When I was pregnant, I sat down in the recliner in the nursery, and talked to God. I'm not a very religious person, but I promised I would be the best mother I could be if he would please send me a good kid. God not only answered my prayer, but He went way above and beyond.
Every parent thinks their kid is perfect. I know Addison isn't perfect, but in my eyes, he's pretty dang good. I not only love him, I also like him. He makes me laugh, he frustrates me, he makes me proud all the time, and I'm a lucky girl to be able to call myself his mother.
Being a mother isn't easy. I worry, I fret, I wonder if I'm doing it right. I see my job as his mom as getting him ready for the world, for real life when he's an adult. Life is tough, so I refuse to shelter him. I may be a bit lot unconventional at times, but he understands. I'm honest with him. Being a military child for all of his almost 13 years has made him resilient. He's gone through things most children haven't, and for this I'm grateful. He knows the heartache of missing his father while he's deployed, of knowing he's in a dangerous land, yet he soldiers on. He's seen me cry when we lose a Ranger overseas. I want him to grow up to be a good man, a productive member of society, to know that the world owes him nothing, and it's up to him to make the kind of life he wants.
I knew when I was pregnant that this child was going to be my one and only shot at being a mother. It was my choice. I have been beyond blessed having Addison as my son, and am thankful every day that God gave me him.
I fell in love with an 18-year-old boy who was just graduating from high school. I was 21 and this wasn't my first rodeo. I broke up with my boyfriend on our one-year anniversary and was out on a date with Adam that same night. Sure, I could have played it safe and stayed with that other boyfriend, and gotten married, had kids, and had a secure life. But I didn't. Adam was leaving for basic training in two months, and we packed a lot of living into that two months.
My point is this: I fell in love. Did I want to date a guy who was leaving for months on end and know that eventually I would have to move to wherever he was, leaving the only life I had known, along with family and friends? It wasn't my ideal life, but I did it. Because I love him. Same reason we've been married almost 16 years now, and we're still living the Army life. It would be nice to have a husband who has a regular schedule, who doesn't deploy, and I know will be around for birthdays, holidays, anniversaries and more. This is our life, and I love it.
I can't imagine if someone or something told me I couldn't marry Adam. This is why I support gay marriage. Who are we to say someone can't get married because they're the same gender? Is their love any different from the love a man and woman feel? Love is love, plain and simple. Marriage isn't easy, so when two people decide they want to be together (hopefully) forever, who is anyone to say they can't? I always try to put myself in someone else's shoes before I form an opinion, and this is why I feel this way. I know there are people against gay marriage for personal, religious, etc., reasons, and that's fine. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and belief. But, until you are denied something most Americans are not, it's easy to have that opinion and belief.
