Maria's Random Rants

Here is an excerpt from our annual holiday  family newsletter.

It’s amazing how quickly the years go by, especially when you’re having fun. Well, it hasn’t all been fun, but it’s definitely been memorable.

Yesterday AJ was still tossing his 2^nd grade lunch in the garbage bin instead of eating it, Rodney Jr. was still waving at me through tears every day I left him at daycare, Kayla still cried just because you looked at her funny, and Taylor still swore by the tooth fairy who jipped her when she woke up to use the bathroom.

Today AJ is an adult and navigating his way through early adulthood eating every last bite of the lunches we feed him, and yours if you’re not careful, Rodney Jr. spends weekends at his friends’ homes as if I shared custody with their parents, and this year the girls think they’re too old for anything from Toys ‘R Us and prefer jeggings.

They’re all growing up and Rod and I are trying to come to terms with that because truth is, while we’ve joked about all of them fleeing the coop sooner than later now that they are, well, I’m realizing just how difficult it is to let them go. We’ve spent the last eighteen years raising them, looking out for them, and now that they’re all growing up, making more decisions for themselves and looking less to us for guidance, well, we, I am having a hard time letting them go, out into this big ole’ world without me beside them, shadowing everything they do, steering them in the right direction, and catching them if they fall. But I’m learning.

Rodney expanded his business into Texas this year and it’s definitely been trying, but still profitable. AJ graduated from high school and kicking his way into adulthood, his way and not mine. Rod Jr. is my social butterfly; charming, funny, and loving life. Kayla and Taylor are growing up fast and remind me so much of me and my sister at that age, it’s bittersweet. They’re all still one another’s best friends and that remains one of this family’s greatest blessings.

Aside from that all is well on the home front. We’re thankful for everything we’ve got, most especially the good friends and family we’re surrounded by.  For a year filled with more good memories than bad, four children with great and positive attitudes, loyal readers who continue to read my rants and blog, a roof over our heads, food on our table, a job and a business that continue to pay (most of) the bills…we’re thankful for  all of it.

Several years ago we learned the hard way to cherish the small things, after all at the end of the day the small things always do matter the most.