Reintroduction - Alba - Independentmami

Hello.  It has been a minute since I have been here.  Life happened and I decided to take a minute to participate in it.  The online world can sometimes take over the real world.  In my case, at least, that is what was happening.  I started suffering from anxiety and panic attacks.  I had too much on plate.  

I started blogging many years ago to share my life as a single parent just bearly making it.  This blog helped me express myself.  It helped me make new friends.  And I met some of you, readers, in person at events.  It took a person who stood shy in a corner out of her shell.  I loved blogging and sharing my stories.  I even was considered an influencer before it was cool.  They are even making movies about influencers now, which I found so funny.  If you are reading this, you are still following.

Let me catch you on my life now, I took time off.  I went back to school.  And then COVID happened.  I learned to become an online student.  I focused and I was able to complete my Associates degree.

I have only dreamed of going to back to college.  I dropped out of college to be able to focus on raising my son alone over 20 years ago.  And it has always been on my bucket list to finish what I started.  I tell my kids how important a degree is for their future.  This is a first for our family.  

I went to community college.  Here are things I saw: 

Students who I attended classes with at the community college are struggling.  Many have at least 2 jobs to pay to go to school.  The work load was hard.  I went to a full time job during the day and went to school at night.  I had to make time to do my homework and study while being a parent, wife, and employee.  Many of them were not making good grades at time either.  The stories they shared were real struggles about life.  I can see why so many people do not finish school or attempt to go.  Why am I mentioning this?  Because I feel that we need to do better as a society.  If you can help someone in your family, help them.  It does not have to be financial.  If they have a started a family, offer to help with their kids or with dinners.  If you have nieces or nephews, ask if they need brain breaks or a study buddy.  My sister-in-law became my study buddy for my Kinesiology classes.  My mother-in-law helped with my daughter.  My other sister-in-laws took care of dinners sometimes.  Remember I do not have sisters by blood, but God sent me some by marriage.  I am thankful for all the angels that helped me from financial assistance, study buddies, brain breaks, dinners, etc.  

I graduated Spring 2023 with my Associates of Arts Degree.  I applied at the University of Houston Downtown and was accepted.  I planned to start Fall 2023.  I enrolled and was ready to start but then due to life, had to put it on pause again.  I was discouraged that I had to yet again put this one thing on hold but I have priorities as a mother and wife.  And yet again I remind you, to help those that are trying to go to college.  I had someone ask me, "do you even need to go to college?"  The answer is YES!  There are many things that I learned which I applied in my everyday day.  It made me a better person.  Can you make it without it?  Yes, you can.  I have a great job.  I cannot remember who said this or the exact words but it went like this - In life we should continue trying to learn new things and keep the mind busy as this is what helps delay or prevent our brains from letting all slip away.  I do not know about you but my brain already is very forgetful, I am 45.

That is my update.  I am back to blogging.  I will be sharing more of what is going here in the coming weeks.  Stay tuned.  Until next time, be present in your lives.  Do not have FOMO over things that do not matter.