Super 17

If 16 is sweet, I think 17 should be super! At least it is for me.
As of yesterday (yes, I’m a day late posting this…), we have 17 days until another football season begins:

A season that just happens to be #17 for Me&Coach…which means we will be celebrating our 17th anniversary in December:

So, you see, 17 really is SUPER!
Of course, it also means that I’ve been out of high school for 19 years, I’ve been out of college for 15 years, and I’ve been a mom for 14 years, but, as those numbers make me sound old and – well, old – we won’t dwell on them!
Me&Coach, we’ve had an unbelievable 17 years.  We met on April 21, 1995, and knew immediately that our single days were over.  We were super lucky and found our soul mates in each other pretty young in life.  Since then, we’ve gone places, met people, and made memories that we didn’t know enough to dream of back then.  It’s been beautiful!
I’ve often heard people say, “I’m not sure where the years went…”  I know exactly where they went, I just wish they hadn’t gone so fast!  SonShine is about 1/2 an inch shorter than I, and AngelGirl is only half a size away from sharing my (extensive) shoe collection.  Seriously??? They are my babies!
In all honesty, I have to say that I have truly loved every single stage and phase.  I remember holding them in my arms for hours and hours on end when they were tiny little infants.  I recall dressing them up in blue and gold for their first pep-rallies and scrimmages and ballgames.  I laugh at the hysterically funny things they have said to me over the years.  I adore watching them grow into full-sized, fully functioning humans – with huge hearts, strong emotions, bright minds, and incredible capacities for love.
I know I’ve done so much wrong, but thankfully, I haven’t ruined them in any noticeable way.  In fact, I’ve been reading a great book: Parenting with Love and Logic.

 
What I now know is that I’m the very worst type of parent in existence: the helicopter AND the drill sergeant wrapped up in one crazy package.  Here’s what 17 years of wisdom provides:  I’m absolutely OK with being THAT mom.   Sure, I’m trying to learn from the book.  It is right on target, and I can do better.  But the fact that my kids (and Coach, and Uncle Shaun & Aunt Ashley, Sophie Sue & Clara Belle, and my entire crew) know I am here for them, that I will always be present and accounted for, shouting “I LOVE YOU” in front of their friends, and busting my rear to fly in and save their day like the hero I will never be, that makes me HAPPY.  Really, really happy.
And 17 years worth of HAPPY is nothing to shake a stick out.  In fact, I find it downright SUPER ; )