Because I Get to Be His Mother...

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.