blessed by numbers

Tonight once again, I am feeling extremely grateful for my children and know I am blessed because of them.   I found out last week that we have not only 1 new member of the family joining us next year, but 2.  One is due in March with my oldest daughter, and one in July, with my youngest daughter.

Family is, and always has been very important to my kids.  My son has his own car now, and never seems to stay home, which is very unusual for him.  Where is he?  He is not out drinking, as he hates alcohol.  He is not out partying, as he hates that scene.  He doesn't do drugs or smoke as he despises those as well.  He doesn't really hang out with friends, outside of school either, as the usual kind of hanging out they do involves alcohol.  So where is my son?  He is hanging out with one of his sisters, or working out with his brother in law.  My 2nd daughter and I were out and about one day last week, doing some shopping together, and decided to stop off and visit my youngest daughter and her little family.  Who was there?  My son.  He was spending time with his sister, and her hubby, and rolling around on the floor playing with his 3 year old nephew.

  The weekend before this last one, we all got together to do Christmas crafts.  It is a tradition with my kids and I, and a really fun one.  We make the silliest things, but of course are proud of every single one.  We laugh, we sing, and sometimes even break into a little dancing.  Just 2 days ago, while we were all together decorating my tree, my son put on a Christmas medley, and I danced with my 3 year old grandson for about 15 minutes straight.  I would dip him, on request, and he would dip me.  Although him dipping me was more like the two of us falling to the floor and throwing our feet in the air.  The room was alive with laughter.  At one point, his dad even joined in with the 2 of us.  Then when a familiar song came on, we would all break out in song, my grandson being the loudest.  Of course this was all caught on video, to relive at future family gatherings.  These are definitely the times that bind us together even more.

The bond that my children share is a rare gift in my eyes.  It is very different from the dysfunctional relationship that my own siblings and I shared when younger and still share today.  Family is a number one priority to all my children.  They love and cherish, and recognize what they have with each other.  This makes my job as a parent so much easier.  It isn't just me taking care of them, it is them taking care of each other, and of me as well.  My children are very protective of me, and of each other.

There were a couple of years there, where one of my kids pushed away the other three, by her choices she made, and trusts that she broke.  She was not very welcome to be around the rest of us.  But, over time, we got past that, and through a rough process of forgiveness and everyone being there for her when it was urgently needed, trust was renewed, the bonds were  restored, and relationships were mended.  The realization of what she had lost those couple years and how she had caused it, was a huge eye opener, and the start of a whole new life for her.

I am very proud of my kids for what they have all been through in the past 12 years, and how they have all pulled together.  They now have a strong enough bond to tackle anything that comes our way, and they have become better people because of the trials in their lives.  As I sit here typing on the computer, and listening to two of my kids playing a game together, and laughing and being silly, I know that I am so lucky to have the kids that I have, and I will never take that for granted.  Next, there are plans for christmas baking with my son and daughter, and I.   I have no doubts that there will also be music, singing, a big mess in the kitchen, and perhaps some silly dancing.  Definately lots of silliness!

What does all this have to do with kung fu?  Kung fu is my life which is a part of who I am.  All 4 of my kids have attended kung fu at one point or another in their lives.  Kung fu makes me a better person in a variety of ways, and one of them, is  helping me to be a better mom.  Kung fu makes me more aware of my surroundings in the community whether large as a city, or small as in my own family.  Christmas is a great time to take advantage of families being together.  I am thankful for that.  I am also thankful that my family never needs a reason to get together.  I love them all.  They are dearest to my heart.