Probably the most important thing in my life that I have enjoyed and I’m still enjoying is being a Mom.

I can’t say that any of my kids were planned.  I don’t think my whole life has been any thing planned.  I sure didn’t plan on working in a male federal prison.  It just happens.  And boy has it been a good one.  Odd as it may sound my kids are four years apart in between each kid.  I would like to take credit and say it was planned for car, car, car and college, college, college.  But it wasn’t, life just happened.

I was 29 when I had my first son.  A Mother can’t explain the love that she is overwhelmed with in her heart when seeing that baby for the first time.  We try to put the best of how we were raised into what we think is right to make a better generation.  After four years I was blessed with another boy.  I was put to bed at 23 weeks because he was ready to greet the world.  I made it to 37 weeks and God blessed me again.

Life was hard between the years that passed and I divorced the boys Dad.  But listening to my son cry begging to stay with his Mother killed me.  So I remarried their Dad and was blessed with a baby girl only to go through another divorce a year later.

While working at the Prison I held the responsibility of teaching Parenting for almost 13 years.  During this time I worked with inmates and their families trying to influence the importance of parenting.  There were several programs that were introduced.  Parenting from a Distance, Proud Parenting and Screamfree Parenting.  The Screemfree program is as tough on the Parent to follow as it is on the kid.  You have to be dedicated and disciplined.  Don’t go back on your word for this teaches them to take a responsibility for the actions they have done.  Which in today’s society is far lacking.

While working in the prison setting it was obvious men were not taking responsibility for their actions.  I heard on a daily basis how it was someone else’s fault.  Whether it was the crime they were charged with, lack of opportunity because of money or excuse for not finishing school it was always somebody else’s fault.  While teaching Screamfree in the prison men would see the purpose to put the responsibility on their child and admit to the lack of support needed when they were growing up.  They also would come to realize the importance of a father being active in their child’s life.  A father is important even if they were behind a razor wire fence.

I attended training for Screamfree Parenting at Harding University.  It was the best program I had ever been through.  This program puts the responsibility back on the child to make the best decisions.  I highly recommend this to any parent whatever the age of their child.  It is also very important for both parents to work together through this program.  We have got to start doing better at raising our children for the next generation.  God gave us a beautiful planet.  It’s time we take control. Screamfree Parenting

One of the hardest things I learned was marriage is not always perfect.  I never saw my parents argue.  Never.  My Dad worked hard on the farm.  My Mother started working when I was in grade school.  When my Dad came in from the field we ate.  No matter if it was 6:00 pm or 9:30 pm.  We ate as a family.  No TV, no cell phones and always a prayer before the meal.

Thanks Mom and Dad,

Family

This is a beginning to a very new adventure for me.  My wish is to blog about everyday life’s adventures that I have experienced and you all can relate to.  I hope to bring us together in helping each other understand the tough life that we struggle to conquer each day.  I have been through a lot of life’s lessons.  Sometimes I stop to think just how sane I am and wonder how in the world I didn’t have a nervous breakdown.  I know now that I only survived because of my friends, family, the good Lord by my side and a stiff drink every now and then.

The blogs may not come daily but I encourage you to send commends, encouragement, advice and criticism.  For if it weren’t for the critics in my life I would of thought I was always right and never questioned my actions and decisions.  Boy did I have some pretty sorry choices growing up, but I learned and I’m still learning.

My name is, Kim Hall Taylor, I was raised on a farm in a small town called Palestine.  I was raised in the Church of Christ and credit my mother for such a strong Christian background.  Without her there’s no telling where I would be today.  I am married and have 3 children by birth and 2 step children.  I have always treasured my kids and still do.  If I do anything on earth right I feel it’s being a Mother.  Not that everything I did was right with the kids but my love and desire to be a good Mother is always in my heart.

I am retired as a teacher from the Federal Bureau of Prisons.  I feel a lot of the time “Everything I know I learned in Prison”. 

The twenty years spent behind the bars are only bearable for the nights that I got to come home.  This was one of the pictures taken on my last drive into work at the Prison.  It’s a different day everyday.  I currently work 4 days a week as a Speech Language Pathologist Assistant.  I absolutely love my work.

I think my job has intrigued you enough to return.  I am asking that you share my site and come back from time to time to check in.

God Bless,

Kim

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