What are some of the qualities that you admire in your children?<\/strong><\/p>\nThere are so many!\u00a0 Our family has 4 generations that have been in PR or marketing.\u00a0 My grandfather was an executive with Texaco in New York that was in Public Relations as well as Employee Relations.\u00a0 My great grandfather was an executive with Prudential.\u00a0 They were both very philanthropic.<\/p>\n
I admire Lara and Pete\u2019s entrepreneurial spirit and their confidence to take calculated risks to better their lives and those around them. Both are self-motivated leaders and have accomplished so much.\u00a0 They have won awards and have been honored at dinners. Lara has been employed at a successful TV station for 14 years.\u00a0 She has her own TV Show \u201cWild About Houston\u201d which is very informative and entertaining. She creates the segments and works very hard to appeal to her audience. She also handles Public Relations and sales.\u00a0 Her out-going personality is like a magnet and her grace when she is speaking at public events is so admirable!\u00a0 She is very caring, loving, thoughtful, creative and philanthropic.\u00a0 She has chaired many successful galas in the city and has a warm heart toward anyone in need.\u00a0 She is a wonderful mother and her children just adore her.\u00a0 She is teaching her children about philanthropy.<\/p>\n
Pete started a company 14 years ago and it has grown into successful corporation.\u00a0 His philosophy was to work alongside his employees and be loyal to them, so he has retained faithful staff over the 14 years.\u00a0 He has a great vision and marketing talent to develop direction for the company.\u00a0 His outgoing personality is such a great asset for the growth of the organization.\u00a0 He is very caring, loving, thoughtful, creative, and philanthropic also.\u00a0 He founded a charity to help children in need and has had profitable fundraisers. He is a great dad and his children are so close to him and he, too, puts the giving spirit into his children.<\/p>\n
So history repeats itself and the qualities have carried on to each generation.<\/p>\n
How much of their personality now was a part of them as children?<\/strong> Oh, my gosh, a lot!!!\u00a0 Both of them have always been involved in school activities, had lots of friends and were so much fun.<\/p>\nThey were always leaders, creative, loving, thoughtful!<\/p>\n
Before your children were of traditional school age, were you a stay at home mom or were you employed outside the home? At the time, how did you feel about that decision? How do you feel about it now?<\/strong><\/p>\nI stayed home with Lara and Pete until they were about 4 & 5.\u00a0 At the time I did not want to work\u2026 my goal in life was to be a mom and be involved with my children and not miss anything. But I was blessed because I had a sales position and was able to attend all of their activities and I didn\u2019t miss a thing!!!\u00a0 I was always a room mom, Girl Scout leader, PTA, Team Mom or, when they were in high school, I was involved in different volunteer positions.<\/p>\n
Tell me about a difficult decision you remember making as a mom concerning one of your children. If you could do it over, would you make the same choice?<\/strong><\/p>\nAs a mom there are always difficult decisions to make throughout their life.<\/p>\n
I was so protected growing up so I wanted my children to experience life and not be afraid to try things.\u00a0 They had much more freedom than I had but I did enforce strict rules when it came to values and safety.<\/p>\n
Or well I thought I had rules! As a parent you think you are \u201con top of it\u201d\u2026.but found out in later years some of the things they did! How did I miss that?\u00a0 They had confession time and we had some good laughs!!!\u00a0 Of course, I remember I did a \u201ccouple of things\u201d growing up, too!<\/p>\n
Tell me about something you feel you did ‘right’ as a mom.<\/strong><\/p>\nThat\u2019s easy!\u00a0 I can think of all the wrong things I did as a mom\u2026but if I could say one thing that I did \u201cright,\u201d it would be that I knew all their friends because our house was the ‘club house.’\u00a0 Everyone was welcome and we had lots of sleepovers and the kids were welcome anytime!\u00a0 In tandem I knew all of their friend\u2019s parents so we had an accountability \u201csystem\u201d\u2026 we all had parties at our homes and the children were with us and all of us were active in the schools.<\/p>\n
What were some of your family’s favorite meals that you served? Would you mind sharing any of those recipes?<\/strong><\/p>\nI think the recipe that comes to mind first and I think my children will say the same thing is the \u201cFamous\u201d Chicken Casserole recipe that my Mom passed on to me !\u00a0 I passed it on to my Children.\u00a0 The recipe is so easy ! My kind of cook\u2019n !<\/p>\n
\u201cFamous\u201d Chicken Casserole<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n 6 cups of cooked chicken cut in cubes<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n1 can cream celery soup<\/strong><\/p>\n1 onion<\/strong><\/p>\n1 can French Onion green beans<\/strong><\/p>\n1 cup mayonnaise<\/strong><\/p>\n1 box Uncle Ben\u2019s Original rice <\/strong><\/p>\nMix all ingredients together and bake at 350 degrees for \u00bd hours.<\/p>\n
Are there any particular foods that your grown children now ask for at family gatherings? Would you mind sharing those recipes and any story behind the dish? <\/strong>They really liked deviled eggs & potato salad!\u00a0 Both are family recipes too, from my Mom. She made the best potato salad ever\u2026 and, of course, her deviled eggs too!\u00a0 She passed on the recipe to me and through many years of making the deviled eggs and potato salad, mine taste like hers now!<\/p>\nDid you establish or follow any family traditions with your children that you especially cherished… then or now? Tell me about a few of your favorites.<\/strong><\/p>\nI was spoiled growing up and Christmas was wonderful!\u00a0 I wanted my children to have the same tradition and feeling!!! Christmas is such a exceptional time and to celebrate the birth of Christ was always a part of our Christmas when I grew up.<\/p>\n
I carried the family tradition of candlelight service on Christmas Eve. Then we\u2019d come home and snack and play games.\u00a0 Then the \u201cSleigh Bells\u201d were heard !!!\u00a0 My great-grandfather had \u201creal\u201d sleigh bells on a leather strap and my granddad or dad would go outside of our house and ring them\u2026 my Sister and I would scream every year and run to our rooms because Santa was arriving!!!! \u00a0My Children heard the sleigh bells when they were little and ran to their rooms, too!\u00a0 The sleigh bells have been passed on and Lara and Pete who ring the bells for their children. My Son\u2019s children are too old, but my daughter\u2019s children still hear them ring.\u00a0 The sleigh bells must be 70 years old and they are so tarnished but so special!\u00a0 Christmas morning was always lots of laughs and presents.\u00a0 We had the traditional Christmas dinner every year of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, cranberry sauce and then turkey sandwiches later in the evening !!!<\/p>\n
How did you celebrate birthdays with your children?<\/strong><\/p>\nWe always had a special birthday party when they were little.\u00a0 The parties we had in the ’70s are nothing compared to the parties the kids have now!\u00a0 We usually had them in our home or a pizza place with games, cake, ice cream and lots of family and friends were there. They always had big \u201cmilestone\u201d birthdays like turning 16 was a huge event.\u00a0 Lara\u2019s was at the Hyatt Hotel and Pete\u2019s was in a private room at a restaurant.\u00a0 The big parties were 21, 30 and 40!!!\u00a0 One thing that we never have to worry about in our family is a party\u2026 We love parties!<\/p>\n
What were some of your family’s favorite things to do together when you had preschoolers? Elementary-school age children? High schoolers? Now?<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\nWhen the children were preschoolers they loved to go to the zoo, playground, beach, movies but we did a lot of crafts at home too.\u00a0 We used to make things\u2026 particularly at Christmas, Valentines, Easter, etc.\u00a0 Reading bedtime stories were such a special time for me.<\/p>\n
In elementary school we would have children over to our home all the time.\u00a0 We did a lot of picnics with friends and their children.\u00a0 We would go to a park close to our home and have a picnic and make s’mores\u2026 and then play charades by the fire!<\/p>\n
Our neighborhood was very close with lots of children all about the same age.\u00a0 We used to play volleyball every Sunday and when the children were old enough, they played, too.\u00a0 We all had a lot of laughs together and it was so much fun to have the children with us for our weekly game.<\/p>\n
They are friendships that developed in the ’70s and my children still see their old friends.\u00a0\u00a0 The moms still get together once a month for dinner. Our conversation used to be about our children in school, then college, weddings and now grandchildren.\u00a0 All of our grandchildren have been together at one time or another but one grandmother and I have play dates with our grandchildren\u2026. so history is repeating itself!!!\u00a0 Being with friends and family is the most important thing!<\/p>\n
What memories of their youth do you think your children recall most fondly now?<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\nI\u2019d say going to Wimberly, Texas every year and staying in a rustic cabin on the Blanca River.\u00a0 The \u201cresort\u201d had 12 cabins and there were always lots of families staying there.\u00a0 It is a place where you can let the children run and you know they are safe.\u00a0 The grounds are beautiful and the children played hide go seek, looked for fireflies, rode their bikes, swam in the pool and tubed in the river.<\/p>\n
When the children were teenagers we always had their friends with us.\u00a0 The girls loved to wash their hair in the river and the boys rode their bikes in the river rapids. We played games, ate our meals outside, had bonfires, cooked s’mores and told ghost stories!\u00a0 They had a recreation hall with ping pong, pool table, shuffle board and when Lara and Pete were older all the teens at \u201cresort\u201d would hang out till wee hours!\u00a0 We would walk up town to the ice cream parlor, maybe go for lunch or dinner on occasion.\u00a0 We\u2019d go to the drive-in movie and sit in lawn chairs outside.<\/p>\n
Blue Hole was always fun because they could swim in the cold Cypress Creek water and swing from a big rope into the water.\u00a0 It was wonderful family time \u2013 no phones, no TV, no stereos… we were \u201ctogether!”<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve had the privilege to take my son\u2019s two children for 3 years and they have brought friends, so I\u2019ve been able to relive the great memories with them.\u00a0 We have a blast and do the same things!\u00a0 They always want to go back.\u00a0 Now that my daughter\u2019s children are getting older, I want to take them, too, so they can have the \u201cWimberly experience” with me.\u00a0 Now we call it Camp Mawmaw and Gargaw when we take the grandchildren.<\/p>\n
Oh, another wonderful memory is our annual summer trip to San Luis Hotel in Galveston.\u00a0 We started going to the hotel when it opened.\u00a0 It was just the 3 of us\u2026 Lara, Pete and me! What a wonderful and special time. It was a week of spoiling them to \u201cwhatever\u201d they wanted, whenever they wanted, and it was a \u201cthere are no rules here\u201d week!<\/p>\n
We were at the pool everyday, had lunch served as we lay in lounges at the pool, had room service whenever, rented floating \u201ctricycles\u201d and rode the waves, (I don\u2019t think they have those anymore), we went to the outdoor musical every summer\u2026Hello Dolly was my favorite!\u00a0 We went shopping on the strand\u2026 whatever they wanted to buy was great with me! Ice cream parlor, railroad museum but we mostly hung out at the hotel and had a blast.\u00a0 That is one of my most favorite times with my children\u2026 I had them all to myself!<\/p>\n
Is there anything about your parenting that you are especially proud of? What is it?<\/strong><\/p>\nI guess if there was one thing it was always being there for my children and they were always the most important thing in my life.\u00a0 I tried to do everything I could for my children to make them feel loved and special because they were!\u00a0\u00a0 Today it\u2019s the same!\u00a0 They are the loves of my life and my heroes!\u00a0 Now that they are adults I have to say that God blessed me with my two best friends! <\/strong><\/p>\nIs there anything about your parenting that you now regret? Do you mind sharing that with us?<\/strong><\/p>\nMy big regret is the divorce, for sure.\u00a0\u00a0 I was the first person in my family to get a divorce and, even though my family supported me totally and helped me get through it, I wish that I could have had a marriage that lasted\u2026\u2026for my children.\u00a0\u00a0 I regret mistakes- big and little, and I try to live the way God wants me to live.<\/p>\n
When your children were very young, did you have any hobbies you enjoyed just for yourself? If so, what were they?<\/strong><\/p>\nExercising!!!\u00a0 I exercised every day– Aerobics, Jazzercise, weights and walked!\u00a0 I loved it!\u00a0 Hmmm\u2026better get back at it !<\/p>\n
If you could give newer moms advice, what would it be?<\/strong><\/p>\nThe “Triangle” is what try to live by: God at the top, Me and my Family. \u00a0I put \u201cMe\u201d second.\u00a0 Not selfishly, but because I have to be strong and walk the walk before I can help my family. <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This week, one of my friend’s moms shares her stories about rearing her two children. It sounds as though their lives together have been filled with great adventures and lots of love. And I love how Bonnie continues the adventures with her grandchildren… read on and take notes for some super fun ideas! Real (Experienced) […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[186],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3261","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-real-experienced-moms"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.momstoolbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3261","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.momstoolbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.momstoolbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.momstoolbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.momstoolbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3261"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"http:\/\/www.momstoolbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3261\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6848,"href":"http:\/\/www.momstoolbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3261\/revisions\/6848"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.momstoolbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3261"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.momstoolbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3261"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.momstoolbox.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3261"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"Photobucket\"](\"http:\/\/s539.photobucket.com\/albums\/ff360\/Momstoolbox\/?action=view¤t=Bonnieandkids.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n