BETHANNY CALUMET
~~the daughter~~
It is not always easy being the youngest child in the family, even if there are only two children. Oh, I love being the 'baby',, the problem arises when I am often the last person to know what is going on. Okay, that is probably stretching the facts a little, but I am extremely frustrated. The fact that my 'always has the answer' big brother is avoiding my calls, is adding fear to the mix.
To say that my family is close would be a huge understatement. To say that my parents are in love would only be a preface.
They are deeply in love.
They adore each other.
They are rarely apart except for work and emergencies.
So, why does it feel as if our world is about to change,,forever??
My mother is more hyper than usual; which is sorta scary. This cruise was a total surprise to me, and my mother plans everything months in advance.I received exactly two calls from her while she was on her trip. My mother normally calls me five out of every seven days. The first week was almost a vacation from her never ending questions and suggestions regarding how I should live my life.
I talked to my daddy three times during the first week he was gone, but he sounded so tired, well,,almost sad, I ended up calling him every night. I could not ignore the fact that we discussed every topic except,,my mother.
And yes, I am without any doubt, my daddy's baby girl.
Something is very, very wrong.
I am the single parent of an amazing thirteen year old daughter. Gia is the light of my life. My experience as a single mother has never been the struggle it can be for most women.
I am truly blessed.
While my daughter's father was a huge disappointment, and my heart and spirit were damaged, my baby was worth every challenge that God brought us through.
My entire family surrounded me with unconditional love. However, my parents and my brother were so protective, it was a combination of scary and amusing.
I told my daddy, my brother, and my mother; in that order. By the time I talked to my mother, I was a complete wreck. Not because my daddy or my brother were not understanding, they were so loving and compassionate, I felt even more guilty for letting them down. I found out later just how much anger they directed toward my daughter's father. My daddy has learned to tolerate him, and my brother ignores him. My brother named my daughter and has always been her champion, so she doesn't seem to mind. My brother has always been my hero and I have always been his protector.
Yes, I did say protector..
I remember telling my mother how sorry I was for disappointing her. She smiled and pulled me into her arms and said that she was not disappointed in me, but she was disappointed for me.
She wanted my life to be perfect.
After we cried together, she told me that she was going to run me a bubble bath, and afterwards, we would sit down and form a plan for the next three years.
We stuck to the plan.
I had gotten pregnant during my sophomore year of college. With the support of my family, I graduated with my class. My graduation gifts were a total surprise. My parents bought me two three bedroom townhouses in a brand new development. One for our home, and one for rental property.
Dakota and I had to work and save our money while we were growing up. Some of the money was used to buy investment property for our future. We had to participate in all aspects of ownership, to learn the basic levels of responsibility, from general upkeep, to paying the taxes.
I had received a substantial number of academic scholarships for college. That amount of money was placed in my savings.
My gift from my brother was a new SUV of my choice. He was amused when I picked a Honda Pilot.
I still own the yellow 65 Mustang my daddy 'sold' me when I was in the 10th grade. Gia was getting a little cramped, but I love my car. Gia believes she is getting my car for her 16th birthday. She is in for a big surprise. She has been 'working' on the ranch for the last two summers. Perhaps her Pop-Pop will 'sell' her one...
Upon graduation, I immediately entered Grad school. Education has always been my passion. I am now an Instructional Specialist-Reading Ed.S. I could never have made my dreams into reality without the love and support of my family.
I also own a Non-Profit Org. that specializes in Reading. It is called 'Magic Carpet'. We offer free reading workshops in communities where test scores are lowest.
Building and sustaining a family is difficult at best. It takes God, prayer, and fortitude to hold the family unit together.
It is easy to forget just how easy it is to take the blessing of family for granted.
Never again.
I don't know exactly what is wrong, but the threat is real.
I can feel it in my heart....
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