By Casey Hoskins
It’s my time! This is what I thought I would be more excited for when I had my first child at 20. I chose to have all of my kids by the time I was 25, and since I was blessed with a child with Spina Bifida, that meant 3 kids (instead of at least 4). All very close in age, and all going through many of the growing pains at the same time. There is absolutely no regret but there is a little overwhelm happening, now that these babies are starting to embark on lives of their own.
I am in my 40’s now, when I was in my 20’s, I figured this would be an amazing time, full of freedom and adventure. (I hear you laughing at/with me.) My first adventure was going to McCall by myself last Sunday to pick up an Alma’s order, curate a few stones for my shop, and spend time with a friend. Oh yeah, it was an adrenaline ride for sure! I did discover that I am more of a city girl than I realized when I took a little detour I was told about, to find a trail would take me to a very picturesque part of Idaho. I was on a dirt road for 30 minutes with no cell service and wondering if the few homes I saw would be safe if I needed assistance. Nope. I think from now on I stick to the hikes I know, with people I trust, and be content with the tree around my house and shop.
I’m getting off topic. 40’s, time of my life sans kids, etc., etc. I find that not only do I miss my kids but I spent the better part of my adult life using them as little buffers to the world around me. This whole freedom thing translates to doing more on your own. My husband sees it in a different way in the sense that now we don’t “have” to do stuff. He’s going to learn that I don’t like doing a ton of things on my own and he is going to have to babysit often. Meh, he’ll be fine! There is also the whole, I have a child with Spina Bifida thing too.
My son has gone through a lot in the 6 years we’ve been here, much of that in a solitary place where I was his closest companion. I am his mom, his teacher, his caregiver, his confidant, and his drill sergeant…all at the same time. Upholstery became the thing I used to cope, which became a business, which became the way I connected with the community around me. There have been many changes in the last 2 years in regards to my business and that connection has
wavered a bit. Over the next month or so I will walk you through the strife, the dedication, the optimism, and the heartache that led to the choice I made. I hope you’ll stick with me and maybe even stop in at the shop for a chat. Until next week!
