Self Cleaning Oven

About 20 years ago or so I met a woman who lived about 5 houses down from me at the time. Ally was married and at the time she didn't have any kids so she sort of mentored my youngest nephew when he was around 8 years old. She would take him to the library, to the park, taught him how to make a cake, bread, cookies and cupcakes and helped him with homework and taught him about life in general. Later, when he was around 17 she taught him how to drive and took him in her car to take the driving test.

She and I were pregnant at the same time. Our sons were born in the same month 10 days apart. She had her second son about 3 years later. By the time she had her second son we were moving out of the neighborhood and shortly after we moved her family moved too. She was never one to stay long in any house. She moved not too far from the old neighborhood and she used to come and pick up my nephew to babysit her kids sometimes. So, we still saw each other and kept in touch somewhat.

Ally, was full of life an very independent and a strong woman. When she found out she had cancer in her eye for a long time she was doing good and her husband said that they lived their life pretty much the same. They knew that the cancer was there but Ally didn't let that stop her from living life.

Eventually, the cancer spread and Ally was given only a few months to live. During that time she said she had to make her kids, then 10, and 7 more independent and she wanted them to be like little "self cleaning Ovens". She knew that without her they were going to have to be more independent and she planned to have them as independent as they possibly could get before she died. So, she and her husband taught her little guys how to cook, clean and do all the stuff that she usually helped them with.

I remembered this, what she called them and what she was trying to do, when I thought about my own life. For the past few years my life has been sort of on "hold" for lack of a better term. I took time off when my son was born to be with him and then went back to work for a while and then my life changed for the worse once again about 4 years ago when my mom had her stroke and following that a broken hip and then other health problems. I was the one who took charge, being that I was the oldest one of my sister and brother, I thought that it was my "duty" to step up. And of course my sister is married and at the time didn't live too close to us, not that far but not like it was around the corner either. And my brother had some special needs also. So, there was nobody else to do it and I was happy to do it.

Now, the time has come for me to take care of myself again. I haven't seen a check with my name on it is so long I can't remember when that was. (about 4 years ago) lol My savings is almost gone and it is time for me to get back to work, get back to the business of taking care of me because I am the only person who can and who is. I have been on a applying for jobs mission and actually got a email that my application, one of my applications for the city was accepted and the test is coming up. I plan to ace this test. I plan to ace the interview, yes, I have seen myself in the interview process. I have picked out clothes and brought new clothes and shoes just for that. I am thinking positive. I am training my son to be a little self cleaning oven too. I am trying to make him more independent so when I am not here he will be able to take care of himself until I get off of work. He's 12 now and at the end of the year will be 13 a teenager. I don't know how that happened. lol But, time is not waiting for anyone. He's getting older, I am getting older and already know that it is not going to be easy finding work at my age but once again I am thinking positive. I am already seeing myself employed.

So, until then I am teaching my son how to be the little "self cleaning oven" that he will need to be in the near future.