FollowCraig: Thanks!

Posted on May 10, 2012 by followcraig

….and you’re still reading

It’s time to take a short break from writing and say thanks to all of you for following me. This is one of the most enjoyable adventures I have ever experienced. What a joy to share my thoughts, ideas and my crazy personal life journey with all of you. Your comments, encouragement and support means so much. I’ve decided just for today to list a few of my recent and most viewed posts for you to read, comment on and perhaps share. So once again, thanks for following….

Craig

My Mom

Changing Diapers

Demons are Green

What Color are Your Grandchildren?

Miracles

Junior Seau

U+Me+?=1?

FollowCraig: “My Mom”

Posted on May 9, 2012 by followcraig

……and you’re still reading

She stood there, so quiet, tears running down her face holding in her anger, hurt and fear. I will never forget that picture in my mind and heart. You see, I was eighteen years old and was at that moment embroiled in a very heated fight with my stepfather. This was a rather horrific way to leave home, screaming, fighting, then climbing out of my bedroom window to escape! My mother was so broken, she really did not know what to do? There was nothing she could do. Her oldest son did not move out like so many to a new and exciting life but rather was running for his life. My mother had four boys, we are all grown today and each of us have our memories of life at home. Our mother is a wonderful and very caring women and I Love her very much. Today as I look back over all these years and reflect on all the times my Mom was so quiet, not really speaking out and seemed to just accept her place in life. Her husband didn’t respect her, her boys depended on her for everything, she worked so hard and still smiled when inside she was just beaten down. It is often said “the acorn does not fall far from the tree” and so that is with me. I’m much like my mother. Perhaps that’s why I understand her so? As you follow my journey and lessons learned, this is one of so many. We only have one mother in our lives, we don’t get a second chance nor can we choose another. They are there for us always, even when it seems they’re not. To the men who read this I say; love and respect your mothers as they suffer through a lot of pain and sacrifice for us. Today as the rerun of that day plays over in my mind, I know it was my mother who made it possible to survive and work past all the trials that were to come in my life. Yes, my mother was really the brave one! For me, everyday is Mother’s Day!

I’m still writing. you’re still reading, so please keep following…..

Craig

FollowCraig: I am “Housewife”; I am Man!

Posted on April 23, 2012 by followcraig

…..and you’re still reading

I grew up to believe women were to be wives, mothers and housewives. Men were to be the kingpin of the household, the BREADWINNER! The MAN was in charge! So you can only imagine what it was like as I became a husband and father in the late ‘“seventies” My new wife already had a career and a child? She was very capable of taking care of herself and sure didn’t need a MAN to be in charge? Well, perhaps that was not true either, see she was raised that the husband was to be the head of the household as well; and only due to course results in her life, she found herself a divorced mother and having to work and support her little girl. So as it turned out my new wife needed a MAN, a husband! I needed to be a MAN and be that guy! So I took on the role, we worked hard together, raising our family and adding one more (my son) a few years later. Our first years were good, we had children and “I Never Changed Diapers!” You see times were changing, household rules were changing, the definition of family and marriage were changing. Wives worked, mothers felt that the roles, raising children and the chores of home should be shared. Great concept if only I hadn’t been thrown into expectations I was never taught to believe. So I worked and played; she worked and worked at home and raised the kids and took care of me and on and on…So about becoming “I am Housewife; I am Man”? You see relationships are work too. We spend so much time working on our own self-centered interests, all the important things in life often are not attended too. That marriage ended for me after 25 years for just those reasons. Had I paid more attention to being a partner at home, an interactive attentive father, addressed my faith and not been so set on how I believed things should be. Who knows what relationship I would have today with my children and others in my family? Over the last 10 years or so I have learned to be a partner at home, when dinner needs cooking, when trash needs to be taken out, when the house needs cleaning, when the pets need walking or the garden needs attending; I have learned to “Just do It”. The results have been astounding! My life today is peaceful in so many ways, It’s beyond description. In one of my upcoming posts I will talk about the “Three most important persons in every relationship”