A new Chapter in the life of the Fankhauser's

   Lately I have been in a reminiscing mood. The baby of our family is starting first grade next week. What the what? This means all day school basically from 8 am to 4 pm Mon- Thurs and until 2:00 on Fridays. I have asked myself over and over how many times I have guiltily wished for this day. "My life will be so much easier when all my kids are in school full time" and the truth is, it will. But it also opens up a new chapter of life for our family. 

   I grew up wanting this perfect planned out life. I would have a High School sweetheart, get married at 21, have 4 kids, 2 girls and 2 boys,of course all 2 years apart. I would be a stay at home mom, my house would be immaculate, I would never get frustrated at being a mom, because that is what I was meant to do. 

   Instead I got married at 21, divorced at 23. Remarried at 24, with a bonus cute little 2 year old  Kaili. Dealt with the heartache of losing our first son, and then had 2 more boys. So you see I did get my 4 kids, 3 boys and 1 girl, just not in the conventional way. 

  

 Instead of going to college right out of  High School, I started working for my dad at his company McDermott Company & Associates. Each year I learned new skills and information and it helped form me into the woman I am today. Luckily for me I needed that job especially as I was living on my own in a townhouse. When I married Tyler I knew I wanted kids, he was working full time, and going to school full time. I knew that I would still have to work and bring in some sort of income for us to continue with Ty's education and allow me to have kids. My dad allowed me to work 3 days a week once I started having kids and it has been a HUGE blessing in our lives. 

   Last year when Hudson was in Kindergarten my schedule was all over the place. Luckily I have amazing people in my life and friends and family were able to help me out when they could with watching Hudson, but last year Hudson spent a lot of time with me at work. I will miss my mini me, my little side kick. I know he is so ready for first grade, and I know in a lot of ways I am ready for it too. As a teenager all I wanted to do was grow up. It makes my 35 year old self sad, because I was in such a hurry for the future, I missed out on some good things that were happening to me in the now. I want my kids to enjoy their child hood, hang out to it for as long as they can, while also learning how to become capable, independent, kind, smart, honest, caring human beings. Is that too much to ask? Ha! Ha! 

   I guess I just needed to tell myself, that it's okay to be excited for change, it's okay to be sad too. Life doesn't slow down for any of us, and all we can really do is buckle in and hang on for this beautiful, achingly wonderful thing we call life!