Tag: daughter

hope

Less Than Two Days Until Year52!

Shaun Bradford

I’m back home! Had a wonderful time with my baby girl. The festivities began as soon as I arrived on Thursday, and by Friday evening, I was exhausted. Yesterday (Saturday), I asked if we could skip the plans and just hang out and go with the flow, and she was okay with that. Y’all, she had many more activities planned.

Here’s a brief recap of the past few days.

Thursday

I love a good baseball game, but only in person. I’m not a fan of watching it on TV. That evening, the Atlanta Braves played the New York Mets and won!🏆

Friday

On Friday, my daughter’s fiancé took me on a tour of his workplace before we went shopping. He works in tech support, and the view from his workspace is quite nice.

We finished the evening by visiting two of my favorite places to eat.

Southern Fire Soul Food Kitchen
Jeni’s Ice Creams

Saturday

My daughter made breakfast on Saturday morning. Afterwards, we hung out for a while and watched the latest episodes of Love Island USA. She loves reality shows. I just can’t get into them. Anyhoo… It was too hot to do anything else. However… we did walk down to a Brisket and Bourbon event they were having and picked up a rib plate and some cinnamon rolls.☺️

Then, last night, we had dinner at Culinary Dropout, a restaurant they had wanted to take me to during previous visits, but we never managed to visit it. I’m glad I finally went. The food was good.

This morning, I had a yogurt parfait and a BBQ rib for breakfast. That was all I needed before I left. I’m not sure what I’ll do tomorrow. We shall see.🥰

Shaun

hope

Cherish Momma

Shaun Bradford

What advice would you give to your teenage self?

I would advise my teenage self to extend grace to my mother. Understand that although she is a mother, she’s human, too. She wants to be loved, respected, and appreciated, just like you. She’s had her heart broken more times than you know, but she always manages to recover—at least outwardly. You will later learn the toll it took on her mentally, emotionally, and physically. Give her hugs. Tell her you love her. Buy her little gifts. Write her notes. Love on her because one day, she’ll be gone, and you will wish that you had done all those things throughout your relationship, not just the last few months of her life.

Cherish Momma♥️

I wish I could give her one more hug.🌺
hope

Happy 30th, Ki!

Shaun Bradford

The day is finally here! KiSondrea is 30! My heart is full. There’s so much I could say. So much I want to say. So much I’ve already said to her (which is what matters most) and in past posts. She’s my heart. I love her to other galaxies and beyond. I am so grateful God chose me to be her mom.♥️

Photos from yesterday.🥰
hope

My Milestone, Too

Shaun Bradford

Listen, the tears are flowing! I was just texting with my daughter about her plans for her birthday and she mentioned that it was a milestone for me as well. Y’all, the fact that she recognizes her 30th birthday as a milestone for me means a lot. It makes my heart smile. She doesn’t have to keep reminding me to celebrate myself as well, but she does.

I remember when I first felt her move. At that moment, I was committed to becoming the best mom that baby could possibly have. Now, don’t think I was a laid-back, “do whatever you want to do” kind of mom. No, I was, and always have been, a real momma. She had rules to follow, and I never allowed any disrespect. However, I allowed her to be who God created her to be. I gave her room to express herself (believe me, she has never been one not to express her opinions), and I tried my best to make sure she could do whatever she aspired to do. Of course, we didn’t always agree on everything and still don’t (smile), but that doesn’t make me love her any less. I actually believe I love her even more because she’s who she is and has never tried to be like anyone else. I love watching her move through life. It’s so beautiful to watch. Y’all, I can’t believe I am so blessed.🥰

At 3 years old.
At 29 years old

Yes, I am truly blessed.☺️

Shaun

hope

Almost 30 Years, Part 2

Shaun Bradford

Last week around this time, I was headed to visit my daughter. It feels so wild to have a child that’s almost 30. As I wrote in Almost 30 Years, she’s been through it all with me. Words can’t even begin to describe how grateful I am that God gave her to me.

I decided to take a real trip down memory lane this morning, a 30 year trip. I didn’t write anything on this day 30 years ago (December 19, 1994), but I wrote something two days before. Here’s what I wrote. Hope you can read it.

December 17, 1994— My baby journal

I had no idea if I was having a girl or boy so I always referred to them as “Honey” and “Sweetie.”

I was excited and nervous at the same time. Had no idea of what to expect but knew I wanted to be the best mom ever. The kids and twins I was referring to were my siblings.

Me and my sweet baby girl today.🥰

From where I was then, to where I am 30 years later, I am so very blessed.♥️

Shaun

hope

Almost 30 Years

Shaun Bradford

Wanted to share this before I got on the road. This young lady, my baby girl, my heart, has been through everything with me. All of my high moments and the very lowest of lows. The lows I tried to shield her from but it didn’t always work. I remember her catching me crying from time to time when she was around three or four and her telling me things were going to be alright. Y’all, she used to rub my head like I was the baby.

Having a child at 21 and being single and being in the military stationed hundreds to thousands (she went to Turkey with me) of miles away from family was more stressful than anything I had experienced, but I made it. We made it!

So, if it seems like I write about her a little more than I do my son, it’s not because I don’t love him just as much, it’s because me and this baby have been through some things. And now that she’s an adult, every chance she gets to do something special for me, she does. She’s forever loving on me. Her fiancé told me that she had a bad morning yesterday because things weren’t going as planned. She had planned for us to do something and it didn’t work out. I let her know that being in her presence and with her was worth so much more than anything she could’ve planned. Y’all, I love her so much.

Okay… let me wrap this up because I can feel my eyes swelling from the tears and I need to get on the road.

Next month she will be 30 years old. Where did the time go? I am so proud of the woman she’s become and is becoming. She’s my blessing.♥️