Raising Kids Is Hard

It's Not Easy

What can I say about my three kids? They are all beautiful and unique in their way. If I have given them anything, it is their thirst for health and fitness, along with a strong work ethic. I loved them the only way I knew how.

Let’s start with Erica.

Erica

She is the best mom I know, a super mom. She has a big slice of her grandma Kay in her. She loves her husband, two boys, and she lives for her family. 

She is a CPA; I am incredibly proud of her. Her boys are getting older now, so football, baseball, and basketball consume her time. She is constantly on the go; she is a health nut and runs occasionally, but I think she leans more toward the workout regimen. Now in her forties, she is super fit. She always tells me what is on her mind, even if I don’t want to hear it. 

I believe the essential part of her life is her boys, as it should be. She looks after them and makes sure they know she loves them. Growing up, Erica babysat for me starting at the age of ten, so she got a lot of practice. Me being a single mom, it was hard to make money stretch, so I think she had a great responsibility at a young age.  Watching her younger brother and sister is most likely something she wasn’t too thrilled about doing. But I believe it helped her become the mom she is today. Growing up the way she did, she turned out pretty darn good.

Jeremy

My middle child, another one of my kids, got a big slice of their grandma kay in him. He has a heart as big as Texas and doesn’t like hurting anyone’s feelings. He would do anything for anyone at any time. He grew up without a father, but he did have his grandfather, Glen. He took him fishing, and Jeremy loved spending time with his grandma and grandpa. He felt loved over there, so he spent a lot of time with them. I was always too busy working and trying to feed everyone. I worked overnights the whole time my kids were growing up. Trying to sleep during the day is not the best combo when you have three kids. Overtired most of the time, I wasn’t the best mom. Jeremy loved to hunt and fish; he had friends whose dads took him under their wing. Jeremy is still friends with them to this day. I thank God for those dads because no matter how hard I tried, a mom cannot be a dad. I believe it’s essential for a boy to have a father figure. Jeremy had a few of them as a child; they helped shape him into the person he is today. He is in his forties now, and has a son of his own, Jeremy has a passionate soul with a love for life.  I am incredibly proud of him.

Nikki

My third child a mirror image of me, but she is beautiful in a way I am not. Her features were lovely as a child, I always told her she would be dazzling as an adult. As a youngster she wanted to be like her big sister with blond hair, needing to grow into herself; she is the beauty today I always knew she would be. Nikki works out daily, runs occasionally, and is also a health nut. She and her husband share this trait. Doing workouts together makes them the perfect couple. 

Nikki also grew up with a big slice of Kay inside her. Her love for her husband and dogs has no boundaries; she calls me every Sunday, and we talk. Growing up with me as her mom wasn’t the easiest, I’m sure; no sleep made me tired and crabby; Nikki can attest to that. Being the youngest, Nikki was a shy child, but after high school, college was around the corner. Spreading her wings, Nikki established friendships that lasted the test of time. Many of the girls were bridesmaids at her wedding. Today Nikki and her husband, Jake, are moving into the house they had built. I'm incredibly proud of all she has accomplished in her life. Nikki is beautiful inside and out as I knew she would be.

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It isn’t easy raising kids, and doing it as a single parent is even more challenging. Again, I loved my kids the only way I knew how. I’m so glad they include me in their lives.

My most fulfilling roles now are being a mother, wife and grandma.

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