the anxious mother: Questions and a day.

So, I still have a bunch of reader's questions to tackle, and I'm taking sooooo long. I felt like I had to come up with really insightful responses in order to be attentive and thorough. Instead, I have decided to just answer the dag gone things. So, here's three quickies.

-How do you remain so positive all the time being a full time mom? I'm not one yet but being a teacher I know it can be tiring, stressful, and overwhelming. You always have a smile on your face and inspire me. How do you do it?

Umm, well, thank you. But, I am not positive all the time. Actually, quite a bit I decide to be a human and be really negative, and impatient, and a real pain. Everyone has a light in them, and everyone has darkness. I choose, whenever I possibly can, to shine the light. But, in NO WAY does that mean I'm full of sun rays and unicorn dust. It's just a choice each moment on how to react. I am very conscious these days to choose light so that my kids can see that life is fun, full, and satisfying if you let it be.

-What would be the first reaction if one your children told you they thought they were gay?

I''ll just keep on loving those kids. I can not predict who my children love. I can not predict if or when they will get married or have babies of their own. What I can predict that I will love those two children something fierce until the end of time. The only thing they will ever need to do to keep their mother happy is to keep themselves happy. No matter what choice they make for themselves as they grow, as long as it is for them and truly feels right, I'm on board. My love is unwavering, it is not conditional, and will certainly never change.

-What album do you daydream to?

I wouldn't really consider myself a daydreamer, but some of the first stations I choose on Pandora are The Avett Brothers, Jamie Cullum, Guster, Jason Mraz, Lady Antebellum, Josh Turner, Ray LaMontage, and The Band Perry.

I want to say thank you so much for all of the feedback from last night's post titled "Proceed Without Caution." One particular text I received showed me that some folks really do have the courage to be encouraging. I really hope she doesn't mind that I share. It was the best text I've ever seen. It read, "Just read your newest blog post. Made me feel like throwing my hands in the air and scream, "F#*K Yeah!"

If that isn't encouragement, I just don't know what is. I'm trying to reach people. Reach out to tell a story. Not because I have anything someone else doesn't... Whatever it is, I really don't need a pat on the back for anything I do, but dang it feels good to rally the troops to live the shit out of life. So, thanks guys. Really.

Today we packed up to see my itty bitty princess of a niece perform her end of the school year songs. She's the gorgeous one in front.And, sitting up front watching her are some of my other favorite small people.

And, the smallest favorite, G.

These cousins are hands down the most loving, adorable group of babies I ever did know.

My two loves.

And then, my sister in law took all of us out for pizza. She just made our day with that surprise.

Next we were off to some home improvement stores to grab some items to pimp out the back patio.

A lovely lady instructed me not to let the kids ride on the flatbed cart and told them not to be so loud. Twice... in the most condescending way she could muster. In my mind I said, "Thank you so much for caring about my children's' safety and noise levels more than I do. I really love when 80 year old ladies teach me about parenting while rolling their eyes. I'm sure nothing has changed since you birthed YOUR children 60 years ago. Now ~~run~~ hobble along and get back to your petunias."