Lesson 2

When I was a kid, I played with my cousins all the time. We practically grew up together. That's why Cousin Nikki, is Aunt Nikki. I can't tell you how many trips to the zoo or to the park we made. My grandmother used to load us all up in her giant grandmamobile and take us to all kinds of places to play. We moved to Kansas City when I was 12. Nana, Uncle Danny, and I are your only blood family here. Your cousins, unfortunately don't live in town. Maybe by the time you read this, Uncle Danny will have settled down with someone and have kids, but I think you're going to be missing out on the big family experience that I had. Which brings me to lesson 2.

Family is very important, and the family you make is in many ways better than the family you choose. One day you're going to make friends. Hopefully, GREAT friends. They'll become your brothers and sisters in spirit. Choose them wisely. Friends are a dime a dozen, but best friends will be with you when blood family can't. They'll be there for you when there is an emergency, they'll give you advice, they'll be there to get you into trouble, and out of trouble. Never hold someone at arm's length because they're not blood relation, embrace those friends, when you're old you'll have someone who you can trust your own kids with, whose kids will play with yours, and who can tell stories about you that no one else will know.

Lesson 1

I remember exactly when it happened. I was sitting on a couch watching an old re-run of Alfred Hitchcock with your grandmother. A roommate came home to find his other roommate frozen in bed because he found a snake in his bed and was afraid he'd be bitten if he moved. 30 minutes later, the character leaped from the bed and found no snake. He left, and the roommate sat down on the bed, and was promptly bitten and killed by the snake, who had been hiding in the sheets. Ever since then, I've been deathly afraid of snakes. So afraid, I won't go out into the yard at night unless it is lit up, I won't swim in a lake (something I loved doing when I was younger,) and I won't go near bushes and shrubs unless I can see under them. This is your first lesson.


Never let a fear keep you from doing something you enjoy.I'm not talking about jumping out of a plane because you fear it (which by the way, no.) I'm talking about those little fears that will creep up on you as you get older and learn that not every animal is cute and cuddly, or that every person you meet isn't a character from Sesame Street. Fears are sometimes a good thing, they tell your gut that something might not be a good idea, but you never change your life to avoid something you're afraid of. I know I'm not a good role model in that department, but in my defense, snakes are evil. ;)

It came to me in a sleepless night.- A Letter to my Son.

Last night, I went to bed very tired, but as soon as I hit the pillow my brain started racing. This is not unusual, I tend to plan the next day while lying in bed, which leads to more thinking... it's a big horrible circle. As I tossed and turned, a thought came to me about how it would be nice to journal the small things that I want to share now. Now, while I'm still a young, cool Mom. Before I become the older, more conservative Mom. I even thought of a few ideas. So, here's my blog.