Props have to be given...

I spent last night at a Sweet Sixteen Princess party for Jess. It was a great time and I have to give some well deserve praise to Brandy. Brandy and Jess got up there at the beginning and was thanking people for coming. Then Brandy started talking about just what Jessica, her princess and Jimmy, her prince have meant to her. Yes the voice was breaking up cause she was speaking from the heart. I have been very privileged to have Brandy for a friend all these years. I have seen first hand how she has devoted her life to her two kids. From that 3:30 AM phone call that I received one morning, Brandy has been focused on making the best possible life for her two kids. If you are fortunate enough to know either one of her kids then you know she has succeeded.
She did it without help from the kid’s dad. Oh but wait just like many divorced men he probably thinks that he is doing his share from the infinitesimal amount of child support he is paying. I am not a parent but one thing I do know is that unless you have a kid 24/7, 7 days a week, 4 weeks a month or 12 months a year, you have NO idea what it cost to raise a kid. I would love to see these so called dads live off of their support for just a month, hell just a week. Just see if that money would supply them with just food and clothing. I doubt it would. Enough of that soap box; bottom line is that the cost of raising a kid is a hell of a lot more than a weekly deduction from a check.
Now back to my original thought. Brandy is raising two wonderful kids and all the credit goes to her and no one else. Sure she has had help from her parents and friends, but it has been her drive and determination that has made it happen. I sat there last night and watched bonds that no one could break. I saw a mother-daughter bond, a mother-son bond and a brother-sister bond. These three have each other’s backs no matter what. And why are they there for each other always, because it has been the three of them through it all. I sat there and smiled as I watched all three of them out there on the dance floor. It didn’t matter if they were out there dancing to one of their awesome choreographed dances or just out there dancing to the latest and greatest, it was so apparent that those three have genuine love and respect for each other. I remember seeing that same look many years ago only it was Brandy out there dancing with her Grandma Rose.
No I wasn’t sitting there all night stalking these three, I was just so proud of my friend and what she has done. Jess is an awesome kid. I see so much of Brandy in her. She is her own person and she sticks by everything that she believes in. She has a heart of gold. Jimmy is also a very awesome and talented kid. He also has a heart of gold and his personality is so spectacular. Let me quote what Candice said to me about Jimmy and his personality. She said this world would be great if everyone had his personality. Amen amen.
So I have to give Brandy a big shout out for being such an impressive and marvelous single mother. You did everything you set you mind to during that early morning chat/bitch session. You have two kids that are very grateful for every sacrifice you made so they could do whatever. Messer’s party was a blast, thanks for including us in on the celebration. It seems like it was just yesterday when we were at your house watching the kids break that lamp. LOL