8 More Months Until the Big 3-0

Well, I can't say that I'm where I thought I would be, or wanted to be, when I was 29 years old. I have no job, very little money, no place of my own, no man in my life, and few trustworthy friends. I have yet to obtain even an Associate's degree, and I am currently undergoing my third custody battle. Life has certainly thrown me a few curve balls.

BUT...let me tell you about what I have accomplished. I became a mother at age 21, and have spent the last 7 1/2 years raising a remarkable young man. At 5 1/2 months, he sat up for the first time on his own, meaning I would no longer be required to support him while in a sitting position. At 7 months, he started crawling, and at 13 months, he started walking independently. I watched as walking turned to running, and took joy in the fact that he still needed me to take care of him for most basic tasks. By 15 months, I had taught him how to use forks and spoons. By 2 years old, he could count to 20. By 3 1/2 years old, he could sound out simple words when I spelled them (ironically, to hide what I was talking about, like c-o-o-k-i-e). By 4 1/2 years old, my little guy could read! Now he is 7 1/2 years old, and he can read chapter books and do beginning multiplication. I would like to say I taught him everything he knows, but the truth is, my son teaches me more than I could ever dream of teaching him. Motherhood is my greatest accomplishment thus far in life, and my most challenging classroom.

So there is my list of things I have and have not accomplished. Let me just jot down a few things that I still want to do in life:

1. Earn a Bachelor's degree. This is a challenge for me. The older I get, the more frustrated I feel with schoolwork. There are so many other things I would rather spend my time on, including doing things with my son.

2. Have a steady job. It would feel so nice to be gainfully employed and not have to rely on anyone else's financial support.

3. Have my own place. My dream is to eventually own a house. My own house! Some day it really will happen.

4. Open myself up to more social experiences. I'm way too shy...

There is a lot more...a whole lot more! I think those four are probably the most important. I'd like to be more established in my 30s. Less of a gypsy. I used to think it was fun to be a drifter, dragging my poor little boy with me, but now I'm just tired. I'm ready to settle down and discover what it means to live a stable life. I may be moving to California in June. Maybe that will be the next step in this journey we call Life.