A few things...

A few things I've learned so far this year...

To start with, I've learned that I've got a lot to learn about parenting a tween! My oldest is now 10 and he is for sure going through some changes- along with his ADHD that brings it's own baggage to life! I'll admit it, I'm in need of direction on this ..and lots of it! I'm doing my best to read and research but WOW, his mood swings are giving me whip lash! I know that I don't help the situation because I take it all personally- which I KNOW I shouldn't!! I've been told the things usually get worse before they get better. Some days the beautiful, sweet hearted child that melts my heart shows up and those are days that I cherish and store away in my heart and try to reflect upon on the really hard days. Each day is a new day and I try to remind myself - and him- of that fact! I keep reminding myself that I have to take the 'emotion' out of it and to not react to it all. Some days are better than others but truely...this is hard and takes all I've got to show him I love him some days. I love him beyond anything I ever thought I was capable of ...but these days I don't LIKE him very much. ; ) That's ok, that's allowed. I pray with all my heart that this 'change' doesn't change the awesome kid that he is and we all comes out on the other side of this closer than ever.

I also learned that I really enjoy the toddler years!! My lil' one is 2 1/2 and is PURE sunshine!!! Don't get me wrong, he soooo has his days but more often than not he is pure sunshine! I have gotten to see the look on his face when he accomplishes something or 'gets it' for the first time. He loves to laugh and play. He's beginning to realize that he has his own feelings, thoughts, and wants in life. His words are pure poetry sometimes- at least to me. He loves people and being around others. His biggest love , right now, I would say is his MDO class and his teachers, Ms. Iva and Ms. Tara. Starting MDO this year was a wonderful thing for him and I would recommend it to ALL mommies! He only goes 2 days a week and it's perfect. I get a lil' "ME" time and he gets his play time and gained a group of friends that are oh so precious too. He has a real 'love/hate' thing for his older brother though. He loves him and for the most part, wants to play with him but there are days when he wants nothing to do with him. I always reflect back to a 'psycic' reading I did for fun that told me that 'he loves his brother with all his heart and thinks he so great. He knows there is something different about him- not a bad different- and it doesn't affect how he feels about his big brother! ; )

I've learned that I have a wonderful husband who loves and respects me for who I am. He sees the me that gets emotional about my children when things are too much or just right, he sees the me that gets excited picking him up at the airport and anxious to put my arms around him again or frustrated at his work hours and trips, and he sees the me that is just well.. ME. A women who in the midst of all this is trying to remember who I am! He's my calm during the storm and when he tells me, "It's all good" or "It's gonna be ok", I somehow know that it will be. Somehow we are able to balance each other out, yin and yang- as cliche as that sounds. Having him by my side as my partner in life is a true gift. I know I am guilty of not making the most of each moment, I think we all do that at some point. But at the end of the day, I love the way my life is- with HIM.

Lastly, I learned that I've come along way in my life in who I am. When I was younger I used to have a 'way' with words when I was upset with others, I used to tell people off with no regard for how it might make them feel. As I grew and changed, I realized that how you treat others is one of THE most important life lessons a person can learn. I'm working very hard to pass this on to my kids - especially my oldest! Realize that people have a bad day and may offend you now and then but you don't need to do it back. But in the same, also realizing when someone is not a geniue person and when to move on. It's not an easy thing to do but sometimes it's necessary. There is a saying that people come into your life for a reason or a season and I've had both. We all make mistakes but we have to do our best to do what's right and sometimes that means swallowing our pride and saying your sorry. And if we are the ones they treated unkindly, then we just do our best to know that we did our best to be a friend and that there are just some people who don't get it. Time to move on and well, as Reba says "Letitgo!" LOL!

Live, Laugh and Love. Three words that have touched many peoples lives and I'm one of them. Sometimes you have to remember to laugh when you really want to cry. Make the most of each moment and live it so there are not regrets.

So that's it so far and the year is less than half way over. So, stay tuned, I'm sure there is more to come ....
~K