What I Wish you Knew: Mom's Perspective

In this episode of The Bond Beyond we dive into “What I Wish You Knew: Mom’s Perspective”. An honest and emotional conversation about motherhood, sacrifice, communication, and the unspoken feelings many moms carry. From protecting and guiding to learning and growing alongside their children, this episode gives listeners a deeper look into a mother’s heart. Tune in for raw conversation, reflection, and moments that strengthen the bond between mothers and daughters.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:02

Welcome to the Bond Beyond.

SPEAKER_02 0:04

A mother-daughter podcast where real conversations, real love, and real life meet. I'm Rashida. I'm Task Today.

SPEAKER_01 0:10

Here we talk about the bond that goes beyond generations, beyond expectation, and beyond words. Hello, all. I just want to thank everyone for downloading, subscribing, liking, sharing, all the things. Yes. Yes. Love the support so far. We had a lot of love online, which is so, so great. Um, some people are caught up, and those that are caught up, you're like, oh, finally another episode that I can listen to. And the ones that are not, welcome whenever you get here, and that's okay. Everyone does things differently. And we accept that. We accept that. So what are we doing today, Tass?

SPEAKER_02 0:50

We are talking about what I wish you knew um podcast. So my it's more of my mother's perspective, and then I'll be chiming in here or there, um, maybe with some questions or oh, I didn't know that. Like, wow. Inspiring.

SPEAKER_01 1:06

I like that. Inspiring. Yeah, don't get excited, people. You're not gonna get the nitty-gritty, especially the ones that know me. No, not sharing all the things and all that stuff. So um, I will say this. I do have to do some note-taking ahead so that I'm prepared and ready. So this was done a while ago, but it's all good. So we're gonna we're gonna see where this leads to. But once again, shout out to all our listeners. I'm so so excited that you are here with us. Alrighty, so to not make this so emotional, because I can ugly cry. Like my whole face changes, and then you can't hear me. No clue what I'm saying.

SPEAKER_02 1:47

I don't know how to cry pretty. I don't know a one person who can cry pretty.

SPEAKER_01 1:52

It's just it's just ugly cries. All if it's staged, like if you're you know doing a show, a movie, or something like that. But um, I feel like I've told you all that you need to know about your life. Yes, because the focus is on you, like knowing, obviously, knowing where you came from, who your mother is, who your father is, the history behind her family, yes, and different things like that. I will say I wish we had a larger family for me on my side. Yes, yes, yes, yes. So funny, forget what it was. Oh, it was a book club. We are in a book club with my girlfriends, and are you jealous? And Tassie and I had to think, like, no, no, not jealous of that. No, I'm not jealous of that, like different things like that. But I will say this grateful for the life I'm living. I'm very grateful for the life I'm living. I am very jealous of my daughter at moments because she is an entrepreneur. Hey, we can use your companies as um sponsors for the commercials, that'd be funny. She owns multiple companies, um, but very jealous of her because at 27, I would love to be where she's at. But at 27, I was a mother of two. So yeah, completely different life, which is it is what it is. Everyone goes a different path. But now talking about families, like I am jealous of the larger families because one, I'm an only child, it was just my mom and I growing up, my uncle and I was very close with. Um, so that part was like hard. And I would always try to like push myself into other families so that I could do the things they were doing because I loved and enjoyed that. Yeah, so that's one thing. I don't think we've ever discussed that. Like, I truly wish I had a larger family.

SPEAKER_02 3:34

I think we discussed it mostly during holidays. Yes, Thanksgiving, Christmas, like having that big family all going to one family member's house.

SPEAKER_01 3:43

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 3:43

Because most big families they trade off holidays.

SPEAKER_01 3:46

Yes, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 3:47

Who's cooking, who's like who's hosting, yeah, yeah, Jin Jomi soda.

SPEAKER_01 3:53

Um, so yes. So, but yeah, I feel like uh you know everything you need to know about your life, your childhood. Um I try your what? Who my daddy is. Oh goodness gracious. Do you listen to this podcast, sir? We're not gonna name names, but I wonder if he knows and he's listening. Anywho, um, I try to make you have the best possible childhood into adulthood. And I honestly don't listen to our podcast. We record, I know what I'm talking about, and I move on. So I apologize if I'm repeating this, but single mom, three kids, not a shame. They all have different fathers. That was my choice. Judge me if you want to. It is what it is. Um, but I did the best that I could. And side note, shout out to my middle child. We were talking earlier this week, and I did not tell you. He was like, Mom, you were just the best. You say it all the time. I already knew. You say it all the time. But the boys, I don't hear it from them because they're boys. I'm not a boy, I can never relate because raising them was a lot. Um, still is. Anywho, he's like, Mom, when you pass, because we talk about things openly, we talk about things openly, so you know, death is not scary, you know, all the seasons of life. Like it is what it is, and we accept it all. He's like, when you pass, he was just like, You're gonna have the best memorial ever. He was just like, and the speeches that people are gonna give, all the people that you've helped. See, I am gonna start crying.

SPEAKER_00 5:27

All the people that you've helped, what you have done, you don't understand how much you mean to me. And I was just like, thank you so much, sweetie. That means a lot you saying that. If you all knew what I went through with this kid in his adolescent times, oh, it was a challenge. But to hear him say that and for him to bring that back, and for us to be cordial with each other, have a loving relationship, and to be friends with each other, it is amazing.

SPEAKER_01 6:04

It is amazing. So the parents that are going through hell right now with their kid who's disrespectful, not listening, cussing you out, excuse me, writing about you in a journal, literally all those things, not you know, respecting you, not coming in during curfew, like all the things, and then for them to turn around and to see what you have done, because I never gave up on any of them. And I've always said, and I've probably said this in the podcast already, once when I stop talking to you, that means I stopped caring. If as long as I keep talking to you, that means that I care about you. So for him to be like moments. To realize that that's the blessing. Yes, he was a hard-headed kid. Your brother was a hard-headed kid.

SPEAKER_00 6:50

Yes, he was.

SPEAKER_01 6:52

So it was just for him to say that earlier this week, once again, that was an ugly cry. I held it back, throat kind of hurts right now, but it just brought tears to my eyes. And son, if you're listening, I love you. Shout out to you. We've come a long way. You still have so many more things to accomplish, so many more steps to achieve. And I'm just so super, super, super proud of you, and thank you for that shout out. But yes, back to what I was saying. So, single mom, three kids, um, been through a lot, you know, times were hard, working the one job. Uh, I quit a good paying job just so I could work at the school my children were in, so it made life easier. Because if someone was sick or if it was a snow day, different things like that. So that part was hard, but it shows me all the sacrifices that I made and the things that I did, even though at one point we were homeless, at one point we didn't have a vehicle. Like there was a lot of things. At one point, we're living in my mom's one-bedroom apartment.

SPEAKER_02 7:50

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 7:50

So, like, there was a lot of things, but they don't hold those things against me. Because once again, even when they were young, I would tell them at a level that they could understand what was happening and why it was happening.

SPEAKER_02 8:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:04

But they were never and they always had what they needed. Tacity reminisced about that now. She's like, every time I asked for something, you provided it for me. And they never asked out of pocket, the middle child, he had his moments, don't get me wrong. He wanted all the name brand things, it was ridiculous. But they always asked within their means and different things like that. So, which was so appreciative, which I'm so grateful for. And they say thank you, love you, texting, you know, if I call, they answer, if I FaceTime, they pick up. So I'm just so so grateful for that. But back to Tacitay. Um, she has done great in her adulthood. Um, obviously, we all have different bumps in the road, different challenges, and things like that. And the one thing why she chose to move on and be an entrepreneur and truly have her LLCs is because the job that she was in, she was miserable. If you continue to complain about this job, I'm gonna kick you out. Let's or late. I said that to her. I'm gonna kick you out. Because good money. Yes, it was good money, but it was weighing on you. You were not happy or things like that. So, what you already know, and what I am telling you again is I'm proud of you for taking that leap. I'm proud of you for taking that step. Thank you. Because it was scary, it's very scary. You're like, okay, how am I gonna pay my bills? What am I gonna do? But you were just so miserable there that it didn't help you, it didn't help your health, it didn't help you how you, you know, just took on the world with just other things. You were overwhelmed and stressed, and she's a youth leader, you know, she does so many other different things. So it just was a lot for you. But I'm very proud of you for being brave, and like I said, I'm jealous of you for being brave and taking that step and doing those things because that's a lot. Like a lot of people who do it, kudos to you. I didn't understand all the different steps that it takes. And mom, you can start your business now. Mom, do this. I'm like, oh, I'm not there yet. I'm not there yet. But for her to do that, just so proud of you to be able to be able to maneuver those things. And for me, I love to be a support system to my children. I am not, what do they call it? Oh, I don't enable you. I I don't make excuses for you. I don't enable you. I make you do what you're supposed to do when you're supposed to do it, I make you accountable for your own actions. That is the type of mom that I am still unto this day. That is the type of parent I was raising them so that they could own up to the mistakes that they made. Even myself as an adult, I apologize to my children. I ask them for their forgiveness and things like that because we're human. There are so many people that I know that are because I'm the mom or because I'm the dad, I know better. Because I am the elder, because I am older than you, what I say is right. We have to be able to give space, we have to be able to be kind, and we have to be able to listen. Not that you're supposed to agree. You can agree to disagree, you can have civil conversations, you can have civil disagreements. There shouldn't be no yelling and cussing and calling names because then you're not able to take those words back what you said. Doesn't matter how many times you apologize. So our dynamic is unique.

SPEAKER_00 11:36

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 11:36

Um, if you could see us now, we're in our pajamas and they're matching and we didn't plan it. Well, I bought two of the same things by accident and gave it to her because they're comfy. But once we came downstairs, we're like, oh, we're matching.

SPEAKER_02 11:51

So but I think too that parenting, you're learning as you're raising your children. Yes. This is your first time as a parent?

SPEAKER_00 12:00

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 12:01

The first time having kids and like raising them. So you're learning as your kids are growing and maturing and hitting different hormones and emotions. So you're learning as you're going. So you can't beat yourself up.

SPEAKER_01 12:14

I agree with that fully. And that's the thing, too. There's no book on parenthood. No. There's just it, they're just not. Because the person who wrote that book, that's how they raised their child and what they did with their children. But it doesn't mean that that's gonna work for you and that's how you're gonna be able to raise your kids. Exactly. Yeah, because it's it's oh, it's not the same. Oh, it's not the same. But yeah, you are correct about that. Um, I will say this too. When I first had you, my mom, I didn't do that with you. I don't know why you're doing that with her all the time. I'm like, mom, mom, she's my daughter. Let me just do this, let me figure this out. Like, you have to learn, you have to grow, and you just have to know. There's no book because okay, I raised the first one. She's a very good girl. She's, you know, had her moments, two-year-old tantrums, whatever. All right, now I have my second child. Let me do the same thing I did with her, with him. Oh no, that's not gonna work. We need to be a little bit more stern, we need to have, you know, more consequences. And two, when you guys were um being brought up, there was no social media, there was no technology. You guys didn't have phones in your hands, you know, at five and up or things like that. Yes, in the dirt. Let's everybody let's go outside. And two, I kept you guys very active. Yes, um, and to look back at it, I honestly don't know how I did it sometimes. Um, football, um, baseball, uh, what else? Cheer when you were little, and then travel cheer. Yes, you did do gymnastics, swim lessons. You were the only one that got swim lessons that that you were, you were the only one that got swim lessons. So, yes. So I have always informed you, like I was saying, of what was going on as a family. I never sugarcoated anything, um, obviously within their means. Like, if I was in a relationship and had relations with somebody, like I'm not telling that to my eight-year-old, like there's limits to that. But like financially, like, yes, sorry, we can't have pizza tonight, but we could do this. I don't get paid to this, or I gotta pay bills first, or why can't we go to such and such? I just paid rent, we have groceries in the house, let's do that there. I always try to find free things too. Yeah, if you're a parent of a young one, if some places are different, ages three and plus are normally what you have to pay for. That's the general in our area. So if your child is younger than that, go to the amusement park, go to the zoo, pay for you and your partner or you and your friend, and they bring their kids, and your child is free. Like, if it's free, it's for me. Just do those things. Um, there's free things like in our area in the summertime. A lot of parks have movie nights. Yes. So they'll do that. That's a lot of that's something that we did all the time. Just going to the park in general to play is what we did a lot of. Um library.

SPEAKER_02 15:04

Oh, lovely. Become members of a library.

SPEAKER_01 15:06

Go into the library, and then the library has a lot of free things too. Currently, even if you're an adult, no matter what stage of life that you're at, um, make sure you get a local library card. One, because there's so many different groups that meet, there's puzzle groups, game groups. Um, there is obviously different book clubs they have within it, but the library is free resources, so it is always good to have that. And then there's an app called something that you can download and use your library card, and you can listen to books for free. So there's a lot of different resources, but we did that. So growing up, I tried to make it obviously the best way possible. Um, what was the word you could not say growing up? Um, and if you said that word, I'd be like, oh, you are? Well, you could do A, B, C, and D.

SPEAKER_02 15:53

I'm bored.

SPEAKER_01 15:54

Yup. I'm bored. And they don't, that's not one word that you guys ever say as adults. Not in my vocabulary. Because anytime they would say it as kids, I'd be like, oh, you're bored? Okay, so I need someone to sweep. You can mop when she's done sweeping. I need someone to scrub the toilets or go through your clothes, get rid of what doesn't fit you. Like, don't say you're bored because there's always something to do in the house. Always. My husband, he knows not to say that word now either. I'm sitting here bored. Oh, you are? I have things for you to do. Yeah, you can't say that word around me. Just can't. Um, when we need to, when I was talking about, yes, we moved with your grandmother uh for two years. That was an adjustment, but there was I loved it. Yeah, and I think that's what I was gonna say. I think they actually enjoyed it. No one complained. No, like nobody complained, and they didn't have beds to sleep on. Nope. They didn't have cots. Yes, like they didn't have cots, like it was insane. Like, I I cannot believe how my children loved me enough, believed in me enough, and just went with it. They knew that they were safe, yeah, they knew that they were loved, they knew they were being taken care of. We had a roof over our head, we had food, we had um, you know, clothes on our back, we had all the different things uh that we needed, and I I don't I don't know how they did it, but love them for that, God bless them for that, all the things, but a big adjustment. And then once we left my mom's house, because someone snitched all apartment, we had to move to a shelter. Shelter is in our local area. I wouldn't say it was bad because we made sure we were only there to sleep. Yes, sleep and bathe. Sleep and bathe, and that was it. We had our own room, everybody had their own beds in the room. We shared a bathroom with one or two other families, yes, but I don't think that was crazy. Every time we were in there, we didn't really have to wait or anything like that. No, so we would, you know, get up and leave in the morning. I dropped them off at school, I go to work. Obviously, I worked where they went to school. Um, and that was fine. We were probably there, I don't think a month. I don't think it was even a month.

SPEAKER_02 18:06

It was two weeks.

SPEAKER_01 18:07

Oh, okay. Yeah, I feel like it was a couple of weeks, and then that place got us the an apartment that they were part of.

SPEAKER_02 18:14

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 18:15

That was interesting, but very grateful for that. The boys shared a room, Tasseday had her own. Um, and then of course I had my own room. So that was it worked out, it was fine, and then we were very blessed, not ashamed to say it, that we had section eight. Yes, and then we got to move in a uh duplex home, amazing street um in the area that we live in, amazing neighbors, still miss them to this day. Um, they're really sweet people. We were there for eight years, yes, and that was the longest we were ever somewhere, only because section eight was allowing us to be stable, and so many people either knock it or make fun of it. I don't know what it might be called in your state or your area, um, but I will say we are in Pennsylvania. Um, I will say that it is helpful to those people that need it. And at the time, that is something that we needed so that we could have stability.

SPEAKER_00 19:07

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 19:08

And our our home grew much, much more because of course when we moved in, we had the bare minimum.

SPEAKER_00 19:14

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 19:14

But then by the time we moved out, we're like, oh, we have all this stuff. So we had different stages in our life. I went through a lot of different things, and then I met the man of my dreams who accepted me and loved me. Um, but yeah, so it was it was challenging at times, um, it was difficult at times, it was hard at times, but I feel like I kept communication open, everybody knew what was happening, and you guys seemed fine with it. One reason why I chose the school I chose for my children, of course, you were the first one there was because no matter where you lived in the state of Pennsylvania, you could go to school there. I knew that we didn't have a home or owned a home, so it was much more stable with going to the same school if we had to move however many times.

SPEAKER_02 20:07

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 20:07

So that part was good for me. And I you guys built relationships there. You still have one of your very best friends that you're friends with from there, same with the middle child, like so. There's so many, you know, different things like that. So I'm glad that there was a choice like that to do because it made it much easier for other families, you know, to do the same thing.

SPEAKER_02 20:29

And I think too, yes, we um were happy enough because we still had all the same friends. Yes. Like most kids resent their parents because of the schools that they go to they're moving, so they have to do a whole new district, whole new friends, whole new environment, whole new teachers and learning all those things again. All those things again.

SPEAKER_01 20:49

So yeah. But yeah, so no, I definitely um think that that was truly, truly helpful. Um, and that is where I met the love of my life. I know you guys are enjoying those little snippets. Um, but there's nothing, you know, that she does not know that I don't want her to know. Like to the limits, obviously. You know, I'm 47, she's 27. Once again, she still does not need to know about what I did in the past with, you know, my relationships and things like that. I want to know. Yeah, because you have boundaries with that. But I feel like I have told you all the things that you need to know because those things can hit me in waves. So, what is wrong with mom or whatever the case is? You know what? I get it now, I understand she's in her zone, or whatever the case may be, because I feel as though when your child is an adult and you I don't know, you can be the person that's always yelling for no Godforsaken reason. There's something there's a reason why there's something wrong for why you're yelling like that all the time. So if it helps you to let that out and express that with your child, of course. At a certain level, to what they'll understand, depending on the age of your child, let them know that so it can feel better for you. You have now let it out, or whatever. Not to say that your child did something, but you know, why are you always mean to that person? Or why don't you still like my dad? You know, if you and your, you know, your child's father aren't together or child's mother are not together. Yeah. Like they don't need to know the nitty-gritty as always, but maybe they need to know something so that they can understand better. And not for them to be like, oh, I don't like that person either. No, from the book that we are currently reading, that is that person's experience. You cannot feed off of someone else's experience with that. You have to make have it your own. So let's say, for example, I went to Dairy Queen, yes, I said it, and um, I got something I didn't not like anybody there. I'm putting it all over social media. Don't go to this location, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. That was my experience. It is now your decision to now go there yourself and see how your experience is. Not, oh, I'm with you, I'll never go there either, but you didn't even go. How do you know those people are gonna be mean to you and whatever the case may be? So, as a grown person, I feel like in our house, our experiences are experiences. If we are upset about something, we discuss it, we say, hey, I had a bad day, such and such at work, or a customer of mine, or my boyfriend, my girlfriend, or this is what happened. We're allowing that person to express themselves, share that experience, but we're not like, oh yeah, man, yeah, yeah, like all mad with them because no, that's not gonna help. Because if anything, that's gonna make them even more upset, or you know, oh yeah, or to try to trigger that or whatever the case is. So it's very, very important that deal with your traumas. Yes, say it again. Deal with your traumas, yes, yes, yes. Do not put them onto your children, yes, or anyone that even if you're in a relationship with. So I did not put my traumas on my kids. The things that I went through were not their mistakes, the things that I experienced it were not their experience. So do not do that to them. If you have realized you have started doing that, that is definitely something that you want to make sure that you correct before before it's too late. Before it's too late. So you're not like, oh, I wish I said something, or why didn't I say something sooner or whatever the case may be.

SPEAKER_02 24:32

Because even at a young age, if you're cursing all the time, your kid thinks it's okay to curse, even if you're like if you're in like an emotional abusive relationship as you become an adult or teenager, and you think that's okay calling your spouse or partner names. Yeah. So it just continues, it doesn't get solved.

SPEAKER_01 24:53

No, it doesn't get solved. Um, and even simple as um you driving in the car with your children in a vehicle um to not cuss or whatever. And I I'm I'm not a cusser. So my kids are not here. The youngest one, Lord Jesus, he is a potty mouth. Love you, kid, but you do have a potty mouth.

SPEAKER_00 25:09

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 25:10

Um don't know where he got that from. Um, not a cusser. I'd be like, what are they doing? And then it was always a teaching moment when driving. Do you see what they just did? So this is not, you're not going to do this when you start driving. Like, I would do that all the time. All the yield sign still ticks me off to this day. That's yield to stop. It's red for a reason. Like when you need to come off speed up onto the highway, you slow down and stop if there's cars still going on both sides. Always a teaching lesson. And I think that's one thing that I've always done with you guys too. Yes. If there is a moment that could be an upsetting moment or an anger moment or whatever, instead of yelling or whatever the case is, it was a teaching moment. What do you think you should have done differently? Um, you know, what did that person do incorrectly? You know, or you know, different things like that. So it's always a teaching moment. So yes, yes, and yes. Um, another thing was um, I always encourage you guys to do better than me. I had Taciday at 20 years old. I had the next child. 21. No. He's five years old. 27. Oh Jesus. I had him at 25. 25. You're adorable. And I, you know, he was born and then I turned 26. And then I had the last one 27 turning 28. So you cracked me. I was like, no, I wasn't that age. So in in doing so, I told them, please, please get married first and have kids. Don't get me wrong, marriage is not for everybody, and I'm not saying you did it right, wrong, or indifferent, because I know I did it the way I did, and it was not the correct way in my mother's eyes. Um, but you need to have a loving relationship. You need to have someone who's gonna support you and be with you. And having the conversation with my middle child just the other day, too, he is very focused on the future, which I love that because you need to be able to get along with everybody, you know, with that person's family, also who you're with. You know, good, bad, or indifferent, you need to be able to be cordial with people. So I did not want them doing what I did. I did not want them to be young parents. One, because shit's expensive. Um, and two, it takes it takes a village. It still takes a village when you have a husband and wife. It's so funny. It would tick me off when I was the mom who was volunteering, picking up, dropping off, make sure all my kids were where they need to be. And then we got these parents over here who are married, husband, wife, wife and wife, husband and husband, whatever the denium mick was, who couldn't do half of what I did. I'm like, hold on, what's happening? What's going on? So that would bother me most days, most days. Um, but I did not want them to follow my footsteps. I taught them how to budget their money better than I was taught. I taught them to protect themselves when they are in relationships so that they are not going to be young parents because it's it's not easy. It's a challenge. And like you said, you learn as you grow when you become a parent, because even though somebody tells you something or if you read a book or you're online with whatever, everyone raises their child differently. Every child is different, every dynamic is different. But I'm very proud at 27, 21, and 19, they are not parents yet. Don't get me wrong, I want some grandkids, but I'm gonna be patient because I want to I wanna be a grandma in my 50s. I'm good, I'm good 55 and plus. I'm good with 55 and plus. That gives me seven years, and I think I think at 55, that's plenty of time for someone to propose, someone to get married, live y'all's best life for a year or two, and then have kids. Um, but I did not want them to do what I did. They are not mistakes at all, whatsoever. I love them each and individually. I have a favorite older daughter, I mean, sorry, my favorite only daughter. I have a favorite oldest son and a favorite younger son, is what I would always say. Um, depends on which way the wind's blowing, who I like better at the moment. But always me, guys. Always me. But I truly do love all of them, and I'm so proud of them, of what they've done, what they've accomplished, who they are becoming, um, what they are becoming because their story is not over yet. Rich mofo. Uh their story is not over yet. Their stories are just beginning, and I just think it's amazing to see where they're at. Um, it makes me so, so very proud. Um, I think I've done a great, great job. Um, I get shout outs from so many different people. I was even offered when we lived in a shelter to teach a parenting class. And I was like, no, I'm good. I don't want to do that. And when I told Tasse when she was older, mommy, you should have, you'd have been great. And even the middle child, why didn't you? And I'm like, yeah, I don't know. But like, I was even, like I said, offered to teach a parenting class because once again, it's not everybody's cup of tea, it's not easy for everybody to do. Um, it's a challenge. Even my mom, my own mom, gave me a shout-out saying that, you know, Ron, you're a better mother than I was. I would say thank you all the time. Um, I so appreciate that, but I feel like you know all that you need to know.

SPEAKER_02 30:42

Um, you you um you definitely are um I also wanted to share that um I think too what's really important and why like we love our mom, and just because as a single mom with three kids, she showed up. Like when we had like in the classroom when it was like little parties, she would come like to read a book or whatever, like she always took the opportunity to show up. So that's also something that I all three of us could probably agree. Um, but I'm the only one here right now that um she showed up when it met the most, um, especially like when projects, when your kid dresses up as a certain historian character and they have to read, and like there's just certain things in life, even getting help with projects and stuff that we had to bring home for a grade in like elementary school, just those kinds of things, and taking the time to do those things with your kids, that means a lot. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:48

Um, when she's talking about projects, I'll never forget it. I was teaching a K1 class, well, assistant in the K1 class, and oh yeah, mom, tomorrow I have to do um a something, something, something, and it has to be all able to eat it. I was like, what? What's happening? We literally went to Wegmans that morning, uh huh, got a half a candle. It was a sell, it was a cell and we had to make yeah, yeah, remember that. Yes, that irritated me. I'm like, ah and too, as a single mom, I had a budget. I couldn't just go and do and get and things like that. And so at the time, they still have it, the the candy per weight.

SPEAKER_02 32:23

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 32:24

So you could get one of something, ten of something, twenty of something. So we had all these different bags of all these pieces of candy. I'll never forget that. Never never forget that.

SPEAKER_02 32:33

And then like the castle we had to make. Oh and then that um the animal, the owl I made, yeah, the snowy owl. Yes. The paper maid said.

SPEAKER_01 32:42

She got better as she got older because I told her that hey, I need to know in advance when you have a project or anything like that. Well, before I go any further and get more emotional, we are gonna have more and more episodes. This one was short and sweet. Hopefully, you enjoyed it, paused it, played it back 30 seconds or so if you missed something. But once again, we appreciate that you guys are here with us. Yes, we appreciate you listening and everything else. And don't get me wrong, sharing with friends. It's gonna get it's gonna get more deep. We're gonna share some things. My friends are excited to be special guests, so we gotta figure all those things out. And Tasse and I are taking a road trip uh this summer, and we can't wait to share that. So, until next time, we want you to know that you are loved, you are valued, and you are never alone. This is the Bond Beyond where connection grows deeper than words.