Thank-You Mom 

By: Jess Crudup

The older I get, the more I realized how hard mothers work. I have such a deeper appreciation for my mom now. I mean, I was always grateful, but it wasn't until aiding in raising my siblings did I realize how much work she did. Changing diapers, Feeding,Washing, Burping,Teaching

TRYING to put to sleep, Giving medicine. And the list goes on.

Motherhood is not for wimps. I saw that she had written that in a poem not too long before she died. It’s tough and it is beautiful. I’m glad she was such a great mom because she being a great mom taught me how to be a great mom. She was a single mother, single handedly raising 5 children and raising them WELL. I owe my intelligence, politeness, kindness and beauty to my mother, who gave me, and taught me these things.

I am thankful for all good moms out there because you’re the ones that will raise children to be good adults, take in children that aren't yours because you care, teach young men how to properly treat women, especially women who will be to their children what you have been to them, and show a kind of the greatest love that so many have experienced. The love from a mother for her children is powerful. It’s what gives a child their confidence, understanding and self-love.

I could never express how thankful, grateful and appreciative I am to all the good mothers out there. You are a child’s first doctor, teacher, coach, relationship and friendship. I have learned just how vital the relationship between a mother and her child is. I have full respect for and I honor the many women that let their children know they love and care for them because that is one of the most beautiful experiences in this life that I am very happy to have experienced.

God Bless all the good mothers out there. =)

A camping We Shall Go. This summer we went camping at a near state park. It was nothing special. Just a weekend trip. Micah L-O-V-E-D It ! We couldn't keep him out of the dirt! After our first night , I decided to document the entire adventure. It was uneventful for us, but our neighbors seemed to be having a blast. The Following is my documentation of this past summer’s weekend camping trip to my local state park. I've omitted the most boring parts of the trip  


************************************************************************ Thursday night we left home to camp. We tried to leave so that we had enough daylight time to set up, but by the time we got around it was already twilight and near dark. We set up in darkness and after words, since we had no firewood , feasted on hard boiled eggs and butter bread. Shortly after, We went to bed, tried to get a WiFi connection for a movie but no luck. Our neighbors were noisy, and by 1 a.m fully drunk. Their rowdy loud behavior kept us and other campers awake for half of the night. Micah and I shared a sleeping bag which made it for a very tight and uncomfortable night. Mom slept on an air bed which was flat by 1 AM due to my negligence on forgetting to latch and close the valve. 

*Cute Little Stinker*

 


Waking up at 7:59 sore and sleep lacked. we got into the car and went home. [home is 20 miles away] Getting there we grabbed everything we thought we had forgotten, but I was just informed we forgot our chicken and beef for our dinner tonight and tomorrow. I guess it's going to be hot dogs for dinner tonight.  
It is sad, an old friend has passed away. I didn't know her long, but her old fashioned clothes, high bun on her head and peppermint odor was something I will not soon forget. [We had to take time during our camping venture to attend an old friend’s funeral]
Saturday Micah woke me up at around 7:59 (again). Mom went home to feed the cats and grab stuff we forgot (again). Not to mention she stopped at the store to buy meat because she forgot it AGAIN! Dad and I made coffee and waited for her. and while we did. We had a discussion about hunger. I sat and predicted what mom was doing at home. Now we are cleaning up Thinking about going to get apples and going to press our own cider at the glazier ( an apple cider pressing activity hosted by the DNR) L8trs ! 

Eating an apple that was  suppose to be  cider.

We went went to the apple cider pressing. It was quick we got there and put in our apples (5 lbs). It only made about 2 pints of apple cider. 

We went to bed at around 9 and I slept pretty good till about now. (1:15) The people around us are drunk. They are LOUD, and one of them tripped over my tent. Hopefully they quiet down soon… I don’t know if I can go back to sleep. [ I shall insert the full drunk story here: At 1 a.m the drunk people were full on wasted. I could hear kids running loose. One drunk man telling another about how his wife was a *female dog*. Another tipsy pair walking back from the bathroom tripped and fell on my tent uttering, “ *poo* there is a tent there” By 2:00 a.m they were arguing about football and one woman made sure her 2 cents were in there. The argument was a near fight with the woman in the lead. At around 2:30 one man said he had to get up really early to go fishing, and after that the party died with a couple coming to their camp spot which was next to ours. The details after that shall not be typed here.]


Micah woke me at 7:59 , It rained. poured buckets. nothing in my tent got wet, but it sweated so it dripped right on my forehead like a water boarding.
Dad slept through everything!!. He didn't awake this morning, even after mom banged on his car door.

[Dad didn't like the hard “ground” so he ended sleeping in his car on our last night]


Eventually he did wake up and mumbled something about not wanting people to see his hairy chest which I guess was visible. His car wouldn't start this morning.
Micah was pretty happy this morning. If only he knew this was our last morning and that we are going home this afternoon . 

Boiling some water for grandpa's tea.

Well, this it the end of our weekend adventure. We packed most everything Helter skelter , and ate some really yummy hamburgers. after all was ready to go dad’s car wouldn't start. So we had to “shove” start it. All in all it was an interesting camping trip. 

"The Camping Chair"

Now a Word from Mom:
“It was memorable. Some what relaxing , no rushing around of any kind accept Thursday night. IT ended with Pushing Dad’s Car to start. I was so glad to hear that motor start. I used to do that to my own car. But I don’t remember now. I will be glad to get home to my own Bed.” Now a Word From Dad: “It was really good to get on to the campground and relax. I was a bit concerned about the weather, but it was ok. We need to get new air beds for next year. It was a lot of fun and I wish we had stayed for a week. The wind really blew our tents around.”

Love of the Outdoors.

And a Final word from Micah:

“UmmBA”

Funny  story about this frog; I didn't know it was there until Micah crawled on it then picked it  up and  began to  put it in  his  mouth. The poor  thing  manged to escape, but later  it  awoke  me  by  chirping on the  tree by my tent.

 A  Boy  Named Micah

Being pregnant with my son was an interesting experience. When I  found out I was pregnant it  was a total  accident and a complete surprise.  I  enjoyed the entire pregnancy and  was happier than I had  ever been in a long time. I was a very typical pregnant woman. Mood swings , cravings , morning sickness. the works

By the  time I was 36 weeks along,   I  was more than ready to get him out of me. Of course I went  full term  plus a week.

 I had to be induced because I had gone 41 weeks and I was more than ready for him to come. I’m glad I did,  all the doctors  and most of the nurses guessed  he would be a  cute little 7 pound baby. Boy were they wrong! 9pounds 2 ounces and 21 inches long. His footprints were huge.

I  went  through  all the

 usual newborn drama too.  No sleep… Never once did I complain.  I felt  obliged  and honored to be taking care a human being. After all , one day he  could be a  very important person.

I enjoyed  his newborn stage as much as I could , because I  knew soon he would be totting around like he owned the place. Which is what  he pretty much does now.

 

 

Since his birth we have had a lot of  fun   watching him  grow and  discovering who he is as a person is. We already 

established that he has a sense of humor. And like  a lot  of  kids,  he is  curious.

 

 Micah is heaps  of fun.  And I enjoy the time we spend together.

I hope that he grows up to be a  good person, and that he does great things in life. I wish for him to have a full and happy life.

   Sometimes  I think about the world and  all that is in it, and wonder  if  I should bubble wrap  my son.  It is  sad  out there, the things that go  on.  I want to  hide it all from  him, but somethings can’t  be covered up.

The world isn't all bad though, there are a lot of happy  things  on earth.  

Farmer’s Market

https://www.etsy.com/shop/McThreads4u

My mom has been selling at a local farmer’s market for 2 years now. In December she will attend her last market. It’s bittersweet to see the end. It was fun going to them. Lot’s of yummy goodies, great people, and a great buzzing atmosphere.  




I’m glad though. My mom loved her business , but our house is just too small to run it. . It started out as sewing but it kind of grew. She runs an Etsy shop ( https://www.etsy.com/shop/McThreads4u ) with her sewn stuff.

~Friends~

  I met some amazing people at these farmer’s markets. I love to hang out with one particular family that I have become great friends with. She gives me amazing parenting advice.  I also found out I'm a fan of the a free living , kinda hippie , boho grow your own food , support local lifestyle.

 










Of course in this community there are cliques and the rumors. The gossip and the talking behind backs. I was the market wanderer. As my mom stood at her booth selling her goods , I would walk around. I have bad hearing but sometimes I would so much stuff go on that shouldn't have gone on.
I've come to discover that adulthood is basically high school , for-ever… there is still drama, and the crappy junk that goes with it. I guess we don’t really grow up, we only grow old.  



All that aside, though, farmer’s markets are fun , social , and supporting of locally grown. I would keep going even after my mom stopped. After all , I have to support the friends I made.

"Let Me Entertain You " does face painting at the farmer's markets  around  town 

HAPPY AUTUMN!! 

 What Being a Mom has Taught me,  and Other Musings about Parenthood.


OK, well, maybe I’m Not a  full on  single  parent  in the sense that I  sweat  blood to  provide for  my  child.   I have parents who fully  support me.  They  Room us ,  feed us , and provide for us whenever we have needs.  So, I  do have help.  But there are some  things  that qualify me to single parenthood.
   Making decisions  for my  son by  myself  without a  father’s  opinion  is   difficult at  times.
Right now  he’s young, so there aren't many  decisions to be made.  But  how about when he is older ?
Being a single parent  has  taught  me a  few  lessons.
You don’t realize  the  importance of the  other parent’s  presence until  that parent  leaves. Sure ,  you  may  hate their  guts , but  that's  in  between you and that  parent.  The  child has no part in that equation.  How  ever if that  parent leaves early on   the  big question will come ,  sooner , or later. 




“Mommy, Who’s Daddy?”

I think about this  a lot and how I'm going  to answer it.  For now  though  I'm glad  that I have a  few more years  ahead of  me  before an answer has to be  seriously thought  about.






 I’m starting to realize  being a parent  isn't as  easy as it looked when I was  young.
Having to admit  that your parents are  “right”  came  much  sooner  for me than it  would have normally.  

 “Mom you were right.”

I probably won’t admit  she is  fully right  though ,  until  Micah is a teenager.


In general , parenting has taught me  a few  things ,  and  I think all parents with a heart  will agree that;  

You don’t know what love is until  those  tiny little  eyes look into yours and those tiny little fingers  touch your skin.








THE EMOTIONAL FEELINGS!!!  It’s  worse  than that time when your were  a raging young  hormonal  teenager  watching “Twilight”.   

So many emotional happy feelings  are felt  when you parent. 


I  often catch myself fully  enjoying  those  toddler shows ,  eating the  rice  snacks ,   and  acting  goofy just to get Micah’s  attention.  
 




Sure I've learned  all the  classical  things out there  when  you  become  a parent,  but  one  thing  that has  stuck  out like  a sore thumb  to  me  is  the  lack of  caring. and here is  a list of things  I've stopped  caring  about.

How I look.
 Now  a days  is all  about dressing  comfortably and as quickly as  possible.
Jeans ,  T-shirt , and  if hair  is not  manageable with a quick brush - HAT!
Oh and  If  I can’t  easily feed  Micah from my  body  with  that  outfit on,   I'm  definitely not wearing it. 

Going to bed isn't a big deal.
We co-sleep. So  for me  the  sooner  Micah goes to bed , the  sooner I go  to  bed.  
It used to be that I would try to  stay up as late as  my  eyelids could stay  open ,   but now  even  with Micah sleeping through the night,  every precious minute of  slumber is  a   precious moment to  no  waste. 

Acting stupid in public.
Remember  those  teen  years , (well  for  some  of you older ones,  not far for the  rest of us young’ns ) when   going out  with  your  parents was  embarrassing?  I've  turned the tables.  I am now the parent. If  putting a coat  over my head  and  talking in a  weird  voice  keeps the baby happy  until we are  done shopping then  please , don’t mind me.

The nasties…
oh yeah baby ! ( no pun intended)  I’m talking  diaper’s ,  food  from the floor  , and  snot.
I remember babysitting,  and  thinking  how  gross  baby poo was ooy , gooy , gross.  When  Micah came along  I  didn't blink twice. if it wasn't gooy I worried, if it was too gooy , I panicked.
food  from the  floor  seems to be  on the menu  at  my house.  no matter  how many times you  sweep  the floor,  the kid  will  find something and eat it.
I've  become a full on  believer  of the 5 second rule. Whaaaaat?.....  I only do it at home.
You  can only give a kid so many crackers  before the entire floor  is littered  in them. 



Parenting  has made  me grow  up a bit.   A lot  sooner  though  then when I wanted it.  I still have a lot  to learn , after all
I am  still growing myself.