Laurie Rothwell

I have a life you might see in a movie, such as; “Yours, Mine and Ours” or “Cheaper by the Dozen”. With eight kids, it’s never dull, and since six of them are boys it’s definitely not quiet. It is hard for me to believe that my three oldest have already spread their wings and moved out on their own. I think each of them tell me at least once a week they are moving back home. (It’s cheaper to live at home?!) Now that leaves us with one in high school, three in middle school, and a precocious toddler wrapping all of us around his finger.
 
Have you ever been asked, “If you could live your life over, what would you do differently?” The problem with that was I would never trade in my kids for anything, and if you’re a parent you know what I am talking about. Well, I got that chance when my husband of twenty years walked out of our marriage, lost our printing business and I was left alone to raise our six children. I had never been to college, lost my job (I worked for my husband) and couldn’t afford my house payment. This was my chance to sink or swim and I’ve been swimming ever since, actually I like running. I realized that there were no guarantees in life; it was up to me to make my life what I wanted it to be. Pursue the things I had only dreamed of, find every possible way to learn everything I could to be able to not only support my kids, but actually play with them. And that my friends, takes time and money. Something a single mom doesn’t have much of.
 
Well if you don’t believe in fairy tales, you should. My life is one. I am since remarried to a wonderful husband (who would fall in love with a woman with six children that was broke and upside down in her house payment) He says I told him I was a doctor and had two kids, until he came over one day and kids were climbing out of windows and trees…but it was too late. He has a son and we have since added Kaeden to our family.
 
Now I am working to make the things I once dreamed of a reality. Spending my time at home with home the baby, I am able to help others reach the goals that they too, never thought possible.