Biting Your Toenails

eL. — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:16:13 +0000

Isn’t life supposed to calm down after you retire? I am now in week two of my “retirement” and if anything, I seem to have less time than when I was logging forty hours a week in my office. How is that possible? In the past fourteen days I have visited five states, caught up with umpteen family members, read a book, slacked off at the gym, watched about twenty movies, WORKED, and maintained a sparkling clean home. OK… the last part is a bit of stretch, but at the moment it is sparkling clean!

I always used to think I’d go crazy being bored at home as a full time mom. I realize now what a vacation my JOB really was! I take my fictitious hat off to all you stay at home parents out there. You certainly don’t get enough credit.

I have enjoyed the constant company of my kids far more than I could’ve ever imagined. You really should just be jealous because I simply have the funniest, cutest and smartest children ever conceived. They teach me so much about life and about the person I want to be. The lessons learned through the experience of children are absolutely priceless. There is no university that compares with parenthood.

Patience is a CHOICE. It is far easier to laugh and get over it, than it is to get upset.

No one snuggles better than a three year old.

If you want to know honestly how you are doing life, ask a preschooler their opinion of you.

You know to pass up your Food Network dream when your kid opts for a spanking and early bedtime rather than eat.

You should always keep your toenails short, even if it means biting them. You might trip over them if you don’t.

I’m sure there will be many more lessons to come… stay tuned. This could get interesting.

Lights Will Guide You Home

eL. — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 16:00:08 +0000

There are 18 days, 7 hours, 41 minutes and 16 seconds until my last day at work. (Not that I’m counting or anything.) Most of you will remember that six months ago I handed in my resignation letter to my employer of ten years. My job has been good to me, paid me relatively well, and has seen me through some of the darkest days of my life.

Once upon a time, I thought that I would never leave the comforts of my office. Not because I felt trapped, but because I never saw any reason to. Then came the fateful day when I received the phone call that my husband would never reach home after a long night of work. It was a year ago, this past Sunday, for those of you who have been wondering why I have been MIA from the internet recently. He was 25 years old, married for three short years, and had two babies waiting for him to come home and take them swimming. Our daughter was four and our son was two. Robert’s life was just beginning when it came to an unfair and abrupt end.

That horrible accident has made me question everything about my life. What if one day I don’t make it home from work? Other than creating the two most amazing kids on the planet, have I done anything with my life that I’m really proud of? The answer was no.

For years I have wanted to go back to school, but there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to go to school, keep office hours, and be a single mom. So back in January, I handed in my resignation letter citing my last day as June 26^th. Do you think they have yet to find my replacement? He, he, he. That’s beside the point. I haven’t had one moment of hesitation until the past couple of weeks. Now that the fateful day is drawing near my knees are beginning to shake a little. Am I really doing the right thing? Am I stupid? Am I just being selfish? What if something catastrophic happens? What if… I FAIL?

And high up above or down below…. When you’re too in love to let it go
If you never try you’ll never know… Just what you’re worth

The shaky knees have passed. I know I’m making the right decision. After all, if I never try – I’ll never know. The Early Retirement Party is still on. If you live in Nashville and want an invite, put June 26^th on your calendar and hit me up for the details.

This one’s for you sister… the Coldplay concert was FREAKING AMAZING.

Impacting Journey » single mom

Biting Your Toenails

Lights Will Guide You Home