Monday, May 1
We did not go to school today because Ava and I had a funeral to go to. My uncle, Tom, lost his mom on Thursday night. My cousin was also there, and I just wanted be there to support my family.
But I woke up this morning, not feeling good at all. I was stuffed up and had a sore throat. Traveling and being sick sucks. It's like I have sniffed all my snot up into my forehead and it's just hanging out up there. Sorry, that was kind of graphic.
To my knowledge, Ava has never been to a funeral. The last funeral I went to was my mom's, so when I hugged my uncle, it brought a lot of memories back.
The pastor talked about how Sarah lived a full life, and it made me think about my own mom.
My mom was an alcoholic who was trying to raise two kids on her own. (My father left when I was a baby.) Mom was diagnosed with liver cancer when I was 12. She lost her battle when I was 18. Mom was 42. Sarah was 90. What defines a full life? My mom lived a seventh of her life battling cancer, and nearly half her life battling addiction.
I have been thinking about that a lot today. Also, how do I want to remembered?
I love being an uncle, a teacher, and a YouTuber. It's what I do, but I want a wife, and I would love to bring more kids into the world.
I wanted to be a teacher because my teachers were the people I looked up to as a kid. I didn't have a dad, so the male figures in my life were really important. I have two uncles. Tom married my mom's sister, Heather. They have one daughter, Kari.
My other aunt and uncle are in Iowa. They are another reason why we are moving. My uncle, Mike, is a pastor, and my aunt Jen is the principal at the middle school I will be teaching at. They have four kids. I do keep in contact with all four of them. I'm closest to Eric, the youngest out of them all. He's 22.
I have had great role models, but I never had a stable parent. On the night I brought Ava home for the first time, I vowed that I would be the best parent I could be to her, and it's not easy. I now understand why my mom struggled so much; it's not easy being a single parent. I don't cope with it by drinking though. I cope with it by thanking God for Ava everyday because this little girl has been the biggest blessing in my life.
You may have noticed, I've been thinking a lot about family today. Ava is on the top of that list. She's literally my daughter. If I ever have the privilege to have a child that's biologically mine, I will love him or her the same as Ava.
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Going Anyway
SpiritualSteven Easton is a teacher, YouTube vlogger, but most importantly an uncle to his nine-year-old niece, Ava, who he is raising on his own. They are located in the roughest small town of Alabama, but they are going to move to Iowa over the summer. Ste...