GROWING PAINS

Often our children will complain “my legs hurt” our reply “it’s just growing pains” or they say “my arms hurt” we again reply “its just growing pains”. Time passes our children are now grown and the “growing pains” are no more. Now that the physical growth has just about reached its end, we are faced with another challenge. They are becoming young adults and trying to find their place in this great big world.

They begin to test the limits, have their own ideas and make their own decisions. What they don’t realize is that there is still much growth to be had; only this time it’s called maturity. Often times they make a decision that we as their parents and as adults with experience know would not be to their best interest.  So, naturally we say, “no”. We explain our reasons or try to but they just don’t understand. When raising teenagers and young adults at times we have to put our “friend hat” away and be “parent” to protect our children from themselves. They don’t always understand and we may not be their favorite person for a while but this is part of the growth process. I like to refer to these times as “growing pains” as well.  Though they may not see it at the moment, they will look back one day and say “thank you for not letting me do that” and will realize we did it because we love them.We love them so much we are willing to be “hated”, “disliked”, “annoying” “lame” and countless other adjectives we’re so affectionately called during these phases, just to protect them.

So, if your young adult has shunned you because you loved them enough to keep them from making a mistake roll with the punches and know that one day the light will come on and they’ll thank you. You know, like you thanked your parents. ;)

~A Diva~

The Twenty-Two Year Degree Plan

At the young age of 19 years old I set out on the journey of higher education. Little did I know I would encounter many obstacles. My plan was to graduate from high school, go to college, join a sorority and enjoy life.  Well, it didn’t exactly happen that way. 

I became a young mother at 18 years old and knew I needed an education to make a better life for my son and I. With lots of support and encouragement from my mother (who is an awesome woman) I started school at Tarrant County College in the spring of 1991. Even with all the love and support, I lacked one of the most important qualities I needed and that was self-confidence. I didn’t feel smart enough or capable enough to be in college so I allowed obstacles to get in the way and used them as excuses to put my education off for a “better time”.  Time went on and life happened and along the way I married, had two more children and tried to continue my education in the midst of all of this but the confidence was still not there. So, again I put my education off for a “better time”. God has ways of giving us what we need and putting us in the places we need to be to grow in the areas we need. For me that was my Mary Kay business. With the help of my awesome Director Brenda Ashlock who believed in me when I didn’t believe in my self I grew with every success I had and every goal I met, be it big or small. My confidence grew and I became stronger.  I am a strong believer that God has it all planned out for us, because HE knew I would need the strength and confidence to raise my three sons on my own. Even as a single mom I tried going back to school. Working, raising my children and going to school proved to be quite a challenge. Especially since one of those children was a bit rebellious as a teenager (that’s putting it lightly J). I put my education on the back burner for a while once again, but for different reasons this time. Not because of the lack of confidence but because I needed my focus to be on my children. Life went on the children grew and became more independent so I thought I’d give it a go, AGAIN! I started back to school in the spring of 2010. With life a little more settled and a promotion at work I was able to focus more on my studies. When I started that semester I looked at my transcript to see what all I needed to do to finish my degree, my thought was “this is going to take forever!” but I decided to only focus on the present. With each semester that passed I realized I was able to increase my course load, so a couple of semesters I was a full-time student.  One day while preparing my schedule for the next semester I looked at my transcript and realized I was almost done! Wow, had that much time passed already? Then after three short years I was finished!

With much love and support from my mother, family and friends I completed my Associate of Arts degree and Certificate in Mental Health Social Work on May 10, 2013. I can honestly say the pride I feel in completing something I started 22 years ago is something that cannot be described in words. The sacrifice, hard work and dedication it took to complete this goal gives me a feeling of great accomplishment.

Oh but it doesn’t stop here. Next goal…my bachelors degree!!! This time I wont be on the 22-year degree plan.

~An Accomplished Diva~