Wornoutwoman

As a mom, we never know who our kids are going to grow into. We know who we hope they grow into - responsible, caring human beings who contribute well to the world around them. Most moms I know (myself included) pray they're parenting well enough to teach their kids to make wise choices... to change things for the better so that they leave the world a better place than how they found it. Since there is no manual for motherhood that gives us step-by-step instructions for each stage - we do the best we can. Thankfully, there are a lot of resources out there that give us some insight. For example, my mother has been key to how I parent. I find myself quoting her phrases without even knowing where they came from. These gems of wisdom have been stored in the back of my mind for future use without my knowledge until they pop from my mouth, and I lovingly shake my head - thankful for my mother's influence. Her gentle spirit was paired with knowledge, discipline, and unconditi...

This has been one of the busiest summers I can remember.  As my kid gets older, there are more parties, interests, and activities he's delving into which means more drive time, which I'm happy to do.  I know my ever-changing Manual for Motherhood is filling up, as I grow as a mom with my child's different stages. Every phase, I marvel at how blessed I am to be my kid's mom. This summer, we decided to try something different. Lil' T is at the age, where church intramural teams have aged out, and team sports for school don't start till next year. So he's been in limbo, without something motivating him to stay active.  I didn't want him sitting inside all summer, on his computer playing Minecraft. As we were researching our options, a friend recommended kayaking. Oklahoma City has a training site for top rowing athletes, in which they train Olympic athletes.  Our friend told us about their program for kids, which seemed like a good introduction ...