Over the last few day, I have been thinking about what I wanted to say in my very first entry on our blog. I want to thank my sweet LeAnna for asking me to be a part of her blog. She has been very understanding with me and my adjustment to my empty nest. And I say- my empty nest -because it doesn't seem to have affected my husband much, having the last child move out and be on her own. He has been just as patient with me. I think he is just waiting, knowing I will someday stop moping around. Someday I will stop thinking I have to be busy every second. Going to my sewing room to find another project to throw myself into. Calling my sisters, just to have someone to talk to. And I am waiting too. But right now I don't know if the loneliness will ever go away. I was a mother for 35 years. There was always a game to go to. A dance recital coming up or a wedding to plan. I miss the noise, the food, the laughter, my son and his constant teasing. I'm not a person who plans too far into the future. I just let each day take care of itself, and so I never prepared myself for this time when my children would go into their own lives and live their lives so successfully as not to have any need of a mother to nag them into eternity. And for that I am very grateful.
Now it is my turn. And I don't have the slightest clue how to proceed. But I am determined to find my way. Over the last 2 years I have had time to read so many wonderful books. They have inspired me to want to live a life full of meaning. When you get to be my age, I know 57 seems ancient to any one under 40, you start to think about your relationship with God and I for one, want to have a daily walk with Him. I now relish my quiet time with Him, all the while missing my old life. So you see, I am making progress.
I'll never forget the birth of my first baby, Lillie. I was 20. I got married in Feb. and had Lillie in Dec. of the same year. It wasn't a hard delivery, only 5 hrs., but the doctor had to use forceps, so after 5 hrs, both baby and I felt like we had been run over by a Mac Truck. When I was settled in my room, they brought my baby to me and I was able to nurse her. I was overcome by how beautiful she was and how tiny, at 7 lbs 4 oz. In those days there was no rooming-in so they came and took Lillie back to the nursery for the night. In the middle of the night I woke up startled. I could hear a baby crying from way down the hall. A loud scared cry. I pulled my poor aching pelvis out of bed and limped down the hall to the nursery. The nurse holding the screaming bundle ask me if I was the mother of this baby and I said yes. Well , this baby really wants her Mommy. I settled, very slowly, into a rocking chair there in the nursery and she gently handed me my baby. I opened my nightgown and she recognized my smell. She quieted and whimpered alittle. Then she nursed and sighed and settled into my arms. She opened her eyes and looked up a me and we were in love. I knew then that I could be a mother.How did I know that was my baby crying? I don't know, I just knew. A mothers instinct, I guess. Another one of God' Sweetest Gifts.
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Leanna & Jelene
LEANNA (the DAUGHTER) I am the fourth child out of seven and one of six girls. I am also a wife to my wonderful husband Kyle, of almost six years and a mother of two beautiful kids, Reagan who is 4 yrs old and Adam who is 2 yrs old. I wanted to start this blog because I have a passion for breastfeeding, finding new ways to raising happy kids, and just being a mom. The information that will be on the blog is what I have read from a variety of books, things I have learned from raising my own children, and from the knowledge I have gained from my wonderful mother and sisters.
JELENE (the MOM) I am married to a great guy, who keeps feeding me and paying my electric bill. We are the lucky parents of seven of the best people I know. Some how I guess we didn't blow it too bad, because they are all still talking to us. I once had someone tell me, "If your child is still talking to you when she is 21, you have succeeded as a parent." I think there is a little more to it than that, but maybe I can be here and pass on some ways to make your mothering years full of fun times to remember with your families.
I was raised in a huge family of 13, by a mother and father who loved having and raising kids. They taught us to love one another. Our sisters and brothers were our best friends, and still are today. Parents can and should be their children’s helpers in learning how to treat each other with loving kindness.
Oh, yes and I promise to bore you to death, telling you all about our 11 darling grandbabies!
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