5. If you could have given yourself a snapshot five years ago of what your life is like now, what would the picture be of and how do you think you would have felt about it?
I don’t think I have a snapshot now that would really knock my socks off if I had gotten a glimpse of it five years ago. I’m sure I would have loved to see how they would grow (Maile from 10-15, Laina from 9-14, and Kainoa from 6-11) and maybe I would have been astounded by their height. Maile flew passed her Dad in 8th grade and is inching up on me everyday. That would have been entertaining and all well and good, but what I WANTED to know was…were they going to be okay?
Five years ago we were struggling with panic attacks nearly every night…I would have wanted to know if peace would come to that sweet little brain.
Five years ago Kainoa was hating school and worse, I was feeling like his teacher was targeting him. Was his experience in her class going to change him? Would he hate school forever because of the impact of that year?
Five years ago I was still running a home daycare. I would have wanted to know if there was an end in sight. The fear of not knowing what sort of job I could fall back on crippled me from moving on from that profession and I hung onto it for too long. I would have wanted to know if I was able to find job security without sacrificing everything I love about being self employed and working from home.
I would have wanted to know that the entire cast of characters in my life are still all well and good. I don’t know if a snapshot exists that could properly indicate all of the above.
And the beauty of it all is that I managed just fine without cheating. The assurance that everything is going to work out in the end is always nice to know, but then what fun would the journey be?
Now, if I could take a little peek at the next five year snapshot, I don’t think I could resist. Five years from now Maile will be 20 and most likely established in college (even though I have told her it’s optional), Laina will be 19 and either following suit or interning at our local vet, Kainoa will be 16 and still playing video games every free moment he gets. But still, that is quite a leap considering Laina doesn’t even know how to put a car in drive. The other day I quizzed her and she instructed me to pull on the windshield wiper lever. They’re not ready for the world!!
Seriously, I don’t care about the fun journey, I still would opt for the assurance that everything is going to work out. Gimme that snapshot!
Cathy Kennedy says
Kat,
I’m like you I want the assurance that my family will be okay in 5-years not how everyone looks. I know we make it’ll we’ll be a little older but hopefully, we won’t look too much different but in five years, our granddaughter will be kindergarten age. WOW, that’s incredible! I hope you and your beautiful continue on a journey that’s full of happiness and love with little drama. Maybe you’ll be able to keep your hair in the process, too.
Mama Kat says
Isn’t it insane how much growth happens in kids in just 5 years? Adults basically stay the same, but kids are infants and then BAM Kindergarten!
John Holton says
I think the best you can do is decide that, no matter what happens, you and yours are going to be fine, and that you’ll cross whatever bridges there are when you get to them. Because, in the end, that’s all you can do, isn’t it?
If you don’t mind my asking, what did you find that allowed you to put the daycare thing behind you? I know you do some sort of work at home. Asking for a friend…
Mama Kat says
Yep, just hold on and enjoy the ride. It’s all we can do!
I found work with an influencer marketing agency where I devote between 20-30 hours a week managing social media campaigns that they run. I used to work for TapInfluence, but have moved over to Sway Group (https://swaygroup.com/). Between that and different sponsored opportunities and ads on my blog and YouTube I’m able to make what I was making with the daycare and still stay home. I prefer this work, but it definitely comes with its own set of stressful situations and deadlines. At least I don’t have parents showing up at my door with babies before I’ve had my coffee in the morning!
Kim says
I’ve been away from blogging for a while, and had no idea you didn’t still run an in-home daycare!
I’m still trying to figure out if I want to know (in general, not specifics) what the next five years brings. I kind of *have* to know, but then again….maybe it’s better not to. I know five years can do so much. It was my prompt for this time around, too, though I think I might have veered a bit off course in my post.
Liz Burgess says
Mama Kat! I just love your kids and how you always find the best in them! It’s taken me a long time to not worry about the future of me, or my kids. I just trust that God’s master plan is going to involve work, sweat and a lot of adventure so we need to be ready! You’re going to be just fine!