Tuesday, February 3, 2015

A Real Struggle

I have a problem.  I am trying to fill a void for my children that they don't even know they have.  I know I was spoiled growing up, and so are my boys, don't get me wrong.  But I had something they don't.  And it really bothers me.  I had family galore.  We were always doing something with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.  Like all the time.  We all lived within a 30 mile radius of each other.  My grandparents were very active.  They would take us to the mountain to ride 4-wheelers, snowmobile, cross country ski, ride horses, hike, arrowhead hunt, climb in caves.  They played board games and cards with us.  They had a slot machine in the basement and croquet in their yard.  They took us on many vacations all over the place.  They had an indoor pool and hot tub.  They had Super Mario Bros 2!  I get it.  I had things a lot of people don't.  But, I experienced all of that with my mom & dad, sisters, grandma & grandpa and cousins.  But I feel like that has been lost.  My oldest sister's kids are all in their 20s and in Wyoming.  My middle sister's kids are closer in age to mine (15 and 11), but they live in Arizona.  And let's be real.  It's expensive to travel and it takes a lot of time and coordination.  So, we don't that often.  And it really makes me sad.  The kicker is that my kids aren't sad.  They don't know any different.  This is their childhood, and they are happy and content.  I had my childhood.  And I need to remember they are completely separate and different from each other, and that is ok.  Oh, and I just have to say it.  I have the BEST grandparents out there, even though I don't get to see them nearly enough either.