My Pride and Joy

2015 has been an amazing and emotional year for me. My son graduated college and my daughter turned 21 and will be enlisting in the Army. These are all huge things in their own rights.

My son graduating college was a huge victory for my entire family. We have not had a college graduate since the mid 80’s. A few of us have associates degrees, but no bachelor's degree. It was such a proud and emotional moment. 3 days before his high school graduation, he told me that he was going to be a dad. I was sad because I knew his life would be changed forever. A year and a half after that, he became a single dad. He took what others may have looked at as a struggle and made it his motivation to succeed. He worked 2 part-time jobs around his school schedule. He did not let the life struggles stand in his way of becoming a college graduate. He now has a Bachelor’s degree from North Carolina Central University in Business Management.

A few months ago, my daughter said “Mom I have to talk to you.” I had this OMG look on my face. She said, “Moooooom, I’m not pregnant”. I took a big sigh of relief. She said I’m going into the Navy. I said “Girl you almost gave me a heart attack. Don’t ever start a sentence off with Mom I have to talk to you.” I let her know how proud I was of her I was and that I was glad she was choosing the Navy over the Army.

A few weeks later she said Mom why don’t you like the Army. I told her that it’s not that I don’t like the Army, I just have a fear of the Army and Marines. Whenever you hear about fatalities, it’s always those two branches. She said well mom it’s not that bad. I’ve decided to go to the Army instead of the Navy. My heart skipped a beat but I kept in my emotions. So for weeks I prayed and prayed that God would keep her safe and give her a job that would keep my nerves calm (yes it’s about me lol). After she took her ASVAB test she text me and told me that she would be a logistics specialist. At that moment, I realized that my baby was not a baby anymore. Her 21^st birthday celebration was turned into a birthday / going away party.

Looking at those two beautiful young adults that I raised.  I now know that working 2 and 3 jobs at a time was all worth it. I am so proud of them. I can’t wait to see the amazing things that they are going to do as adults.