Motherhood came to me in the gift of the two most precious, red-headed, cherub butterballs of pure Irish love and joy. To say that I have been blessed would be an understatement.
When Frank and I first met–back when I was 28 and just beginning my teaching career and he, 34 and well into his career as a firefighter–I never wanted to marry and he never wanted to have kids.
Perfect.
3.3 years later we were married in Bishop Mallory’s first ever outdoor wedding ceremony (he said he had never met a couple like us before) and 2 years later, we were pregnant with our two little miracles, Mairead Ema and Liam Quinn.
Life. She is funny like that.
Motherhood
Being a Mom is the the most fulfilling, challenging and heart-expanding experience unlike any other I have ever had. It has brought me to my knees and had me singing from the mountaintops, turned my heart inside out, and over again.
Parenting guidebooks, words of wisdom from well-intentioned loved ones and copious amounts of personal preparation cannot take the place of what you, as a parent, are destined to walk and discover on your own. There is just is no other way other than figuring it out, with love always as your guide post.
Coming of Age in Mexico
Barely a month into our immigration from San Diego to San Pancho in 2012, Mairead and Liam had an adventure that without a doubt set the template for the shenanigans to come in our reinvented, “out of the box” lives where freedom, fun, family time, community, connection and culture are the headliner events.
Strapped into the back of a dune buggy with a group of their newly-made friends, down the jungle road they bopped and bounced until their horse-back riding instructor Ceci found a body of water that looked “suitable” for an afternoon swim!
While trying to emote nothing but pure joy and excitement, it is safe to say that I was feeling a bit horrified at the prospect of what my children were swimming in–doing an informal assessment of bacteria counts as they submerged themselves over and over into this cow pie sink hole.
Adventure at its best, no?
They survived unscathed and had good showers when we got back home!
The O’Grady Twins Turn 18!
For those of you that have been following along with us since the beginning, it might be hard for you too to believe that it has been nearly 10 years since our immigration to this magnificent country, when Mairead and Liam were just 8 years old.
As they say in Spanish, “con un cerrar y abrir de los ojos”–with an opening and closing of the eyes–time goes by so fast. I am savoring every moment as I know all too well that I will be staring the empty nest stage straight in the nose before I know it, perhaps even before I am ready for it. With love as our guidepost, I trust we will continue to navigate all of these sweet and bittersweet chapters of life with grace and unity.
So many grand life adventures lived and still so many stories yet to be told–both good and others that simply remind you that life is not for sissies–since we walked off that one-way flight from San Diego to Puerto Vallarta.
Our children, our precious treasures, our greatest life teachers.
I love you, from here to the moon and around the world back again times infinity.
Feliz cumple mis tesoros!
~Mom xo
*Protect yourself and your loved ones with an Expat Travel Insurance Policy (message me for a referral) & Carbon Monoxide Detectors for both home and travel *
Looking for a Residency Visa Specialist Recommendation? Feel free to email me at losogradysinmexico@gmail.com
Feliz Cumpleanos gemelos. May your dreams come true now and in your futures. Your a mom and dad have given you such a gift to have raised you in Mexico these past 10 years. We have lived in the Chapala area for 13 years and are still enamored with Mexico. I started following you when you had that terrible experience in Chapala with the carbon monoxide. Your posts taught me so much. I am wondering what the next step is for the twins. University? Where?
My best you your entire family
Muchas Gracias Joni,
Our daughter’s music career has really taken off and she will be pursuing music in University and our son Liam plans to study technical engineering in Germany…thank you for asking.
Saludos y un abrazo,
Katie