I grew up in Lexington, Kentucky. A beautiful little city located in the heart of the bluegrass state. Surrounded by horse farms and barns bigger and fancier than any house I’ve ever lived in. The horses have it made out here. They’re celebrities!

As kids often do, I failed to appreciate the place I lived until I moved away. It was 2012 and I was fully immersed in my wild child phase. Some friends of mine announced they were going to Texas and offered space in the car for me and my two dogs. Of course I wanted to go. I had nothing holding me back and besides, I hated Lexington. So I packed up what little I wanted, gave the rest away, and hopped in. We were Texas bound. This is the beginning of a much longer story (a story similar to Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas 🤣) that I’m sure will divulge itself over time, but not today. This is also the beginning of how I became a mother.

Not even 3 months after hopping in that car, I was sitting in the bathroom at my parents house staring at a positive pregnancy test. Back at square one and this time with a little passenger in tow. One fact still remained, I hated Lexington. There was no way I was going to raise a child there. Four months later? I was back in Texas, married to the father of my child, whom I barely knew, and five months pregnant. Wow. What a whirlwind of events.

I stayed away for five years.

Three states, multiple cities, and countless houses later I found myself longing for home. Every time I visited my eyes opened to what I had been ignorant to while living there. The parks, nearby Red River Gorge, restaurants, my friends, my family. All these things I had taken for granted during the first 22 years of my life.

One thing about me, when I decide to do something, I do it. I wanted to move back home, and that’s exactly what we did. Still married and now with a four year old son, I made my triumphant return. Overjoyed to finally have a support system. Not long after we welcomed our daughter into the world.

Fast forward another four or five years. As I said in my first blog post, I’m no longer married. Single mom club! Although we co parent very well…and maybe I’m not so single.

There is a park close to downtown that holds a place near and dear to my heart. Woodland Park is a Lexington staple, if you’re ever visiting. I have fond memories of playing there with my nephew when we were little, sneaking around the playground late at night with my high school friends, lying in the sun and reading books in my early 20s, and pining after all the goofy skater boys in the skate park.

Last Sunday the kids and I packed up their skate boards and headed to Lexington to meet up with our friend Eric at Woodland. The day started as a typical Sunday at our house. We had a slow morning which included a lot of coffee and snuggling on the couch. Those are my favorite kind of mornings. My kids love any park so they were ecstatic to spend the afternoon there and the weather couldn’t have been anymore perfect. Sweatshirt temps and not a cloud in the sky.

When we arrived my son immediately hopped on his board and started skating with such determination I was thoroughly impressed. My daughter? She couldn’t be bothered. A total diva, that one.

As I watched my kids play, my heart swelled thinking about the many memories I have of that place. It was a full circle moment. As oblivious as the kids were, to me it felt like taking them with me back in time. That’s how it always feels when I share my childhood experiences with them. To watch the joy on their little faces brings back the joy I once felt. That is a perk of parenthood— you get to relive the past, in a way.

One of my favorite singer/song writers said it best…

Oh, but all the wonders I have seen, I will see a second time
From inside of the ages through your eyes

The Mother by Brandi Carlile

Something hits different about raising kids in your hometown. I’m still a wild child. I still have that intense desire to travel and live in new places…but for now, I’m content living where I am. I love my hometown of Lexington, Kentucky and I love sharing that piece of myself with my children.