The mom Life is TUFF

Being a MOM is the hardest job I have ever had! When your children are little you just want to protect them and it is a little easier to do that when they are little. Everyone is friends with everyone and everyone makes the team and great plays. As they get older not everyone wants to be their friend, they don't make everything they try out for, they don't make great plays and sometimes school is just hard.  Through these trials, they learn to adapt, get a little tougher skinned and as a mom you squeeze them a little tighter, kissed them a little more and gave them a pep talk to make them feel better. It still pulls on your heartstrings and breaks your heart a little more each time. Even as your children grow into young adults, you want want to protect them from heartbreak, failure and disappointment but you can't. I think, as a mom, it hurts worse to try to comfort young adults, it breaks your heart even more and you try to be strong for them but you cry your eyes out in private.

It breaks my heart to see my kids hurt and not be able to 'fix' it for them. I know these trials will make them stronger and a better person but it is hard to watch them go through. I put on my proud mom face and give them the best pep talk I can and secretly fall apart inside. Not only is it a life lesson for them but a life lesson for me. I don't think it will ever get easier. But I know as long as we have each other we will make it through whatever trials we may face. The hurt along the way just makes us stronger for the next one. The pain never gets easy but seeing my kids push through and accomplish great things makes it a little more forgetful.

Take chances in life, don't be afraid, follow your heart your dreams and when you fall pick yourself up, dust yourself off and try again.

Who is this mermaid...

I am a mom, sister, aunt, girlfriend, educator and a beach lover!  I have made a lifetime of memories with my children from living room camp outs to Disney trips! Great outdoor adventures, educational trips, trips just for fun, short trips, long trips and in between trips. No matter where we went and what we did, it was always the three of us and we always had a lot of fun. It warms my heart to hear my kids say, "Do you remember..." .  I know I was not always the best Mom but I did the best I could and love my children with all my being! 

My daughter, the oldest, MK is living her best life! She is attending the best college. But she is also traveling the world and following her dreams. She has her mind set on a path is following her path, making memories! I don't want to rush her through college but I can't wait to see where she will go and what she will accomplish. I am so very proud of her. I knew once she spread her wings and flew she would love it 

My youngst, son, BM is also following his dreams. After he graduated from high school he left for Army basic training. It broke my heart to see him leave but being an "Army man" is something he has wanted to be since he was 6 years old. It was a long 10 weeks for me but I know it was even longer for him! He is almost finished with all his training, he just left for Airborne school today and is on cloud 9, no pun intended. When all his training is complete he will attend the college of his choice to pursue a degree in a field he loves. I am so proud of him for following his dreams and achieving his goals thus far. I know he will be successful in college and his career choice. 

Whenever we would embark on our adventures, I would tell my children, "We are going to make some memories!".  I know I have some great memories of all our fun times, they outweigh our bad times. I think my children understand the importance of making memories and they are always up for an adventure. It's always been the three of us and it is hard now that we are all under separate roofs and miles away from each other. So we are all adjusting to our new lives. As Lilo says, "We may be small. We may be broken. But we are Ohana." And I love my little family and the memories we have  made along the way and look forward to the memories we will make.

This blog will now be about my adventure as a single mermaid swimming through the next phase of my life. I have a wonderful boyfriend, so now it is time for us to have adventures. It is time for me to also venture out on my own and do some solo adventures. I also have wonderful friends who keep me grounded but encourage my adventurous streak! 

See Later 2018

Highlights of 2018~

• Turned 50
• Youngest child graduated high school
• Youngest child joined Army National Guard
• Youngest child left for boot camp
• Turned 50
• Oldest child moved to college 5 hours away
• Oldest child decided to travel the world and did it!
• Turned 50
• Both children in the path of 2 seperate hurricanes
• Annual beach trip with my girlfriends, during another hurricane!
• Annual beach trip with my gal pal, this time oldest child joined us
• Turned 50
• Became an empty nester