I am a Rocket Mom

I became a mother for the first time in 1989. I was married and 23 years old at the time. Being that my marriage was not a happy one, I began the life of a single mother in 1992. My son was two years old and the apple of my eye.

I'll admit, that being a single mother was so scary for me that I ended up jumping right into another bad relationship. I thought my son needed a father figure in his life and his bio-dad was not what I had in mind. Unfortunately, neither was my second husband. He was neither a good father, nor a good husband, but my son and I survived.

Following my second divorce, I was reunited with my true love and we had a son in 1997. My second child was born on Thanksgiving Day that year. My little turkey...

I was no longer wearing the hat of a single mom, and it was a blessing to finally have a partner in life. I was the one doing all the work in my previous marriages, and although it was tough, I handled it. I was the only married single mom I knew.

Having that eight year gap between my kids wasn't a problem at first, as my oldest doted on his baby brother and was helpful until the little one started walking. Once he gained his feet, he followed his big brother everywhere, which got to be an annoyance to the oldest.

The oldest had friends and school. The youngest had neither. However, the youngest wanted to tag along and play.

My role had changed quite a bit too. I was no longer working 60 hours a week outside the home. I was a stay-at-home mom. This suited both my kids just fine. They enjoyed me being there all of the time, and I enjoyed it as well.

Now though, every time I even suggest getting a job outside the home, my youngest voices his disapproval. "Mom, you need to be here for me!" So, since there are no local jobs to be had, I am still a stay-at-home mom.

I now take care of my youngest and my mother; this is a lot like having two kids at home, even though my oldest moved out on his own a couple of years ago.

At the age of 17, my oldest decided it was time to stretch his wings and move out on his own. Although I was not ready to let go, he had a plan that I could support and let him fly. I still miss him terribly, but he calls home often and that helps a lot.

My youngest swears that he will never leave home and promises to take care of me. (At least he's gotten past the idea he had of all of us living on a pirate ship.) I have to wonder how long this will last, being that he has insisted upon this since he was about three years old.

He misses his big brother a lot, and I also wonder if his commitment to me is now a response to his brother leaving and my reaction to it. Only time will tell.

When my life was in turmoil he gave me Jerimiah. He was an easy child to have. He was polite, caring and always did what he was told. This boy even potty trained himself. (He decided one day that he wanted big boy underwear.)

So when my life had calmed down and became what I wanted; no longer having to go to work each day, God gave me Tanner. He has never been what anyone would call easy. From the moment he learned to crawl, I have been chasing him.

Tanner has ADHD. He was diagnosed in the first grade, and that diagnosis saved my self-esteem. His behavior had left me feeling like I was doing something wrong. Like I said, God didn't want me to be bored as a stay-at-home mom. Life with Tanner has never been boring.

He is a smart and enthusiastic child who hates school and loves video games. School has always been a challenge for him, where it was easy for his brother. But I have always been there for him, working with the school to make sure he gets the education he needs, whether he likes it or not.

I love my children more than anything, and I think I have been successful in letting them know that. I have a great relationship with them both.