Mini-Profile
I’m a mom with 4 kids, 2 are still living at home. I have several dogs and a couple cats, two guinea pigs, and my youngest daughter has 4 pet rats. The house is full of teens and animals, confusion and chaos, as well as laughter and love. My ex died from liver cancer in October 2004. We’d divorced in late 2000 after he decided he was a woman, and since then I’ve been raising the kids on my own.
My oldest two are on their own. My daughter is the general manager for a local restaurant, she lives with her wonderful boyfriend and his son, and she is a very talented and amazing young woman. My oldest son joined the Army (his dad and I were both in the Air Force) and will soon be heading off to the war zone. My youngest boy plays bass for a local thrash metal band. He’s a very talented musician. Last but not least is my youngest daughter, who is a creative, artistic kid who struggles with dyslexia. She hopes to change the world some day.
My kids are or have all been home schooled, though they’ve all spent time in the public school system. We were homeless for a year (try having your husband become a woman, change his name, and sneak out of child support. Things get rough!) and I’m proud that we got out of that mess and that we went from living in our car or in shelters to having our own home. Years ago I wanted to be a special ed teacher, but circumstances prevented that, and instead I was a trainer in the Air Force, and now I teach my kids.
I was in the Air Force for 14 years, and was medically discharged due to a horrific back injury that was misdiagnosed. After dealing with it and suffering constant pain for over 10 years, I finally have a great doctor. I now have a spinal stimulator and am able to do just about everything I did before I was hurt. I do have nerve damage that nothing will ever fix unless medicine advances more quickly than it is now, but to be able to do a load of laundry without suffering is a great feeling. And I HATE doing laundry. :-)
Where did you grow up?
Central Illinois
Where do you live now?
Central Illinois
What is the highest level of education you have attained?
Bachelors
What subjects did/do you enjoy the most at school?
English, History
What's your favorite sport or sports?
Volksmarching
What kinds of jobs have you held? Industries too!
Waitress, Satellite Communications Operator, Training NCO
What hobbies are you into?
Reading, Writing, Computers, photography, studying the U.S. Civil War, various arts and crafts including making altered books and scrapbooking
What causes are you concerned about today?
Homeschooling, poverty and homelessness, pollution
Which religion (if any) do you follow?
Christian