Where’d you come from?

Got one home sick today. Not full-blown sick, but “I think I’m gonna throw up” sick. Upset stomach; didn’t want breakfast….

Well, there went my day!

I’m watching the other one go out the door and she’s so little…..

I thought years ago, that when my kids got to a certain age, I would feel more comfortable letting them do things. But once a mom, always a mom I guess. I still feel like they are my tiny babies who need me around. And to be honest, they still act like that.

I had fears that when Aspen got to middle school her attitude toward me would change. And so far it is totally the same. A little more arguing here and there, but still my baby.

I realize as my kids get older just how important good parenting is. I get compliments regularly on my children and I always feel very blessed.

Yesterday I had my friend’s daughter for the afternoon. She’s like another daughter and her friend is one of my BFF’s. I had errands to run and so she sat in the back seat as I drove to Orange to pick up some things. I had another errand to do and was headed in that direction, but turned on street too early and ended up heading towards my old neighborhood.

So I ditched my last errand and took the long way home. I warned her that she was going on a walk down memory lane with me; a trip my kids have taken numerous times. From our location, I told her that I used to walk to this place all the time and as we drove I kept reminding her, “Still walking” so she could take note of how far we used to go as kids.

I drove her by my high school and the ‘one’ grocery store we had in our area as well as my old house and elementary school. I showed her how ‘far’ I walked to school even as a kindergartener. I explained about all the orange groves that used to be in the area and that is how the city was started.

In Villa Park there is a “haunted house”. I never really knew if it was haunted, but there were tons of stories floating around and as kids we ran with it. My mom said the house was moved from somewhere in Orange. As I took my friend’s daughter by the house, she looked at it with intrigue. It’s just a fascinating piece as it looks really old and it clearly doesn’t mesh with all the houses in Villa Park. This house is walled in from all sides. It looks the same as it did when I was a kid. I would lie if I didn’t say I was still intrigued.

As we headed home, I decided to take the canyon. We passed the Fire Station where we had MANY pancake breakfasts!! Then I stopped over in Santiago Oaks park, just to show her how hidden away it is. We didn’t pass the gate; just turned around. But the smell of the trees in the area brought back so many memories. I told her as we drove through the canyon that as a kid, I used to drive that road all the time, just to get away. And isn’t it interesting that now, I live just on the other side of it??

I had such a nice time telling her about my past. I asked if her parents share a lot about when they grew up and she said, “no”. I told her that I MUST have a talk with her parents!!!

My kids know all my stories. She knows about my friends, my school life, the boys I dated, the friends who have passed. They know about my dad and his crazy family. I love sharing all that stuff. And when mom comes over, she has plenty of stories to add herself.

My husband doesn’t have as many stories. It’s kind of sad really. He doesn’t really acknowledge his past. I have dragged a few things out of him but he doesn’t have as many stories as I do.

I find it intriguing where I came from and who my family is. I have to admit; as a kid, I might not have appreciated the stories as much as I do now. And I certainly don’t remember them all. I’m so thankful to have my mom add her two cents! (or 50 as it were).

Kids are what we make them. Part of who we are is what we came from as is from our parents and ancestors before us. If you dismiss that, then you cut off the arm of your heritage.

I admit I kind of went off on this, but I just realize I need to sit down and start documenting all the things that my mom remembers. If my kids have to rely on my memory for much of our history, they will be left with …..not much…..

My mom has a memory like a steel trap! I need to take advantage of that!

Take time to learn about your heritage. It really is an interesting thing the more you dig. And who doesn’t love a good story, right???

Happy Wednesday!