Parenting

I've been reading and discussing the issue of parenting with several people. What makes a good parent? Some people believe you must be a stay-at-home, non-working parent to be a good parent. I used to think that. I used to believe that once you had children, you gave up any rights to be your own identity or to have your own life, and that your primary focus in life had to be raising the kids until they left for college. I guess Kevin is opening my eyes to the fact that you can be a great parent, plus work full time and have a life. It takes a lot of juggling, a lot of help from family, and a lot of compromising, but it can be done. I think the biggest detriment to our society today are the parents who just don't care - the ones who have kids but don't raise them. This whole parenting thing is hard...I still think I'd probably make a rotten parent, which is why I don't have any of my own. I am amazed at all the teachers out there who have families...the ones who deal with teenagers all day long 8am-4pm, then go home and deal with even more teenagers until bedtime. They must have an endless well of patience. My well of patience is very shallow, though I am working on it!

Speaking of parenting, you all need to keep your fingers crossed since Fruit is being checked tomorrow afternoon to see if she is still pregnant. If so, we are looking for a 4-legged addition to our family around Feb. 17, 2006. I can't wait! nothing like sleeping out at the barn on frigid February nights, only to have her wait until you leave for work in the morning to give birth!

Time for baby pictures! Look how they've grown!!!

Taylor as a newborn


Taylor, age 6!



Corky as a newborn (just a year ago!)


Corky at 11 months of age