Thursday, April 14, 2016

Thursday Thoughts & Life Lately

Happy Thursday Girls!
 
For sure!  Friday is hands down my favorite day of the week! 
 
I was sitting going through my planner the other day and it is so crazy that we are heading into our last four weeks of school.  Once again, another school year that has just flown by!  I always find that last month of school can be a bit trying.  The kids know the end is in sight, and they are so ready for a break, so at times it can be challenging to keep them focused for just a few more weeks!  AJ has his state testing going on now...and Jack starts his in two weeks...I am NOT a fan of these darn tests!
 
Olivia is ready for school to be over...because "Mommy 2nd grade is super hard sometimes"...that girl!  The kids all change so much during the year, and we have seen the biggest change with Olivia.  I was so nervous about our move earlier this year, and how the kids would handle all the change.  I was most concerned about Olivia.  Since she started kindergarten, going to school each day was a STRUGGLE for her.  Tears every single morning, it was hard.  All of a sudden this girl loves school..no tears, excited to go each day...what a blessing that has been.  She has really grown up and matured so much this year.  It is hard, because man I miss my baby!  But seeing her thrive, become a bit more independent has been so wonderful.  And the bonus...she thinks wearing a uniform to school every day is just plain AWESOME! 
 
AJ decided not play baseball this season...I was kind of shocked when he said he didn't want to play, but it was his decision.  His baseball schedule in the past has been consuming to say the least, but man I have definitely missed watching my boy play!  I think he is a little bummed out he decided not to play, but he is already getting himself ready for football, and already talking about next year and baseball!  Both him and Jack are pretty pumped about Harrison being here...they love going out in the yard or to a field and throwing around the ball with their big brother!  AJ is loving our life here...AJ is so super outgoing, and had about 65 friends after the first day of school...he is doing so great, and loving life...that is just AJ!
 
Brooke is doing well here also.  She misses her friends from back home, and is looking to plan a trip this summer to go and see them all.  I get a lot of crap on here about Brooke, that she is an adult, living home...blah blah blah.  She is 23 years old, I am sure in the next few years she will be in her own place, but for now I don't mind her being with us.  She pays her own bills, helps out around the house, helps out with the little kids, and is able to save money.   She was always a good kid growing up...never got into trouble, no horror stories during the teenage years...it was nice.  She worked hard in high school, and school was NOT easy for her. I don't talk much about her on here, because she kind of does her own thing.  Now mind you had I blogged or social media been around during her younger years, y'all would have known her!  HA!
 
Jack has adapted well to our new life here.  He is not as outgoing as AJ, so it took him a little longer to acclimate, but he has now and is doing GREAT.  He is extremely focused on his studies and cannot wait to get into high school ...high school....how is that even possible.  He has made some great friends, and is just as easy going, as ever.  If all children could be like Jack, this world would be awesome.  He is responsible, kind, never mean or negative.  He is just all around a great kid. 
 
Harrison...well you all know he will be back with us in another week...and holy heck people didn't hold back on their opinions of that:)  I am so proud of Harrison for trying to be on his own at the ripe old age of 19...he was only 19 when we moved..but has since turned 20.  I am more proud that he, on his own, realized it sure wasn't as easy as he thought it would be, and that the best way for him to get ahead in life, is to live home for a just a little longer, work and save some money.  I would much rather him move back home at 20 then when he is 30!  I want my children to know that nothing but hard work is what is going to get you ahead in this life.  It was our opinion, that buying Harrison a new car wasn't solving anything or teaching him anything, other than you can just run to mommy and daddy to save you.  That being said...we are giving him Mark's car when he gets here, since Mark is getting a new one, and Harrison will be paying us for it.  He will be able to work full time, and save some money, and hopefully in a year or two he will be out there living on his own, with some money in the bank!


I saw this floating on IG and it sure is true.  I don't feel the need to be too hard on myself or the decisions we make for our family or children, clearly there are readers out there doing that for me:) 
 
My thoughts today, don't really differ from my thoughts that I have always had...people are very quick to give their two cents, and I don't have issue with that...but there is simply no reason for anyone to be just down right mean.  Isn't is so much easier to say nothing, or just not read over here, if you are just looking to bash on how we live our life or raise our kids. 
 
I don't know what is right for you and your family and no one but Mark and I, know what is right for our family and our children. 
 
I have always said this world gets scarier by the day, there are so many people that are just plain ugly in this world.  It is as if people thrive on being mean or saying something hurtful to others, when the reality is there is just no need for that.  I was raised, and still follow this...if you have nothing nice to say you just keep your mouth shut.  Seems like such a simple concept, yet many seem to struggle with it. 
 
I love sharing our life with you guys, and I am so thankful for how many wonderful people I have met.  I always welcome everyone's comments, even if you don't agree with me, if you can be polite about it, you can be sure it will be published.  My blog is all about real life and real life means that we won't always agree..and that is fine...I am fine with "let's agree to disagree"...My hope is that people will actually start tasting their words before they spit them out, think about how your words will make someone feel.  You can surely get your point across without being down right mean and hurtful.!
 
Thanks so much for stopping by today, see you back here tomorrow for Friday Favorites!
 
 
 
 


16 comments:

  1. I give you a lot of credit for publishing some comments that you do! I cannot believe how harsh people are!

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    1. People can be tough! Have a great day Lauren !

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  2. I have older kids like you-22,20, and 16. It's hard when they want to leave the nest but aren't ready for all work and money needed to survive. I look forward to reading about how Harrison does living back home and was glad to read that Brooke is doing well. I have a daughter graduating college next month who will be moving back home until she finds a job-it's not always feasible to live on your own, even when you do have a college degree. Glad you don't let the critics get you down, Kimm.

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    1. Hi Lisa! Even when they graduate college it's hard to find a job! We are excited to have Harrison home obviously, but more excited to see him succeed! Thanks for stopping by today. Happy Thursday

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  3. not sure how you do it Kim with some of those comments. You must have a tough skin and I do admire that. I probably would have given up blogging long ago. People can be mean.

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    1. Hi kimberly! Even though some people are mean, I've met so many awesome women who are so positive and encouraging. I'm choosing to embrace that. Have a great day !

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  4. I have to agree that people have been hard on you here. I work with a guy who both of his children are still living with them, 24 and 30. The 30 year old has been to college and graduated, but can't afford to live on her own. Between student loan debt and her car she would struggle big time. My niece and nephew both lived at home for a year after they graduated college to save money. Really it's almost the norm now a days for older children to live at home for a while to save money. Ignore the mean people and enjoy your kids :)

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    1. Hi Jennifer ! It's tough for young people to make it now a days. And starting off with a ton of debt isn't what I want for my kids. I would rather them live home for a few more years and be ready. The real grown up world is tough ! Have a great day !!!

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  5. The beautiful thing about parenting is that you were chosen by His divine grace and planning to be the momma to those children. You can make the decisions with them and for them to guide them up. You did what's right for your son and have to answer to no one for it. I applaud you for helping him in the way that you see fit. Obviously he wouldn't be moving in if it wasn't something he was comfortable with.

    With that being said, as a parent to three kids, I wouldn't be able to help mine out financially. I'd certainly welcome my children back to their home any time, especially since that's the help that I can offer. A new car or a big amount of money? Not so much. Kudos to you for being honest, open, and real. Dot apologize for your decisions. All of these people who comment are probably sitting behind the computer passing judgement, but they've made their decisions in life, too. I'm quite certain that their lives are not as perfect as they apparent.

    Peace and blessings, Gretchen

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    1. Thanks Gretchen! I appreciate your comment. Have a great night

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  6. Y'all sound like amazing parents! Your kids are blessed to have you ;)

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    1. Thanks! Being a parent is tough...and we are all just doing the best we can! Thanks for stopping by. Have a great weekend !

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  7. Haven't read the other comments but this makes me so mad!' Whose business is it who lives where!? No ones!! I have told my kids they can live with us as long as they want. There's nothing wrong with that at all. It's an expensive, dangerous world we live in and many cultures always live with more than one family living in the household so why should our culture be any different? Trolls have nothing else to do but try to make the rest of us as miserable as they are. Don't give in and don't acknowledge and they will go away! So sorry

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  8. I second the comment above - in many cultures (and even families here in the US) it's normal for different generations of families to live together. It's win-win, with extra sets of hands to help with kids and chores, more love to go around and money saved. I wish my family lived closer!!

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    1. Hi Betsy! I used to always say I wanted kind of like a Dalmatian plantation from 101 Dalmatians...a big sprawling house and we could live there, with our kids and grandkids one day. Mark just says "kimm you're crazy"! Thanks for stopping by today!!!

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