From Under A Rock

As a mother of teenaged children, one whom is just embarking on her own journey into adulthood, hindsight is a painful reminder of many things.  A young mother is a dangerous thing if she does not have the guidance of other strong women who had the guidance of other strong women.  Mothering is a lost art, that if done well, reaps rewards beyond measure and becomes a legacy unparalleled.  A mother of 19 does not value or appreciate these facts.  She has no time in her life for wisdom, advice, or integrity.

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WWF watching, infomercial ordering, beer drinking, pot smoking was the norm in my childhood universe. In oblivion, I watched the people that I thought hung the moon and stars, bumble their way through a rather unorthodox pedagogy of parenting. This parenting recipe, pretty typical of young parents who have kids before they have grown up for themselves, included :  planning nothing of significance for the future, living for the moment, and financial ruin.  These were secondary consequences of a delayed anticipation that life would just fall into place.  In my eyes, I would have preferred to have gained more powerful familial traits and traditions.  What if motherly wisdom had taught me to be a bit more self-sacrificial and humble?  Instead my familial legacy consists of trade secrets of a bit less importance--the family recipe for margaritas.  (In case you're interested, one can of Bacardi, two parts Pepe' Lopez clear tequilla, and one part pure grain alcohol.  You use the Bacardi can as your measuring cup.  Blend well and drink with a straw.)  Oh yeah, don't forget the other list leaders after the perfect margarita: If you go to jail, you get out the way you got there; by yourself.  Work yourself to death every day of your life even if it makes you sick and robs you of your joy.  And don't forget to party like there is no tomorrow.

Ironically enough, there was no advice on what to do about an unplanned, universe altering teenage pregnancy.  More to come on that topic at a later date.

I will offer this bit of positive in a world of negativity.   Thanks to God's grace, there are those of us who, as parents and despite our blind attempts at mucking things up, have come out of it with pretty great kids. That is a blessing that I didn't deserve, as I was ill equipped to be any semblance of a mother.