A letter to my children when they have children of their own...

I want to write this to my children....hopefully they will get some smiles, laughs, and reassurance that we all go through it. I get intimidated being a mother. I do! It's hard not to when I have my mom, that was pretty darn as perfect as they come! And my sister Stephanie, I don't know how she does it all and seems to enjoy every minute of it! And my sister Rachel, who is so patient and mellow about everything. And so I just want to express some of my thoughts and feelings so that my children will hopefully feel like I understand!

**So I would just like to note that the first paragraph was in January!  Lol and I was interrupted and never finished it. **

I have put the kids down for "naptime" and wanted to put updates on the kids, and I realized I never finished this post. And I remember wanting to be positive, funny , and uplifting....but let's be honest....I'm exhausted and envy neighbors and friends who had family close by they could visit and help out, go on dates once a week! Without paying so much for babysitting that you can't afford it.

I am totally being a brat, I know! We spoiled ourselves and we're naughty for going on a Caribbean Cruise in April, and my mom and brother and everyone with them watched both kids for us while we enjoyed ourselves. And not to mention just a couple of days after my dad was hospitalized due to retaining too much fluid! I am incredibly grateful to ALL of my family! They do so much for us. I can't even tell you how much they help us in BIG ways during times of distress such as watching Addie while I was in the hospital recovering from having Joey at the end of February. Assisting me with both kids the first few weeks after having Joey and I had to watch my lifting when Addie was too heavy. Watching both kids in May when I had to train f or a couple of days at the hospital. Watching both kids in October when I had my thyroid cancer removed and recovering from that. The list keeps going, and so I guess one huge lesson I have learned is to not compare ourselves to others. I read somewhere that we are all a hot mess, some just hide it better than others! And to not take things for granted, such as our families. They are the ones the see us at our weakest, ugliest and lowest moments and still love us despite ourselves.

Things seemed so much simpler with just the two of us. But then again, everything has more meaning and depth with children. The plan of happiness, was never easy, but always worth it.