When my next daughter came along (also unintentional), Tiffani, I was 19 and in college and a little better equipped for motherhood. She and I were very close. And she was spoiled as a result while poor Tori hid out in her room and kept to herself (much like I did as an only child). Now, Tiffani lives with her dad or I guess you could say she spends the night there from time to time. She pretty much does as she pleases while her dad lets her. I'm really afraid for her -I'm afraid she's going to get pregnant, get a disease or just get hurt. We are nowhere near as close as we used to be but I know that's usually the norm with a teenager, especially at that age. However, she doesn't hesitate to text me when she wants something (bought for her). I can never get her to come stay with me or at least visit and it breaks my heart, brings me to tears, I really miss my little girl.
Ethan was kind of intentional, we were neither trying nor not trying to get pregnant. He was mama's little boy for a little while but got to be a handful as he grew, to the point where he was completely kicked out of a private school in K3! He has gotten better as he's gotten older but there are still issues there. He also stays with his dad, his choice and it's pointless to fight him on it. See, when we got divorced, the ex kept the house (MOTL) and Tiffani and Ethan didn't want to leave their "home" so I didn't push them to come live with me. And as selfish as it is, I actually enjoyed being on my own for a little while, something I had never been (being married at 15 and all). Tori had moved out before we separated to live with her grandmother. She's bounced around since then and like I said earlier, has ended up with me...for now.
Aidan, my baby, who is the most precious, sweet, funny, easy-going baby has me wrapped around his little pudgy finger. He was also unplanned. Really, I consider unplanned babies to be very special, given the 5 seconds each month that you can get pregnant, for it to happen when you aren't trying is truly miraculous. Aidan has a different father from my other 3. Vernon, the LOML (Love Of My Life), was also my high school sweetheart...whom I dumped for my now ex-husband only to reconnect with him 18 years later when both of us happened to be separated from our now ex's (MOTL!).
Which leads me to my stepchildren-to-be. Vernon has 6 kids from his previous marriage, Aidan makes 7 for him! And I say "to be" because we are not yet engaged, but he has the ring (I really wish he hadn't told me that because I am the epitome of impatience! MOTL) and we have been living together for about a year and a half. Vernon's ex has custody and we get them every other weekend. That's usually when I'll get Ethan too. I try and try to get Tiff to come but she has better things to do. Anyway, he has 3 boys -Hunter, 15, Christian, 14, Country, 2 (yes, that's his name, NOT Vernon's choice-MOTL :); and 3 girls -Bobby Jo, 11, Daisy, 10 and Lora Lee, 6. They are well-behaved and respectful kids, I keep hoping that will rub off on Ethan a little. Unfortunately, he acts a lot like his dad -spoiled, easily angered and disrespectful. However, Vernon makes him behave and be respectful when he's with us. Vernon's kids are by no means perfect, they are kids afterall, but they had a little bit better upbringing (mostly thanks to Vernon) than my kids had unfortunately. I certainly grew up saying "yes ma'am" and "no ma'am" and knowing the fear of having to pick my own switch but the ex didn't and he never backed me up when I tried to discipline our kids..and now they're all over the place, literally, as a result.
So those are my kids, all summed up. I know I'll have more to share about them as I continue posting. How could I not with 10 kids?!?
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