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MOM NOTES
December 2007
Kids Grow Up Fast
December is the month when we have many traditional
holidays. No matter what your religious beliefs, this is
truly the time of year to be thankful and recognize that we
all are a part of the community of earth.
When I had my first baby, I really was quite naive and
although I thought I was ready for her arrival. I was not.
Parenting is so much more of a life journey than we can ever
anticipate. Now four children later, I have come to
appreciate the steps along the way. My children have
enriched my life beyond my imagination. They have brought so
much joy into my life that I sometimes can not believe how
much I love them and how much fun it has been to guide them
along the way.
This month my youngest, Brittany, graduates from college.
Although she is going to be continuing her education in
search of a Masters Degree, it is time for her to take on
the responsibility of not only supporting herself
financially, but also making decisions for herself.
We are very close to Brittany. Being the baby, she has
always received special treatment from her siblings as well.
Her brother, BJ insists that she run all her potential
boyfriends by him for approval. He has not found one yet
that he feels is worthy of his baby sister. Her older
sister, Amy lives close to Brittany’s school, so they have
spent many great times together. Amy is a scuba diving
instructor and inspired Brittany to take up the sport. Now
Brittany is a Master Diver. Her middle sister, Marae is
always the one to encourage her to be independent and find
her own passion in life.
Two things in Brittany’s life stand out to me, her love of
animals and her sense of competition. Brittany has always
had pets. She studied marine biology in college because of
her love marine animals.
Her competitive nature comes out all the time. In high
school and middle school she played in any and all sports
available to her and was the captain most of the time. This
past fall, Brittany competed in her second Triathlon.
Brittany told me that having the goal of the triathlon gave
her motivation to work out on a regular basis.
Her dad and I are very proud of Brittany. In college, she
discovered that she was a good leader. Her leadership skills
have developed beyond our expectations. I don’t think there
is a leadership award she has not won at Florida Institute
of Technology. She is well known by the president of the
university and in fact, every time we are on campus, Dr.
Catanese tells us how proud he is of Brittany and what an
outstanding young woman she has become.
So, as we approach graduation day, we are both proud and
sad. One chapter in our lives is ending, but another one is
beginning. We are very blessed that almost our entire family
will be joining us for Brittany’s graduation. Both sets of
grandparents will be there. Both my brother and Doug’s
sister and their spouses will also be joining us. Her older
sister, Amy and her family are definitely going to be there.
Sadly Brittany’s brother will not be able to be at the
graduation because he is getting ready to be deployed to
Iraq, but he is coming for Christmas. And, her sister, Marae
just had a baby (Marcos is absolutely adorable!), so her
family won’t be able to be there. However Marae’s daughter,
Maranda insisted on coming and she will be flying to Florida
with my parents so she can be at Aunt Brittany’s graduation.
(p.s. - Maranda’s picture is on the cover of this issue of
FAMILY Magazine. She’s adorable, too!)
For those of us gathering in Florida, it is going to be a
great celebration. A celebration of Brittany’s
accomplishments so far and a celebration of new
accomplishments to come. For her dad and me, it will be a
celebration of completing another step along the journey of
parenting. We will give each other a pat on the back for a
job well done.
Our baby is about to embark on the journey of adulthood. Did
we do a good enough job as her parents and mentors to
prepare her for this journey? I think so. Brittany is a
wonderful, caring and loving young woman. It is a joy to be
her mother.
‘Til 2008, Happy Parenting
Brenda
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