Being a parent.

On my way out of town the other week, I had to stop and get some gas.

While at the corner right near my house I saw something that caught my eye.

There was a Dad standing a little back from the corner with his two sons. They boys were holding up a sign with their backs to me. I thought it was strange that both the boys were holding the sign and the Dad was directing them on which way to face. I actually thought DAMN that Dad is mean making both of those boys hold a garage sale sign while he just stands there. But once they turned in my direction I had a chance to read the sign...

My heart skipped a beat as I rushed to grab my phone to snag a picture. I also felt it was necessary to roll down my window and yell "NICE JOB DAD!". To which he smiled big and gave me a thumbs up.

So my 2hr drive consisted of me thinking about those boys and their parents.

Every time I turn on the news I get depressed with the number of kids that seem to

have lost their way in life and how quick their parents blame the media, social networking, or anyone else that is NOT them.

Kids do not wake up over night and become something they were not the day before.

There is signs.

There is moments.

There is SOMETHING.

It takes a parent to be active in a child's life to see these things.

I applaud these parent for taking control and doing something.

I just hope and pray that this is a moment that puts them on the right path.

Then over the rest of my vacation I found myself in situations that had me thinking more and more about parenting.

Like when my VERY pregnant cousin in law came out to play with us. See Marissa came out to the beach on Aug 6th, her due date WAS Aug 1st. Yep she drove 45 mins with her 17 month old twins, a week over due with babe number 3 to just play. And she did it with a smile. Marissa radiates happy. She is the first to make a situation funny. So the fact that she was waddling, I mean chasing, two kids OBVIOUSLY wanting to go in opposite directions down the beach, just rolled off her back. I thought wow, what would I do. First I would not be at the beach, I know I would have already talked myself into how horrible it would have been and not gone. Then I am sure I would have cried at the craziness.

{the twinks and Bean}

But not Marissa.

There is was laughing, joking and chasing.

I think as a parent its important to laugh.

{Colton}

If we can not laugh at ourselves then there is no point.

Thank you Marissa for sharing your laughter and your way of making the air around us feel lighter. PS Marissa blogs and when I tell you she is funny I really mean it. Check her out at Controlled Chaos. PSS she finally had that babe, Stella Maris came Aug 12th, yep 11 days over due.

{Chloe}

Another Momma bird that had me thinking about parenting, was my cousin Trish.

She came down to play with us for the WHOLE week with her twins Riley and Aidan,

I know we were surrounded by twins, crazy.

{I found out that colored bubbles will ONLY be given to my children at the beach, HA}

I had known the kids had allergies, but was never with them long enough to really understand their severity and how it effected their day to day lives. Both are deadly allergic to tree nuts and eggs, among some other things. I watched my cousin, read labels, keep her kids away from things that would harm them or worse. I learned how she fought to get two allergy free classrooms in each grade at their school so she could have them in different classrooms, a thing a lot of parents of multiples want for their kids.

{they came with matching suits and it was not even planned!}

Ever time we went somewhere I saw her have to pack something for them to eat and carry epi pens. And talked about how her kids can not ride the school bus because of the risk of exposure and how the bus driver can not administer the epi pen for insurance reasons. Or how her kids have to sit at a separate table with the other handful of allergy kids in the lunch room. One rainy day she took them plus Buggie to the movies, and before they left she had to pack their own popcorn and candy. Not to save money but to save their lives.

There is so much more knowledge I gained after our week together. I always knew we as parents are the only true advocates for our children. But seeing it in action made my heart swell for my cousin and her love for her kiddies.

I wish every child had this in their lives, but I know that is not the case.

{off to see the Smurfs}

Lastly there is my friend Tiffany. We went to high school together. We were more friends of friends back then. Fast forward 10 years later and now we talk at least once a day. Crazy.

So Tiff came out to hang with us. Her parenting story starts three years ago when her daughter was born at 25 weeks, she came into the world weighing 1lb 15ozs. You can read her story here. Tessa just turned three. And since then Tiffany had another little sweet pea, Tristin. Tessa's day to day is filled with appointments and therapy. Which of course means Tiffany's day is filled with those same things. Tessa is not able to walk due to a minor case of Cerebral Palsy. So here is Tiffany with her 3 yr old on her back in her Boba, her 8 month old in her arms, and carrying all their beach stuff {this pic makes me seem like a horrible friend, taking pics of her, but I promise my arms were full, ha}.

Tiffany's determination as a parent is evident in everything she does. She gives speeches for the March of Dimes, she goes on the local radio shows to talk about fundraising for the fight against premature births, there is always something she is doing to help not only her child but other child. She is leaving a mark, a legacy for her children to lookup to. One filled with determination, passion, and knowledge.

{This picture is another example of Tiffany's supermom skills. She is crazy innovative. Tristin is not yet mobile, so to prevent her from eating sand, Tiffany stuck her in the raft. I know genius. Then she had forgotten her swimsuit, so what does my friend do? Oh she just grabs a bib and puts it on backwards to cover her daughters back!}

I am lucky to have these women in my life.

To remind me of these things that make me an active parent not a passive one.

I truly believe that parenting my children is my most important role in life.

A role I take seriously but with a side of laughter.

PS I am sure this post is filled with grammar and spelling mistakes, please try to over look them, cause I am horrible at those things!!