Is your life what you expected it to be?

I'm not sure if I really thought as a youngster what I wanted to "be" when I grew up. Unfortunately my actions crippled my ability to have unlimited choices. I had a child at age 14 and that set my life into motion. Jewel baby. The light of my life. I grew up very fast. I learned to be selfless. I did not have dreams in high school of moving away for college. I just wanted to graduate. When I graduated, I made a short lived attempt to enroll in college...I enrolled at Emporia State. I never made it though...the arrival of my next child came instead. Lizzy girl. The most beautiful little blonde angel you've ever seen. I did make it to college for 2 semesters at Central Missouri State...but it was not meant to be. Fast forward through a time I don't like to think or talk about much and you end at the birth of my third child. Christopher Daniel. My boy...my heartache kid. I've pained over this kids health problems and accidents more than both of my daughters put together. So- 2001 I wind up working an office job...learning a lot about business and just getting by as a single mom. This job led me to my current job, which led me to my husband. My kids are now 16, 11 and 7 and I've been married for two years. I live in a house I love, I have a great job and I am overall extremely pleased with how my life turned out. I would have never expected to be who I am today. I realized today that I've never really laid a path for myself. I've never thought "I want to be ____" I just survive. I was talking to Lizzy today and asked her what she wants to be when she grows up. Of course, she said "I don't know"...well she's in 5th grade...so I did not expect her to know just yet..haha I love the fact that all 3 of my kids have opportunites that I did not have. I talk to them a lot about making a plan for their futures. You know, I don't think that they need to be thinking about this stuff too seriously yet- but it can't hurt to open up communication and start planting seeds. I wish that I had spent more time with Jewel having conversations like this when she was younger. She is going to be a senior next year and WOW that's a scary thought. She's had a great HS career so far...she is not pulling straight A's but I'm very proud of her. She's planning on going to college, but we have the rest of this year and next to firm up those plans. Ok, I just realized that I'm droaning on and on in this post.....so I'll wrap this thought up. I just think it's a good idea to stop and think about where you are in life and answer if it's what you expected. I know that what I have now is far better than what I expected for myself.