Six of One, Half a Dozen of Another

That's how I feel about the past 12 years. Today is T's birthday, and the last 12 years have past almost too fast, but not quick enough at the same time. Yet, 12 years have passed. I could have been a bad parent, a so-so parent, or a good parent. 12 years passed no matter what kind of parent I decided to be when my first child was born.

T & I at his 2nd birthday party

12 years ago, I was a 21 year-old young woman, less than two years away from getting my Bachelor's degree. Four days prior, I finished one part-time job and took official leave from my full time job. The semester was over, and even though I knew I was taking the summer semesters off, I knew nothing of what my future had in store except there would always be someone who called me "Mommy". I only knew time would pass no matter what type of decisions I made for myself and my child.

I could have decided to not finish my degree, not worked hard to do my part to support our new family, not put everything I was into being a damn good mother. HAve I always been the best mother? No. Could I have done some things better? Probably. But I look at T and I see me...really, we are so similar in both looks and especially, personalities. I pray every day he sees the same similarities and has high hopes for his future.

T getting his red belt 05/19/12

I pray in 12 years he will look back and say my mom was the best mom I could have had. I pray he says, "She gave me the example I needed in all areas of my life." I pray he says, "She had strength, compassion, and even (oh, I really hope) grace under pressure." I pray when he looks forward in his life he uses my life as a pathway for his own dreams.

Finally, I pray when his first child is 12, he provides the same example I have tried to provide for him, sets pathways for his child's dreams. I pray he finds his own strength and courage in an easier way than I have, and he develops an undying compassion for his fellow man so he may pass those on to his family.

Yes, 12 years have passed. They were hard years, but good years because no matter what, T led me on my path to find the dreams I never knew I wanted.

T

Three Things: Just Plain Badass Stuff & Momma Worries Too.

Today is a crazy, but wonderful, day!

• Today begins a running challenge in my online Running Moms group. Running Moms 343. As a group, we're running at least 343 miles between today and September 11 to honor each firefighter who lost their life saving other on 09/11/01.

• P90X2 is now available for pre-order until midnight on September 5.Seriously, athletes and people with highly active lifestyles will benefit from this new workout in so many ways. 5 day workout program designed to improve your core, balance, stamina, well, everything really! If you are even remotely interested, pre-order through my coach site. You get free shippingand have guaranteed delivery before Christmas. http://www.beachbodycoach.com/Carinschaab

• Lastly, while I'm all swept away with P90X2 and getting mileage in as well as thinking all about Ironman to plan the Cy-Guy's 5th birthday, T (insert huge sigh and head hung low) is talking about"this girl" in some of his classes. I am very aware that this was supposed to happen, but really, in the second week of school? I do remember this is the age where I became extremely aware of boys, but I thought since I had boys, I might have had a couple of extra years before all this. Honestly, there's enough hormones in the house with P and me acting like 20-somethings most of the time, but to add the complexity of a pre-teen in the house...that's a complicated mix. Well, as I tell my boys, it's time to "suck it up'.