Who Am I?

For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a wife and a mom.  That's it.  No plans of making great strides in the medical field, no dreams of fame and fortune, no educational aspirations - just a wife and a mom.

I come from a large family, something for which I've always been thankful!   Being the sixth of seven kids, I joined a family already in progress.  Our house was busy, bustling, loud and fun!  "Home" means music blaring from a bedroom, TV on in the living room, kids playing board games at the kitchen table, shouts of "I can't find my shoe!", Mom cooking in the kitchen, and Dad either blocking out all the chaos while reading the newspaper or adding to it by chasing the kids around the house.  It's what I love and it's all I've ever wanted.


Mom and Dad, circa 1979.
She was an amazing rolemodel!

 My early years were spent shadowing Mom.  Because I was the youngest until I turned six, I had time alone with her while the other kids were in school.  I remember spending my days "helping" her cook, clean, fold laundry.  When she embroidered a pillowcase, she would give me one of my dad's hankies and a needle and thread.  I think she spent more time untangling my mess than she did on her own project, but she was teaching me to be a mom even then.  I was learning household chores but, more importantly, I was also learning about taking pride in my work, nurturing others, time management, and patience!      

So, when I met my hubby (an interesting story to be told later), I was ready.  I wanted a husband, kids, the whole sha-bang!  It's what I had been training for my whole life.  There was no question - we would have kids, I would stay home with them, and we'd create a home - busy, bustling, loud and fun!  Although we only had two kids of our own and one we aquired along the way (another story to be told later), I think we succeeded.  We were busy, we had fun, and we had a loving, secure home.



Now I find myself in unfamiliar territory.  Our youngest just turned 20, so we're looking at an empty nest in the next couple years.  I'm not sure I'm ready for that!  However, I'm proud to say we've raised kids that know how to be dads and moms; who will have busy, loud, fun homes with music blaring from a bedroom, TV on in the living room, kids playing board games at the kitchen table, shouts of "I can't find my shoe!", Mom cooking in the kitchen, and Dad either blocking out all the chaos or adding to it!  Then, we can go visit them and join in on all the fun --- and when we're ready, go home to a quiet, peaceful house!

This is who I am.  I am a wife.  I am a mother.  That's enough for me.