I am an older mum with 3 extravert children - daughter 28 son 26 daughter 21

Jo-anne - posted on 02/17/2009

Hi Jona

Thanks for the reply. My husband & I were in America last October - we did a driving tour around Zion, Bryce & Grand Canyons & loved it. Your family sounds wonderful. I love your line "now I know why some aminals eat their young" As my son fits that catagory. There were times when I was'nt sure if he or I were going to survive - but we did. My youngest daughter is working in Canada at Lake Louise. She is hoping to do a trip around America before she comes home. I am so proud of her because she was always so scared of everything & yet she found this job, organised herself & set off for Canada on her own. I will have a very different Hayley when she returns. Probably the greatest joy I have had is seeing my children evolve into the adults they are. They are not perfect - but they are certainly not boring....

Jona - posted on 02/17/2009

Welcome!  I have 4 busy children, but one thing we have in common is my eldest daughter, Aubrey, is 26, and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with family services as one of her two majors...She also was very interested in youth at risk, has worked in several shelters, but found that it's difficult to make a decent living doing that, so has started school in nursing.  Initially she hoped to be able to work in a pysch ward with kids...but....now, she isn't sure that's the road she'll take.....She also, is a fixer, (she gets that from me, I'm not proud to say) and has been in some sad relationships, also, leaving her a bit bitter and exhausted.....But oh, she is so good and kind and beautiful!

My oldest son Zachary, is in school in Waterloo, Iowa, and will graduate this spring.  he is 22 years old, and a good, good boy.  But it's funny, he was the one that made me want to pull my hair out by the roots when he was growing up! I used to joke and say, after a hard day with him, "Now I know why some animals eat their young!" ;)

Also have 19 year old Caleb, (Cubby is his nickname he's had since birth) and he is a gentle, kind boy, that enjoys video games a lot!   He's in  college at Iowa Central community college in Fort Dodge, Iowa, taking two years to get pre-requisits to attend a video gaming school. There are none of these schools in Iowa yet, but he's hoping in a year, there will be a program someplace close...He's my guy that likes to come home every weekend!

And my baby is Mikayla, 14, who was named after her Uncle Michael, who passed away 3 weeks before she was born. She's involved in every sport available at the school, and is quite talented in most....She's funny, and smart, and keeps me laughing, MOST of the time....