The Evolution Of A Family

After getting married, my husband and I couldn't wait to start our family. Being young and in love we just knew that we were going to be wonderful parents and that our children would be outstanding. That being said, we didn't have a clue what we were getting into, we learnt the hard way that there is no "Handbook For Raising Children". Now, don't get me wrong, there are tons of how to books, but none of them can really help you raise children and help you face the hardships that come along with raising a family.

We struggled with lack of money, cultural differences (he was from the north and I had been raised in the south, he was catholic and I was not), we lived with his family and mine was 500 miles away. We rarely agreed on anything to do with how we were going to raise our children. But, one thing that we did agree on was that divorce was not an option. We were committed to staying together.

We fought and argued, we laughed and cried but most of all we loved each other and our children. We made a lot of mistakes and we got a few things right. We created 3 wonderful and loving children. We survived the lose of our first born to cancer when he was young. We made it through the pain and suffering that goes along with chemotherapy and radiation therapy and the news that it didn't work.

We separated and came back together because we loved each other and our children. We helped each other reach for the stars and held each other when we came crashing down to earth. We held our family together through pray, hope and stubbornness.

We survived our daughters rebellious years when we didn't know if she was alive or dead. We each dealt with the pain in our own way but always as parents. We survived the lose of our own parents, and grandparents. We did the best that we could do.

Then something happened, at some point, our children suddenly turned into young adults. Our daughter came back into our lives and has turned out to be a truly amazing woman. She is strong willed still, but has taken that and turned it from a negative to a positive. She is a loving, caring and giving person that I am proud to say, "She's My Daughter and My Best Friend". My son is finally finding his way, after a few false starts, he is slowing coming into his own.

So, what have we learned? That no family is perfect, that parents don't have all the answers, that children become human again once they hit their early 20's. We have learned that fighting for your family is worth more than anything money can buy. We have evolved into a loving and caring family that cares about each other and that we can be individuals and still be a family.