Affected

Perhaps all the rain is affecting my mood, perhaps my emotions are getting the best of me.

To say that this has been an emotional week would be an understatement at the most! It all started Tuesday when we ventured to Denison (an hour away) to get Nate's dental exam for the guard, which BTW we have to pay for.  When Nate was in the reserves they did his exam on base and so there was no cost to us. While we have medical insurance, we only have preventative dental and still have to pay at least half for all appts. 120 dollars later and we are off to the Optometrist for Charly and I to get our eyes looked at. After waiting for almost two hours to be seen, the doctor sends us home and tells both of us that we need to be seen again( he didnt even look at Charly's eyes because they werent dilated).

I was almost in tears because I was so mad that we were going to have to pay another 40 dollars in co pays. The next morning I called the office lady and voiced my concerns, she could care less. Why should I have to pay for two appts. when all along they could have done it in one if they weren't running late? Needless to say I canceled my appt. but Charly most definitely has to go.

We ended up eating at Cracker Barrel that night because in Texas they haven't gotten the "smoking is bad for you" memo and almost every major restaurant chain still allows smoking. Leaves us with slim pickins'.

Thank goodness I'm getting to know gals from church because I can see myself possibly getting really down without like minded people around me.

I know that we take the road less traveled as far as parenting goes, but it continues to puzzle me why people feel it's OK to tell me to my face that what I'm doing is wrong. Yes I judge people, but my goodness I would never tell someone (at least not to their face) that I thought they were harming their children, even if I thought they were. I know I shouldn't let this bother me but lately it has been more than usual.

From the very moment Charly was born I knew that being a mom was what I was meant to do in life and it has always come naturally to me.  I have always been very confident in our decisions with our girls.  I still am confident with our choices, I think now my feelings are just hurt with comments I've been getting from people who don't even know me (won't get into specifics). Why does it seem that people are trying to take away from me the one thing that I'm really good at?

 For the record, I agree with giving your children responsibilities, I also think people are in such a rush for their kids to grow up. Let them be kids and embrace their childhood, and if nothing else please don't accuse me of harm for trying to raise decent, loving human beings. Really, what does it matter to you what we do with our kids?

I have been trying to put this on the back burner the past few days by keeping myself busy, for the most part it has worked.  I'm having to constantly tell myself that these opinions don't matter and try and focus on what really does.

Like for example moments like these when Charly and Piper got into my make-up....

Or when I'm busy cleaning house and I peek around the corner to find this........

Friday night I was looking forward to getting together with some other ladies from church. We were to meet at Braums (a local ice cream shop) at 7. Im pretty sure none of us thought we would stay as long as we did. After ice cream, a tub of finger snacks and a round of chocolate milk we ended up leaving shortly after they closed at 11PM! It was a lot of fun and something I most certainly needed after my week.

(Dory, Jenny, Anja, Theresa, and Kelly)

(BTW while it may look like I'm drunk, I assure you I was not, LOL)

  It is definitely a breath of fresh air to be around women who at least wont judge me for the church I belong to and the fact that we had lots of fun conversation was icing on the cake!  I hope that this will evolve into a monthly occasion.

In a sea of Piranhas  it's nice to swim among fish who aren't trying to drown you.  Here's to hope! This week WILL be better!