we are a part of God's ultimate plan and that he put us together for a reason. I know he entrusted these 6 little miracles to us because he knew not only did they need us, but we needed them!
My life is so full and complete! I look into the eyes of my children and I know I am where God wants me to be....I also know he wants me to be the best mom and wife I can be too! This is where my strength in him needs to come in so I can be who he intended me to be, it is a growing and learning process....and boy do I have alot to learn!
This is where I smile because I know my life is complete! Even amoung all the crazy topsy tervy backspins and flip flops I know I am the happiest mother and wife alive! We have our moments and our issues, but I could not really ask for anything else in this life! I have an amazing husband, wonderful children, a great family and an AWESOME GOD who saw fit to give it all to me. I have to put my trust in him and know he knew what he was doing when he entrusted me with these 6 little lives and when he place my husband and I together. He knew we both needed to work on who we were to become better people and he knows together we can figure it out....but we NEED his help. We cannot do this on our own....
I am trying to find my place. I know that sounds funny esp coming from me. But right now I am feeling a bit out of sorts. I love being a stay at home mom and I am the happiest I have ever been. I do not have to worry about anyone or anything outside of my family and that is the best feeling in the world. Though I find myself wanting to be there for those who have always depended on me in the past. I find it hard to let go fully, but know I need to. My husband and my children come first and in order to be who and what they need I need to let all else go.
Like I said trying to find my place and in some cases my groove....I look around and know that this is what I should be doing. I need to get our lives back on track and put back in order. Nothing makes me happier than getting to play with my lil girl and know that I will get no outside interuptions if I don't want them. She can have my full undivided attention and I LOVE it. I like knowing that at night my other 5 children are not competing with anyone else for my love and attention, it is just them.
Things seem so much quieter and more peaceful. We finally have a grip on us....Now onto the organization...I cannot seem to find it. The house is coming along great one moment, but I find it so easy to slack off. I need to get things in order so things feel more peaceful!
I have the most wonderful, supportive, loving, patient and kind husband anyone could ask for. He is my rock and my shoulder for comfort. I know with everything in me that we are a part of God's ultimate plan and that he put us together for a reason. I know he entrusted these 6 little miracles to us because he knew not only did they need us, but we needed them!
My life is so full and complete! I look into the eyes of my children and I know I am where God wants me to be....I also know he wants me to be the best mom and wife I can be too! This is where my strength in him needs to come in so I can be who he intended me to be, it is a growing and learning process....and boy do I have alot to learn!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
My Life
Sometimes I feel as if I am seen as nothing more than your own personal assistant. My life and my actions must revolve first and foremost around you and what you have going on. Even if I am focused on one of the kids I must be in tune and ready to jump for you. I am fine so long as I either have all of the kids with me or my plans are not interfering with you. It is like life needs to reflect and revolve around you. Forbid you don't do something because you are doing your "Primary" job which is being a father.
I do not want the job of being a single mother. But I feel as if I am placed into that role. The only real difference is I have to also be responsible for another adult. This is not what I asked for or signed up for, but this is my life. What I want sits and waits until maybe I can kinda find the time.....oh wait that never happens. If I do not take time to make sure everything is in place and nothing interferes with you and what you have going on then I am obviously not doing my job right. That is not fair and I don't understand how you think it is.
The only thing in my life that makes me truly happy is the kids. The rest of my life is just there and I feel I just exist among it all. I do not feel as if I am a partner in my relationship. I do not feel as if I am an equal. I do not feels as if I count for anything. I feel that I am here to take care of not only the kids but you and that I must always put my wants and needs last. As much as I normal enjoy sex, I feel it is just one more thing I have to do and honestly I hate it. It feels like just one more job I have to add to my list of things to do.
I sit and stare at this damn computer screen because it is the only escape from real life I get. It is the only time I get to dream or feel like I am even alive anymore. I feel like I have taken so many wrong turns in life and the only thing that feels right is when I look into my precious children's eyes or feel their hugs or hear them say I love you. Everything else is just a hollow void needing to be filled. Without my kids I am alone and empty........at one time you filled the that space. At one time life was about me and about us.....and now it is about me being with the kids, taking care of the house, dinner, the schedules, the bills, your needs and wants, and whatever else may come up. And your life is about you.....you watch what you want when you want and me and the kids better not expect any attention in the mean time, you do your thing without their being a schedule. You are on your time, because it is not about me, the kids, or even us...it is about you.
Anytime I leave I am on a time constraint. I have to be available to run home for a bond or whatever you have going on. Nothing about our life is about me. If I am gone too long I can look forward to a txt asking me how much longer or am I almost done or home. Like I said the only time I am free to do what I want and in many cases what I need to do is if I drag a herd of children behind me because you cannot be bothered.
This is my life daily and you don't see a problem with it.....but if life interferes with you.....then we have an issue.
Well I titled this blog wild ride for a reason, but right now.....I only want off.
I do not want the job of being a single mother. But I feel as if I am placed into that role. The only real difference is I have to also be responsible for another adult. This is not what I asked for or signed up for, but this is my life. What I want sits and waits until maybe I can kinda find the time.....oh wait that never happens. If I do not take time to make sure everything is in place and nothing interferes with you and what you have going on then I am obviously not doing my job right. That is not fair and I don't understand how you think it is.
The only thing in my life that makes me truly happy is the kids. The rest of my life is just there and I feel I just exist among it all. I do not feel as if I am a partner in my relationship. I do not feel as if I am an equal. I do not feels as if I count for anything. I feel that I am here to take care of not only the kids but you and that I must always put my wants and needs last. As much as I normal enjoy sex, I feel it is just one more thing I have to do and honestly I hate it. It feels like just one more job I have to add to my list of things to do.
I sit and stare at this damn computer screen because it is the only escape from real life I get. It is the only time I get to dream or feel like I am even alive anymore. I feel like I have taken so many wrong turns in life and the only thing that feels right is when I look into my precious children's eyes or feel their hugs or hear them say I love you. Everything else is just a hollow void needing to be filled. Without my kids I am alone and empty........at one time you filled the that space. At one time life was about me and about us.....and now it is about me being with the kids, taking care of the house, dinner, the schedules, the bills, your needs and wants, and whatever else may come up. And your life is about you.....you watch what you want when you want and me and the kids better not expect any attention in the mean time, you do your thing without their being a schedule. You are on your time, because it is not about me, the kids, or even us...it is about you.
Anytime I leave I am on a time constraint. I have to be available to run home for a bond or whatever you have going on. Nothing about our life is about me. If I am gone too long I can look forward to a txt asking me how much longer or am I almost done or home. Like I said the only time I am free to do what I want and in many cases what I need to do is if I drag a herd of children behind me because you cannot be bothered.
This is my life daily and you don't see a problem with it.....but if life interferes with you.....then we have an issue.
Well I titled this blog wild ride for a reason, but right now.....I only want off.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Dirty Little Secret Exposed
This may not be the correct title for this blog, but it is the first thing that really came to mind. So here goes.....
Growing up my dad was not around...I would like to believe it was the Military and the fact that he lived overseas that kept him away...the cost of flying home not only himself but the family that lived with him had to be far to expensive to consider. I was far to young to appreciate Australia and Japan...if he was anywhere else I am not really sure as the only contact I had with him was via his parents.
I did hear from hi with a birthday card and Christmas card...when I was younger I got $25 and thought I was rich that was so much money to me. As I got older the amount increased to $50. I had really scored with that sort of cash (well a check).
My dad moved back to the states when I was 11. He was stationed in Fla and I still never seen him. The Christmas I was in 7th grade I received a package from my dad for Christmas. In this package was a card that said Love, Dad, Susan, and Lissa. I was confused I did not know who Lissa and Susan were...I had just seen my dad a lil over a yr ago and he made no mention of them to me. Was he so excited to see me that it slipped his mind? I asked my grandparents about them and this is the first I hear that I have another little sister. Part of me was excited to have a sister and part of me was angry that my dad had never told me about her. Though really when was he supposed to after all my birthday and Christmas were still the only contact I had with him and he was now state side.
I often wondered why I never got to go to Fla to see my dad. Kids in divorced homes always flew without an adult. I had friends who did it every summer. I often wondered if my dad really loved me and wanted me while I was growing up. I mean he never really did anything to show me that I was special to him.
When I was 14 my grandparents took me to Fla to see my dad. I now had a new little brother who was 8 months old and both of my sisters were living with him too. I was so excited to finally get to see Amber again and meet Lissa and Dylan....I think I spent most of my time down there with either Carrie the neighbor or Dylan. I fell totally in love with him the moment I laid eyes on him. Maybe that is why I feel I have this connection with him even thouhg we were never around each other. That was a GREAT trip. I got to spend time with my dad, I loved my step mom she was the GREATEST! And I had 3 siblings who I wanted more than anything to get to know better....even if they were all alot younger than me...
I went home glad to finally be building a relationship with my dad. I had waited forever for this....I wrote him and Susan all the time and told them of all the things going on in my life and I anxiously awaited their replies and for the latest on the kids. The next summer came and I was so excited to hopefully get to go down to Fla again....I wrote my dad and asked him and he said it was a bad time and he couldn't afford an airline ticket. I was bummed but quickly came up with the idea of paying for half of it with all my babysitting money...this time it was not my dad who replied, but Susan and she told me my dad could not write a reply to me because it broke his heart to half to tell me no but they simply just could not afford it. I was crushed. I had been waiting all school yr to get to see them again. I was so excited to finally be apart of the other half of my family only to learn it would not happen this yr.
Little did I know it would NOT happen. Every yr my dad had some reason why he could not buy or help me buy a ticket to come see them. Every yr my heart was broken more and more. Did my dad not want to see me? Was I not really apart of his family? Why wouldn't he want to save a little bit of money every month so he could fly me down there? Why wouldn't he want to get to know me? Afterall I am his oldest...or did he really just want to forget about me? Was I an inconvienance to him? (I know plane tickets were around $300 at the time because I would check every yr to see if I could afford my own and I never could).
The older I got the less I tried to be involved with my dad. I was tired of trying to be the adult in the situation and tired of putting the effort forward....the only thing I ever asked my dad for was his time and attention...and his love. The only way I could see this happening was to be able to go see him...and he NEVER found a way to make it happen. My heart had been broken beyond repair. I couldn't even count the pieces anymore there were so many and they were so small. I gave up hope in trying.
When I turned 18 I dropped out of school. I really do not have a good reason after all I was top of the class. But all in all school bored me and I decided to leave. I sat down and wrote my dad a letter telling him I was 18, I wasn't in school he no longer needed to pay child support...I no longer needed to be an obligation to him and I no longer needed to be a part of his life. I do not remember the letter in detail, but I do remember I filled him in on all my favorites in life, the fact that I had a longstanding boyfriend of 2+ yrs and many other things that a father should know about their child but he most likely did not know about me. I told him as far as I was concerned we could go our separate ways. I no longer needed birthday cards, Christmas cards...nothing. We no longer needed to pretend we were family. I felt I was a secret from a past life that he wanted to forget. So now was his chance, his time he could forget about me and I would do the same about him. I would go on with my life with the ones who truly did love me and were not afraid or embarrassed to show it. Those who did not make up excuses to me. Those who put me first and made the effort to have me in their lives.
I received a letter back from him. I do not know exactly what I was expecting it to say...I'm sorry maybe...there would be a start...but that is NOT what I got. I received a letter saying "I'm sorry YOU feel that way" not I'm sorry i have made you feel that way....first sentence and I was already like whatever...though he took time to send me the letter and give me his side I owed it to him to read it...he went on to blame everything on my mom and his ex wife Helen. He took no responsibility for alienating me or making me feel shunned. To this day I will say I understand most of my childhood he was not in the US so it really was too hard for him to include me in his life, but what about when he moved back and was stationed in the US? What about my teen yrs when most girls have their fathers as their male role models?
I had to of the best role models I could ever ask for. My Grandpa Byron whom I loved dearly with my whole heart and my Uncle Jim. For them I will truly be grateful for the rest of my life. They were always there for me. They always had time for me. I was not an inconvenience to them...I was truly loved by them.
The summer of 97 I was getting married and felt I really needed to invite my dad though I did NOT want him to give me away. I did not feel he deserved the right. He may have been my biological father, but he was never anything more than that to me. Though I needed to invite him. I did not want to ever regret not inviting him. I had a traditional wedding...with a nontraditional twist, my Grandpa and Uncle both walked me down the isle...what could have been more fitting than the 2 men who meant the most to me aside from my future husband to give me away? My dad showed up. And to my surprise I was really glad to see him, though I did not regret my decision to not have him walk me down the isle.
It was sort of ironic how him being at my wedding, but not giving me away sparked an interest in me and my life...he started calling me. I do not ever remember my dad calling me in my life! I was so excited to finally be starting a relationship with my dad....even if it was late. From this point on I heard from my dad almost every month...I was elated! This is what I had wanted my whole life and now I was finally getting it.
I had went to Fla several times courtesy of John's parents and each time my dad made an effort to come across state to see us. It was GREAT. I was finally really truly a part of his family even if I was an adult. Though the next time I seen him after my wedding he did havee a 13 month old granddaughter! I was still excited to see them all!
As time passed John's parents continued to pay for us to go to Fla every yr and every yr my dad continued to come across state to see us. We were on the road to finally building a relationship.
Growing up my dad was not around...I would like to believe it was the Military and the fact that he lived overseas that kept him away...the cost of flying home not only himself but the family that lived with him had to be far to expensive to consider. I was far to young to appreciate Australia and Japan...if he was anywhere else I am not really sure as the only contact I had with him was via his parents.
I did hear from hi with a birthday card and Christmas card...when I was younger I got $25 and thought I was rich that was so much money to me. As I got older the amount increased to $50. I had really scored with that sort of cash (well a check).
My dad moved back to the states when I was 11. He was stationed in Fla and I still never seen him. The Christmas I was in 7th grade I received a package from my dad for Christmas. In this package was a card that said Love, Dad, Susan, and Lissa. I was confused I did not know who Lissa and Susan were...I had just seen my dad a lil over a yr ago and he made no mention of them to me. Was he so excited to see me that it slipped his mind? I asked my grandparents about them and this is the first I hear that I have another little sister. Part of me was excited to have a sister and part of me was angry that my dad had never told me about her. Though really when was he supposed to after all my birthday and Christmas were still the only contact I had with him and he was now state side.
I often wondered why I never got to go to Fla to see my dad. Kids in divorced homes always flew without an adult. I had friends who did it every summer. I often wondered if my dad really loved me and wanted me while I was growing up. I mean he never really did anything to show me that I was special to him.
When I was 14 my grandparents took me to Fla to see my dad. I now had a new little brother who was 8 months old and both of my sisters were living with him too. I was so excited to finally get to see Amber again and meet Lissa and Dylan....I think I spent most of my time down there with either Carrie the neighbor or Dylan. I fell totally in love with him the moment I laid eyes on him. Maybe that is why I feel I have this connection with him even thouhg we were never around each other. That was a GREAT trip. I got to spend time with my dad, I loved my step mom she was the GREATEST! And I had 3 siblings who I wanted more than anything to get to know better....even if they were all alot younger than me...
I went home glad to finally be building a relationship with my dad. I had waited forever for this....I wrote him and Susan all the time and told them of all the things going on in my life and I anxiously awaited their replies and for the latest on the kids. The next summer came and I was so excited to hopefully get to go down to Fla again....I wrote my dad and asked him and he said it was a bad time and he couldn't afford an airline ticket. I was bummed but quickly came up with the idea of paying for half of it with all my babysitting money...this time it was not my dad who replied, but Susan and she told me my dad could not write a reply to me because it broke his heart to half to tell me no but they simply just could not afford it. I was crushed. I had been waiting all school yr to get to see them again. I was so excited to finally be apart of the other half of my family only to learn it would not happen this yr.
Little did I know it would NOT happen. Every yr my dad had some reason why he could not buy or help me buy a ticket to come see them. Every yr my heart was broken more and more. Did my dad not want to see me? Was I not really apart of his family? Why wouldn't he want to save a little bit of money every month so he could fly me down there? Why wouldn't he want to get to know me? Afterall I am his oldest...or did he really just want to forget about me? Was I an inconvienance to him? (I know plane tickets were around $300 at the time because I would check every yr to see if I could afford my own and I never could).
The older I got the less I tried to be involved with my dad. I was tired of trying to be the adult in the situation and tired of putting the effort forward....the only thing I ever asked my dad for was his time and attention...and his love. The only way I could see this happening was to be able to go see him...and he NEVER found a way to make it happen. My heart had been broken beyond repair. I couldn't even count the pieces anymore there were so many and they were so small. I gave up hope in trying.
When I turned 18 I dropped out of school. I really do not have a good reason after all I was top of the class. But all in all school bored me and I decided to leave. I sat down and wrote my dad a letter telling him I was 18, I wasn't in school he no longer needed to pay child support...I no longer needed to be an obligation to him and I no longer needed to be a part of his life. I do not remember the letter in detail, but I do remember I filled him in on all my favorites in life, the fact that I had a longstanding boyfriend of 2+ yrs and many other things that a father should know about their child but he most likely did not know about me. I told him as far as I was concerned we could go our separate ways. I no longer needed birthday cards, Christmas cards...nothing. We no longer needed to pretend we were family. I felt I was a secret from a past life that he wanted to forget. So now was his chance, his time he could forget about me and I would do the same about him. I would go on with my life with the ones who truly did love me and were not afraid or embarrassed to show it. Those who did not make up excuses to me. Those who put me first and made the effort to have me in their lives.
I received a letter back from him. I do not know exactly what I was expecting it to say...I'm sorry maybe...there would be a start...but that is NOT what I got. I received a letter saying "I'm sorry YOU feel that way" not I'm sorry i have made you feel that way....first sentence and I was already like whatever...though he took time to send me the letter and give me his side I owed it to him to read it...he went on to blame everything on my mom and his ex wife Helen. He took no responsibility for alienating me or making me feel shunned. To this day I will say I understand most of my childhood he was not in the US so it really was too hard for him to include me in his life, but what about when he moved back and was stationed in the US? What about my teen yrs when most girls have their fathers as their male role models?
I had to of the best role models I could ever ask for. My Grandpa Byron whom I loved dearly with my whole heart and my Uncle Jim. For them I will truly be grateful for the rest of my life. They were always there for me. They always had time for me. I was not an inconvenience to them...I was truly loved by them.
The summer of 97 I was getting married and felt I really needed to invite my dad though I did NOT want him to give me away. I did not feel he deserved the right. He may have been my biological father, but he was never anything more than that to me. Though I needed to invite him. I did not want to ever regret not inviting him. I had a traditional wedding...with a nontraditional twist, my Grandpa and Uncle both walked me down the isle...what could have been more fitting than the 2 men who meant the most to me aside from my future husband to give me away? My dad showed up. And to my surprise I was really glad to see him, though I did not regret my decision to not have him walk me down the isle.
It was sort of ironic how him being at my wedding, but not giving me away sparked an interest in me and my life...he started calling me. I do not ever remember my dad calling me in my life! I was so excited to finally be starting a relationship with my dad....even if it was late. From this point on I heard from my dad almost every month...I was elated! This is what I had wanted my whole life and now I was finally getting it.
I had went to Fla several times courtesy of John's parents and each time my dad made an effort to come across state to see us. It was GREAT. I was finally really truly a part of his family even if I was an adult. Though the next time I seen him after my wedding he did havee a 13 month old granddaughter! I was still excited to see them all!
As time passed John's parents continued to pay for us to go to Fla every yr and every yr my dad continued to come across state to see us. We were on the road to finally building a relationship.
Back so Soon
Ironically I have not blogged in back to back days for a long time. Today though I feel like spilling...what exactly I do not know. I guess we shall find out as my blog unfolds this morning.
I sit here this morning and think about life as it unfolds and I know I am truly blessed. I have 6 wonderful kids and an amazing husband! They are my life and without them truly I would be lost. So as I continue to think my mind wonders to the age old thought of "why is it so much easier to be nice to a complete stranger than it is to be nice to the ones we love"? What I mean by this is....when a stranger gets in our way and it is irritates us we tend to shrug it off when they acknowledge that they are in our way. Yet when it is one of our children it is so much easier to yell at them for being in say the kitchen than to say something nice to them about not being in the kitchen.
I often find myself getting frustrated at many of the little things in life, or the small things my kids or husband do. Yes I have to admit...I am the mother of 6 and I am a yeller. I do find most of the time this does not accomplish what I am hoping to. It either ends up in my husband and I fighting or one of my kids crying and in some cases yelling back. I tell myself next time I will not react this way....and the next time I yell. I am trying to find alternatives to the loudness, but it only seems to work temporarily. My husband and kids are my life, they are my world and yet...I yell at them at the drop of a hat. I never used to be this way. I rarely raised my voice...why now am I so quick to shout?
I look at my kids and do not know what I would do without them. Yes 6 kids can be tiring, but they are truly my inspiration. They are the reason I wake each day and they are my last thought as I close my eyes for the night. I know many of my parenting tactics are no longer the norm. I am pretty old school you could say. I still believe in spankings...I believe in the old adage "Spare the rod spoil the child" as many would like to point out that verse is NOT in the Bible, but the Bible is actually more harsh. The Bible clearly states "Beat your child with the rod for he shall not die". So until God tells me it is wrong to spank...I will spank! I do not beat my kids they get a whack or two on the bottom...and they are over it almost as soon as I am done. Even at that they rarely get spanked. Now the yelling...I do not feel is right, but I cannot seem to stop. It almost always seems to be my reaction after I have asked them to quit and they persist.
So I continue trying to improve this area sometimes I feel like I am making progress on the "road to recovery" from yelling and other times I feel like I have went all the way back to start. I have decided that this blog is not all about the roses and sunshine, but instead it is about me on my path to becoming a better wife and mother. I know I do the mothering job pretty darn well, but there is room for improvement. I have a little bit of issue dominating when it comes to being a wife. I guess lack of structure and discipline in our roles makes it easy for me to take over....I feel a strong family has a strong leader...but sometimes my strength is also my greatest weakness or even downfall.
With the Lord as my guide I know I will beat this, but the devil tricks me every time I think I am getting it right. I pray for strength as I start my day. I pray for guidance as I aspire to be a better wife and mother. So slowly I move forward on this road called "MY LIFE".
I sit here this morning and think about life as it unfolds and I know I am truly blessed. I have 6 wonderful kids and an amazing husband! They are my life and without them truly I would be lost. So as I continue to think my mind wonders to the age old thought of "why is it so much easier to be nice to a complete stranger than it is to be nice to the ones we love"? What I mean by this is....when a stranger gets in our way and it is irritates us we tend to shrug it off when they acknowledge that they are in our way. Yet when it is one of our children it is so much easier to yell at them for being in say the kitchen than to say something nice to them about not being in the kitchen.
I often find myself getting frustrated at many of the little things in life, or the small things my kids or husband do. Yes I have to admit...I am the mother of 6 and I am a yeller. I do find most of the time this does not accomplish what I am hoping to. It either ends up in my husband and I fighting or one of my kids crying and in some cases yelling back. I tell myself next time I will not react this way....and the next time I yell. I am trying to find alternatives to the loudness, but it only seems to work temporarily. My husband and kids are my life, they are my world and yet...I yell at them at the drop of a hat. I never used to be this way. I rarely raised my voice...why now am I so quick to shout?
I look at my kids and do not know what I would do without them. Yes 6 kids can be tiring, but they are truly my inspiration. They are the reason I wake each day and they are my last thought as I close my eyes for the night. I know many of my parenting tactics are no longer the norm. I am pretty old school you could say. I still believe in spankings...I believe in the old adage "Spare the rod spoil the child" as many would like to point out that verse is NOT in the Bible, but the Bible is actually more harsh. The Bible clearly states "Beat your child with the rod for he shall not die". So until God tells me it is wrong to spank...I will spank! I do not beat my kids they get a whack or two on the bottom...and they are over it almost as soon as I am done. Even at that they rarely get spanked. Now the yelling...I do not feel is right, but I cannot seem to stop. It almost always seems to be my reaction after I have asked them to quit and they persist.
So I continue trying to improve this area sometimes I feel like I am making progress on the "road to recovery" from yelling and other times I feel like I have went all the way back to start. I have decided that this blog is not all about the roses and sunshine, but instead it is about me on my path to becoming a better wife and mother. I know I do the mothering job pretty darn well, but there is room for improvement. I have a little bit of issue dominating when it comes to being a wife. I guess lack of structure and discipline in our roles makes it easy for me to take over....I feel a strong family has a strong leader...but sometimes my strength is also my greatest weakness or even downfall.
With the Lord as my guide I know I will beat this, but the devil tricks me every time I think I am getting it right. I pray for strength as I start my day. I pray for guidance as I aspire to be a better wife and mother. So slowly I move forward on this road called "MY LIFE".
Monday, December 6, 2010
Where does the time go?
I am sitting here and I realize it is already Dec 6, 2010. Where did the last yr go? My baby is no longer a baby and my oldest is almost a teen. Mo and Amber will be hitting double digits in this next yr....and Brandon will offically go off to Kindergarden. I am NOT ready for this...I don't want them to keep getting bigger. I do NOT want baby to keep growing...though I am not totally impressed with her demanding little self right now...LOL
I feel like everytime I turn around my house looks like a tornado hit it...and well technically 6 of them did, but I would love a break. Today for the first time in a LONG time I got all my laundry done! I am so proud of myself! Well I do have to give credit to my mom. She did laundry all day yesterday. To think 2 full days of laundry and at 10:24 pm I finally get to put the last load into the dryer....though I have almost a full load since the kids put their pjs on, but not enough like colors for me to wash. I think I am actually thankful though...LOL.
I suppose life in our house would be a little easier if we were not living out of boxes (bathroom stuff) due to the remodel. I am so super excited to see the finished product, but it seems to be taking forever....waiting on the electical inspector....he comes Thursday finally...YAY!
So this anger issue of mine....(seems to mainly be at Mike)yeah it's back...and I hate it. He seems to know how to hit every single button then goes back for a second time. Why? It is like he does it on purpose...my brother noticed it several diff times and even called him out on it. UGH!
Well Christmas is approaching very fast...as I do not have the tree up yet. My plan is to put it up Thursday and have it up when the kids get home from school. I do not know if I can complete that task, but that is the plan. Then when the kids come home they can decorate it. Oh sounds so fun! When ever am I gonna find time to shop? When are we gonna find time to take the kids shopping so they can do the Angel Tree? There just never seems to be enough time.
I cannot wait until December 17th. Bre and Brandon will be out of school for 2 whole wks. I wish they all were, but gotta love the public school system (NOT).
Well I suppose this blog got boring fast....LOL
I feel like everytime I turn around my house looks like a tornado hit it...and well technically 6 of them did, but I would love a break. Today for the first time in a LONG time I got all my laundry done! I am so proud of myself! Well I do have to give credit to my mom. She did laundry all day yesterday. To think 2 full days of laundry and at 10:24 pm I finally get to put the last load into the dryer....though I have almost a full load since the kids put their pjs on, but not enough like colors for me to wash. I think I am actually thankful though...LOL.
I suppose life in our house would be a little easier if we were not living out of boxes (bathroom stuff) due to the remodel. I am so super excited to see the finished product, but it seems to be taking forever....waiting on the electical inspector....he comes Thursday finally...YAY!
So this anger issue of mine....(seems to mainly be at Mike)yeah it's back...and I hate it. He seems to know how to hit every single button then goes back for a second time. Why? It is like he does it on purpose...my brother noticed it several diff times and even called him out on it. UGH!
Well Christmas is approaching very fast...as I do not have the tree up yet. My plan is to put it up Thursday and have it up when the kids get home from school. I do not know if I can complete that task, but that is the plan. Then when the kids come home they can decorate it. Oh sounds so fun! When ever am I gonna find time to shop? When are we gonna find time to take the kids shopping so they can do the Angel Tree? There just never seems to be enough time.
I cannot wait until December 17th. Bre and Brandon will be out of school for 2 whole wks. I wish they all were, but gotta love the public school system (NOT).
Well I suppose this blog got boring fast....LOL
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)