Raising Redneck Kids . . . Or as I like to call them--- Self-Sufficient

Recently I found myself really shocked to hear someone mention their fear of going to what they considered a 'rural' area and how awful and boring they thought it would be.  Like they were taking vacation in the pits of hell . . . .  

I have always lived in rural areas - I mean RURAL, rural.  Like the first town I moved to that had stop lights??? SCARED.TO.DEATH.  How was I ever going to find my way around?  How would I ever remember all the names of all those streets??  This was before the invention of smart phones and GPS boys and girls!  But I have never thought small towns and driving through farm country was boring.  So I started pondering . . . .

My kids have always had plenty to keep them busy. Oh sure, I have heard the 'there's nothing to do' statement as many times as the next mom, but for the most part they were busy.  There are creeks to walk, fish to catch, guns to shoot, a large yard to start up a baseball or football game in, friends to hang out with, forts to build, trucks to work on . . . .   yes, all my kids have shot guns.  Yes, I shoot a gun.  I own my own gun.  I'm not a terrorist. Nor a serial killer.  But I have a lot of fun shooting targets and beating the men in my household!  Especially if they have gotten cocky and decided to place a bet like doing the dishes for the week. . .   yes.  That happened.  My youngest (16) chops wood, knows how to build things, hunts, fishes, 4-wheels, and drives an old pick up.  A kid from the city may think all that sounds horrid.  Some out there would call us rednecks, and not mean that as a good thing.  We aren't stupid people.  Both my husband and myself are college educated.  My older child both went to college.  My youngest is an honor roll student, plays high school baseball, helps out an elderly neighbor, is involved at church, and uses manners at least 60% of the time!  He goes to have coffee with his grandfather or drives over to visit with his grandmother - just because.  When his cousin had surgery, he went to Starbucks and bought her favorite drink to take to her.  But here is what I think about the most.  The life skills that are learned when you're 'country.'  My kids can plant a garden, chop wood, fix a meal, know a little about plumbing and electricity and how to drive on snow and ice.  They can clean a house and mow a lawn.  They can not only hunt and fish for their own food, but field dress it, process it, clean it, and fry it up.  They know their neighbors. 

I am not saying that kids raised in the city don't learn life skills! All I am saying it - don't feel sorry for us out here in the cornfield!  We are having a blast! 

Hi  - my name is Lisa.  I am not a baker nor a gourmet cook.  I can't sew or grow an organic garden out of recycled bottle caps.  I don't build my own furniture and have never made my kids' Halloween costumes (well, maybe once).  I don't have a Norman Rockwell life - or family - but when we have is honest and, I'm guessing, pretty similar to many other families out there!  I pray - and I curse.  I make good home made meals one week, and pick up deli chicken and order pizza the next.  Sometimes my house is clean and sometimes we are just a hot mess.  I aspire to be the best mother, the perfect wife, the greatest friend . . .  and then I get home from work and just want to crawl into bed or lose myself on Pinterest and pretend I'm not the grown-up.  Some days I get it right.  And some days go really wrong.  But we are a family and at least we are screwing it up together :) 

So - my musings about 'normalcy' shall commence.  I have worked in the Child Welfare field for the State of Missouri for 23+ years.  Phew.  I love it.  I hate it.  It breaks my heart and fills my spirit to overflowing.  It's hard.  Every day.  And sometimes I give all I have before 5:00 PM.  That makes me kind of a poor mom and wife some days.  Then I try to redeem myself . . .   my family sort of understands.  I have three amazing children - and I'm not sure how they got that way.  And grandchildren?!  Well, I could spend weeks writing about nothing but the pure genius of them.  I have God in my corner and that makes everything else ok. 

I have some major life changes coming up . . .  after years and years (and years) of struggling with my weight and health, I am currently waiting for the final approval from my insurance company for weight loss surgery.  I was really hoping it would occur before the end of the year, but . . .   we will have to wait and see.  God's timing - not mine.  So, I believe this blog will be about my journey, my family's journey along side me, the crazy making that is a part of Middle America.
Normal?  You be the judge.  2 parents, 3 kids, 2 grandkids, 1 dog, country living, 6 jobs in the household, 1 'wanna' be crafter, 1 kayaker, 1 teenage boy and his teenage friends, neighbors, small town living, and our daily experiences.