Super Sisters...

my sisters are overachievers. they both figured out ways to go to college, while I gave up that dream about sophomore year. one home-schooled her kids. I had to give up on even helping my kids with math homework in elementary, but I still try to read chapters in other subjects to help them find elusive answers. I am sure the other sister never gave her sons formula, even though she worked full time with the oldest. I breastfed and pumped on my one work break, so KJ & Katie got formula every day, as well. they have both owned homes. I rent. they are both good cooks. I know how to cook. and I know damned good and well their houses are cleaner than mine, because most days I am just too tired to give a shit.

well, anyways, one sister is rejoining the professional 9-5 wearing-a-suit-and-sensible-heels-carrying-a-briefcase workforce. she is going to continue their nightly family supper. she is making freezer meals, and plans for supper to still be a thing. I gave up on family supper long before. for starters, my husband works nights, and our 2 remaining kids at home are picky eaters. usually we just all have our own thing. lots of freezer stuff. I have been a working mom for a long time. I have compromised. I have thrown my hands up in the air. I have lowered my standards. I am all about survival. not necessarily survival of the fittest, but survival of the most stubborn. we all love our kids. I believe we are all good moms. their kids are probably nutritionally better off than mine. I am sure they eat much more well-rounded meals. I am that mom who doesn't even cook stuff I don't like. I have never made my kids try a bite of everything or clean their plate or sit at the table till bedtime. or go to bed hungry if they don't like what I cook. we are basically meat and taters people. well, except for bubs, he is a chicken strips, shells & cheese, & pizza person. you won't see us going out for Chinese or Thai food. no sushi. we're more Texas Roadhouse and Jaxs Stacks people. and there's nothing wrong with that. takes all kinds to make the world go round.

I grew up a farm kid, our mom was a 'stay at home' mom who worked 24/7. she got us up for school, made sure we had breakfast, got on the bus....sometimes after school there was a note and a snack on the table. sometimes she was there. we learned to be self-reliant. and we all turned out ok. our opposite schedules have allowed the kids to stay home on sick days and bad weather days and school breaks and summers with out living at daycare. yeah, Kate did go to daycare, but only during regular school hours. their dad was home to pick them up , run them around, take them to the dr. during the day, and mom was here to stay up with them all night and run them to and fro and pick them up and host their friends sleepovers. and our kids turned out ok. I am glad that Koren gets to be a stay-at-home mom. I was with her and it was a very special time. It was a privilege. I often say that all these years I have 'had' to work, I've paid for the days I got to stay home. I work because it makes our life easier, we can have things, the kids can have things. they don't have to wear garage sale clothes. we have good enough credit to borrow $ for them to go to college. we are not homeless. I complain a lot, and I do hate my job, but we are blessed. blessed to have found each other, to have kept our marriage alive for 31 years, to have 3 wonderful healthy children, and the most wonderful grandson on planet earth. blessed to have a nice house, and mostly reliable vehicles, and ridiculous amounts of frivolous stuff we don't need....

youi know, I'm not sure if I'm ranting or just deliriously tired....or if I feel I have to defend the decisions I've made along the way. but I love my siblings, and I am proud of them. we've all had our journeys. we all have our own way of doing things. and we're all ok. God Bless us everyone.