Hot Mess Summer

by Melissa Foster

“A kid’s bark is worse than a dog’s bite, because you birthed it, and there’s always a sliver of guilt tied to saying no or making them do things that are hard for them or that they don’t want to do,”

A lot of people think meant to be refers only to couples, but I believe it’s more universal than that.”

“I can see how that would cause stress, but the right partner will strive to help you be the best you can be in all aspects of your life and figure out ways to support that.”

“I wouldn’t go back even if I could. I love being this age. I’m so much smarter than I was in my twenties. I never felt like I was enough, even for myself. Aspen and I talked about that the other night. I was always looking for my next boyfriend. Now I have this sense of peace, of knowing I’m enough for me, and that’s all that matters.”

If your marriage is good, you don’t have to brag about it. Everyone will see it or feel it.

I look at my daughter showing the ladies how to do the triangle pose and pray Dani is way off base. I wouldn’t trade Mackenzie for the world, but I don’t want her to have to deal with the stresses that I did before she has her path figured out.

“Mackenzie, that’s not true.” I pace the deck. “I don’t regret having you. I never have. But you know my pregnancy wasn’t planned. I didn’t want to be a teenage mother, but it happened, and I loved your dad, and we loved you from the second we found out I was pregnant, so we made it work. But we had to bust our asses just to keep you in diapers. While other kids our age were going to parties and getting degrees, we were staying up all night with a colicky baby and eating Ramen noodles because it was all we could afford. If I made it look easy, then yay for me. It’s my job as your mother to protect you, and I never wanted you to feel like a burden or an obligation. So I guess I did one thing right. But there was no life path to follow, no career path laid out.” I’m so upset, I have to take a minute to regain control and lower my voice. “If there was any kind of path, it was one of love and determination not to fail as a parent.