Making Memories

I generally don’t like to blog anything when I’m feeling so weepy and nostalgic. Because two days later, weeping and nostalgic blogging makes me feel very embarrassed and self conscious and OMG DID I REALLY WRITE THAT?

I know you don’t believe me, but this is not hormone driven at all.

No really, I speak (type) the truth.

I won’t get into parental guilt. That’s been done. But I am feeling a bit of guilt regarding a trip I have planned for next week. All the planning for the trip started several months ago. We made plans with some dear friends of ours…and these plans turned into honest to goodness, yes we’re going and holy crap, this is awesome! While we’ve been pretty smart (heh) and cost conscious, I was still second guessing our decision to go. Should we spend the money? Should we do this? Or do that?

I’m a professional worrier. It’s what I do.

This trip is all about our kids. I’d like to think that I’m saying “Thanks for being so incredibly awesome!” since I work so much and we have so much going on and they are such fantastic kids.

Of course, you’re not supposed to ‘pay’ your kids for being fantastic…but that doesn’t mean a fun vacation for just them is a bad thing.

(Although, traveling with fantastic people is quite the bonus. And planning to meet up with other fantastic people while we’re there is gravy.)

Yesterday, I heard about a woman who suffered a massive stroke. I didn’t (don’t) know much about this woman, but did learn that her and her family just celebrated the year mark of her little daughter’s cancer treatment and the end of chemo. I also learned that this was the second stroke that she had suffered.

And even just typing that, it still doesn’t make any sense to me. That family has gone through so much.

I really don’t mean to be Debbie Downer, but I am so sad for that family. It makes my heart hurt to think about her family…and any and all families who are going through so much.

And I’m reminded that life is short.

I’m reminded that I’ll never regret the memories and the fun that we have on this vacation.

I’ll only regret not going.

Everything else will work itself out.

Reminders

Being a mom (parent) is hard.

I haven’t unearthed any great big mystery, but sometimes you have to remind yourself that it IS hard. And that even though it is so hard, you’re surviving, you’re succeeding…you’re doing great.

Because sometimes you need that.

 More often than not, you need that.

I remember after a difficult parenting moment at my parents’ house with my youngest and being (obviously) frustrated, somewhere behind me, my mom spoke up and said, “Good job, Mom.” Even though I didn’t exactly feel like a great mom at the time, she reminded me that I was doing the right thing. That I was teaching my daughter. I was being a parent.

This mom business is tricky.

This mom business is wonderful.