It's all 20/20 now

I wish I had known:

• completing a graduate degree while newly married and working full time was not easy.
• going back to school for a M.Ed with young children, dealing with TDYs, deployments, relocations, working full time and even being a stay-at-home mom was more stressful & difficult than I could have imagined.
• how much easier any of the aforementioned would have been had I just stayed on for a 5th year in college when there were virtually no responsibilities.  How easy would that have been?

I wish I had known:

• having children would change my life in the most tremendous ways.
• that when we just had Thomas, it was not busy or hectic; instead, that was a piece of cake.
• that when we just had Abbigail & Thomas, it was not busy or hectic; instead that was a party.  And Mommy & Daddy were evenly matched.
• that having just one more beautiful child, Marilyn, would complete our family in the most amazing ways.  And yes, it is busy, hectic, chaotic, & loud.  And yes, Mommy & Daddy are outnumbered.  But is also funny, silly, joyous, exciting, and moment after moment are filled with so much love.
• how much being a Mommy would effect me emotionally, physically & mentally.  It is indeed the most demanding thing I have ever done in my life.  And the most rewarding no doubt.

I wish I had known:

• when I was young that my sister would one day be my best friend.
• that my mother was right and I was wrong on so many occasions.
• that my dad is entitled to making mistakes too just like the rest of us.
• that falling in love can happen from the first time you meet someone.
• Love grows stronger every day, every week, every month and year after year.
• that my sister is one of the smartest people I know.
• that my mom has a huge heart and does everything with love & the best intentions.
• that my dad also does everything with love & the best intentions.
• that my family would not always be together, but that my sister & I would always be loved by both of our parents.