This week as the nation celebrates Thanksgiving, I decided to share the three people on earth who inspire me to be the most grateful. 

1. My husband.  Sometimes it can be popular for moms to talk badly about their husbands and make a laundry list of all that they do wrong.  Fortunately for me, I can’t join that chorus.  As I always say, "My husband is not perfect, but he’s perfect for me!"  Don’t get me wrong, he definitely has his little idiosyncrasies that drive me crazy at times, but overall I definitely feel like I got the better part in this marriage deal.  (No, I’m not one of those women with low self-esteem….I feel great about myself.  It also helps that my husband feels the same way in reverse - that he got the better part in this marriage deal.)  My husband is affectionate, supportive and my best friend. 

2. My son.  For the last couple of weeks, my son has been acting like a crazy child.  I’m not sure if it’s just because he’s two or because my stomach is getting bigger and he senses that he’s not going to be the center of the universe anymore.  Irregardless, he has made me seriously reconsider my ability to parent two little boys at once.  I realize that it’s too late to change my mind now, but I’ve had my moments!  Overall though, I feel really lucky to have my little boy.  He’s smart, friendly, funny and so cute that I just want to eat him up. (Of course I’m biased in my description…what parent isn’t?)  It really is like my heart expanded when I gave birth to this little one and even when he’s behaving like a Tasmanian devil, there’s no other child in the world I’d rather have. 

And

3.) My mom.  For most of my life (besides my senior year of high school), my mom and I have gotten along incredibly well.  I’m especially thankful for her now that I’m a mother myself.  After divorce, she raised five kids.  At times, I feel like I can barely raise 1 1/2 child with the help of a supportive spouse.  I don’t know how she did it, but I’m grateful that she found/made a way.  Before my husband came along, my mom was my best friend and closest confidante.  (Now, she’s my best woman friend.)  My mom just thinks that I am great.  She thinks that I can do whatever I set my mind to and that I will always find a way to make "lemonade out of lemons".  My husband calls me Pollyanna, but my mother was/is the original Pollyanna in my life.  My mom has not had an easy life, but her optimism, joie de livre (joy of life), and perseverance inspire me.  I want to be like her when I grow up! 

In any event, these are just a few of the people who help me to be thankful.  I hope that in the midst of all the Thanksgiving day planning and preparations that each mom can take a few moments to reflect on those who give them a reason to be grateful.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted by Kimberly on 20 Nov 2006 at 05:34 pm | Tagged as: My Life, My Opinion