Thoughts of a Mother

Like most moms, I often wonder if I am parenting right. Am I going to screw up my kids beyond repair? Am I setting good examples? Am I raising our children to be the people I imagine them as adults? Will they be independent adults? Will they show sympathy to those less fortunate? I could go on forever.



Parenting three children is rather difficult. I find myself rethinking so much lately. I am trying different techniques, and get frustrated when it doesn't work out. I know part of the problem, which I am learning to deal with, is that I want instant results. And that is not always going to happen with a 2 and 3 year old. Not even with a 6 year old. I guess no one is perect and we all struggle.

I did get some reassurance the other day in the car. We were on our way home, and Brenna tells me "Do you know what I was just thinking?" i replied "No. What were you thinking?"

She then tells me she want to be better. Ok. I was really confused by this statement. And frankly it scared me. My first thought was that we were going to have to start dealing with self-esteem. And we have yet to trample onto that ground, because brenna is very self assured. But then she continued...

She said she wants to do better and finish all her work in class (she has been struggling with this because she likes to help all the other students on her group with their work, and she gets bored, and she likes to socialize). She also said she wants to listen to us better. And she said she wants keep her room clean.



I was in shock. I couldn't believe that she was even thinking about those things. I was so proud. My little 6 year old was maturing and thinking responsibly. My bright child. Maybe we are doing something right. :)

Life with a Toddler

Cleaning up messes like this has become part of my daily routine, and I very much daydream of days when I no longer have to worry with this sort of headache. Do you even know how uneasy it is to clean up spaghetti?




Brenna was such an easy child, and still is. I never really grasped the idea of a hyper and extremely free-willed toddler, until now. Trent was very "go with the flow". But Emily is a totally different story. She colored all over herself with a green marker one night. And I didn't even know until she came to me to "go potty", because she was supposed to be in bed. And just because it is washable, does not mean it comes off easily.

I often fail to come up with ways of parenting her. I have no clue how to reach inside and get her to listen. And I find myself wishing her toddler years away. But then I remember she has moments of sweetness and tenderness. And I sometimes have to remind myself she will only be little once, and I have to endure the bad and ejoy the good.

And she is my last child. No more babies for us. Although I secretly wish for just one more (another boy).

Just like Daddy

I know I have neglected this blog for some time now--But in my defense I have been moving, without the internet (still am), and taking on life.

I am realizing one thing--that my children's annoying habit of aggravating eachother might just be hereditary. YES! I think it is a predisposition that may not be helped. Or it may just be learned from their father. Either way, I think the culprit is their daddy.

Now Brenna doesn't care to annoy others. But Trent and Emily find some (actually lots of) joy in other's misery. Mainly Emily does things to aggravate Trent, while Trent does things to aggravate Brenna (maybe this is just a younger to older sibling rivalry we are dealing with here).

Lastight Emily was laying beside Justin on the couch (while watching a movie). This is something that happens almost never. She rarely wants to have anything to do with him. So of course he was loving it. But then (and he knows how moody she can get) he starts picking at her. I mean, come on! She was sitting so quiet and content, but he couldn't resist apparently. I even warned him, but he proceeded anyway. And once was not enough-he continued until she had enough and moved away.

Then I started thinking--Trent and Emily both aggravate their older siblings like their happiness depends on it. And maybe it is something that Justin has given them, whether biologically or through example. Whatever the reason--I think I am giving up on trying to stop it all the time. (Although, if you have ever heard Trent's whine you might see why I hate for Emily to annoy him. And I feel sorry for Brenna when she gets it from Trent, because I remember being just like her when I was little and my younger sister constantly did things just to get o my nerves--I guess it's an attention thing.)

--And by the way, we all get it from Justin. haha.

Moving Day

Moving day is coming soon. It may actually be sooner than we thought. And they got us a 2nd floor apartment. So glad for that!! And Saturday we are going to look at the place we will be living. Our original move in date was set for October 1, but it looks like we might be moving in Sept 25. A week sooner.

I can not wait to be finished with school. I feel like we are in this limbo for now. Waiting for life to really begin. Even though I know our life is happening right now.

Homework and Fighting Children

I completed my first essay for my writing class this morning and typed it up and got it turned in on time. A class that I foolish must take because I foolish forgot to take the Regent's tests. So now I am stuck taking a reading class and a writing class. Classes I would not have to take had I taken the test becaue I would have passes the test. Oh well. We live. We learn.

This morning Trent adn Emily have been bickering aimlessly over everything. It is such an annoying sound. It almost interfered with me getting my assignment turned in on time. Luckily I was able to calm the waters to give me just enough time to finish typing and submit my work.

Afterwards was a little different story. They fought more over cars being stolen and blankets being captured. Emily like to aggravate Trent because she knows she will get such a dramatic performance from him. Unfortunately for me bathroom time never means quiet or alone time. (Emily is pretty much attached at the hip). The fight was brought into the bathroom, as I sit helplessly on the toilet. Thank goodness I have been working with Trent on not tackling Emily to the floor everytime she takes his toys. I was able to keep Trent somewhat calm and I got the car from Emily. I asked Trent if there was something she could play with, and he gives me this look like "I know, I know." haha. I have also been trying to get him to give her something in return of his toy. So maybe she won't steal it back.

For the most part my days are a little easier with Brenna and Keegan in school. But now Emily needs entertaining. Before she followed the three older kids around.

Well naptime calls and I think it is time for me to get a little shut eye too.

First Grade, New Places, New Beginnings, Old and New friends

Brenna started first grade this week, and at our top school choice. YAY!! She has a first year teacher, which has made the transition into a new school easier. Brenna is a very resilient little girl though. She handles change very well.

This move has been good and a little difficult. Trent has probably had the hardest time with the change. He just wants his own room with his own bed and his own toys. I can't blame him. Living with another family is very hard and trying sometimes. I love my sister and her family, but I like my own space.

We move into our apartment in a month though. So it is coming on quickly. We have been here at my sisters for almost 2 months now. And at one point I really thought I was going to lose it. Mainly because I never got a break from all 5 kids. But as it is getting closer to our move-in date it is getting easier.

I have been seeing a lot of people I went to school with when I lived here years ago. That is really neat. And how cool is it that my best friend from when I lived here lives in the same apartment complex as my sister. It feels good to be a little familiar with things even though this is a new place for our family.

We have been very blessed to have Brad get Justin this job, and for Ashley and Brad to allow us to live in their home with them. I know it has to be hard on them too at time. I mean we practically live in their living room. I try to keep it cleaned up. And I hope they know that I do appreciate it!

I am in my 3rd semester at darton, but it is my first semester towards my RN degree. I will transfer to school here next semester (and apply for the nursing program--and hopefully I get in and that will start next fall and be for two years).

I hate neglecting my blog--but it is hard to get on whenever I want. plus, now that school has started I use the computer time I get to work on school. Things will be better when I get moved. I have a few things planned for this blog. I can't wait. And I have left my camera in GA, so no pictures for the blog for a little bit either. Sorry.

I'm 27!!!

I will post birthday pics soon. They are on my computer (which is in GA-and is no longer connected to the internet).
We are moving to Florida. Atleast until I finish school. We have been driving back adn forth on the weekends for the past few weeks. Since I am watching Ashleys kids I have to be here during the week when she works.

Brenna will be 6 Monday. Not sure what we are going to do for her birthday as of yet. I wanted to take her to Disney for her party/present. But it might be too hot and too expensive. I will have to see.

Looking for schools here is not easy. The school I want we will have to live in a certian area for Brenna to attend. So we are working on that. We are getting Trent's speech tested in Sept. If he qualifies then he can go to a 3 yr old pre-k at another school, then Brenna will go there. I don't know. We will figure it out.