We all have dreams. I have been lucky enough to have many of my dreams come to fruition in my life. Conversely, I have had my share of nightmares both metaphorically and living, but those only make my real-life dreams even sweeter.

One of the sweetest dreams in my life, from a young age, has been to be a mom. I did not grow up with a mom. I was raised by my dad.

In that, I dreamed of how I thought a mother should be.

I married young and became a mom at a pretty young age which is not uncommon for the area and circumstances I grew up in. And though I never really thought anything about my age as a mom (until my own children became that age), it is truly the first dream I ever worked to materialize. I have always had a vision as parent and I feel that that vision had largely been successful. I feel successful in this ongoing endeavor because they have grown from young boisterous, curious, funny, smart, charismatic kids to simply amazing adult human beings!

And no, I am not perfect most certainly as a mom, I have made my share of mistakes. And no, they are not perfect (well, perfect imperfections); I know I still work every day to keep this dream alive within myself and in my children as they continue to grow and flourish. It is a never-ending dream, and I love that.

I have had the time of my left being these kiddos mom.

But it is easy when given such lovely material to work with.

Here is to thinking of new dreams in 2025 and may they be as sweet as these: