Flourishing Family

Flourish. What a great word prompt!  When we have a baby, our world changes utterly and completely.  I see my family changing so much these days.  My oldest daughter is beginning her nursing studies.  I’m so proud of her.  She started off in music education which wasn’t a great fit for her.  It wasn’t that she doesn’t have the talent.  She absolutely does.  She has the most amazing voice you could ever hear.  My mom  always said she had the voice of an angel.  It’s true, she does.  Teaching just wasn’t for her.  Nursing is her calling.  She helped me so much when mom was in the hospital.  I taught her the very basics during that difficult time and she helped me care for my mom during the nights.  We called it “night duty”.  We didn’t want mom to be without one of us. My daughter has grown up from the tiny baby I brought home nearly 2o years ago. She is flourishing each day.

My second daughter is graduating from high school this weekend.  I’m blown away by all of her accomplishments.  She is so smart and outgoing.  She is sweet and so kind.  She will start her pre-med and sociology studies this fall away from home at University.  How has the time flown by so fast? Ever since she was a little girl, she was a little worker.  She made sure she did her homework first thing when she got home from school.  I’ve never, and I do me never, had to tell her to do her homework.  She loves school and always has.  What a blessing.  She has such a bright future ahead of her.  She, too, is flourishing and has changed from the 7.5 pound baby I brought home all snuggled up in a blue and pink snow suit.

My third daughter is just finishing her Freshman year in high school.  She is a fantastic artist.  Her art teacher said at the beginning of the year that she should be taking college level courses.  I can tell you she didn’t get that talent from me.  She can also sing and play the piano.  Don’t ask her to play sports though.  My girls are not into sports.  They are all talented in the arts and I’m okay with that.  Number 3 completed her first high school musical this year, following in her big sisters’ footsteps.  She did a great job.  She marches to her own drummer and always sticks up for the little guy.  I am so proud of her for that.  How could I not be happy that my little girl will listen to both sides of a story and will always be fair! She is flourishing in her arts and in becoming her own person.  I’m one happy mom.

At last, we come to my newly nine year old.  It’s hard for me to think that he is now nine! I can’t imagine my life without this little man in it.  He is such a sweet little boy most of the time and just finishing 3rd grade.  Wow! The time really flies.  When he’s tired, he can be such a little demon child though.  We don’t like that in our house.  We all get cranky when the 9 year old is cranky.  He is my sports freak! He plays hockey, baseball, and wants to play lacrosse.  At home and school, he plays basketball and football.  He loves them all.  He recites all these football facts to me, and I have no idea what he’s talking about.  He doesn’t just recite the facts, he asks me about who is this or who did that, or who plays this position.  Like I have any idea! He’s flourishing too.  I can’t believe this is my one and only baby boy.  Wasn’t it yesterday that I brought him home?

My family is certainly flourishing.  I would say it’s more than the kids.  As my kids grow and change, so does my marriage.  I’m telling you I have the best and most understanding husband in the world.   Our marriage changes all the time which is a good thing.  Life has a way of changing no matter if what you do.  When my husband and I face things together, we are able to deal with those changes much better.  If we talk about those things together, alone, sometimes the things that may be daunting to one, can be much more manageable when faced together.  We are much stronger together.

What ways do you and your family flourish?

daily prompt/flourish