Missing Mom

My mom passed away last year in a sudden accident and even though it has been over a year I still have moments of feeling great loss.  I know she is in a better place with her brother, mother and father as well as friends of her childhood.  I know that she is happier than she has ever been here.  Still I really miss her.  I am so thankful that I made the effort over the past 10 years to be her friend as well as her daughter.  I have many cherished memories of simple things we did together as mother/daughter/friends.  When we disagreed on something we made sure that we weren't upset with each other, we tried to understand the other view point and respected each others opinions.  I can't express how thankful I am for that simple respect on both our parts.  Since my mother's death was so sudden I was not ready to let her go so after my mother's funeral my sister and I went through her beautiful garden (that she cherished and worked very hard on) and dug up several of her flowers and plants.  I brought mine home and planted a memorial garden to my Mom.  It looks beautiful this year.  I know my mom would be happy to see such a garden at my house.  I know she would be thankful that my sister and I took the time to care for her flowers and let them continue to show their beauty at our homes.  I smile every time I look at the garden, and I think of mom.  I miss you Mom, but I feel like I still have a part of you here with me.

Life Skills

I was sick this week and my house still ran smoothly.  I am so thankful that I have been teaching my girls life skills since they were toddlers.  Krista and Nicole ran the house very smoothly with only a few re-directions from me. The laundry got done, the dishes got done, the meals were cooked (with help from Dan), the house stayed clean, the pets were taken care of, the garbage was taken out and the groceries were put away when they arrived.  I wonder how many homes would come to a complete halt if mom got sick for a week?  I believe that our children can do so much more than we give them credit for, and they feel like they are an important part of the team when they are given chores and held accountable to do them.  This to many in our society is outrageous, but what is the long term goal you are looking for in your child?  Do you want your 18 year old to be successfully living on their own or do you want them living with you and depending on you until they get married?  If you would like them to be successful & self-sufficient and are not sure where to start I recommend the book "Life Skills for Kids" by Christine Field and "How Much is Enough" a book about overindulgence by Jean Illsley Clark.