Caroline Neerman: my BFF since we were 2 years old.

that went to each other's birthday party. Like, I think you're the only friend I had at my party. And it just was instant. How did we become besties? I think our moms were just good friends and then we so we were around each other and we just were instant besties, and like we did dance together. And Caroline had the coolest older siblings, Ryan and Shay, and they were like seven years older than you, right, so five

and seven. Yeah, growing up we would go play at your house and Ryan and Shay were always like cool teenagers and they were like they had like the the junior high in high school talent show. And somehow we weaseled our way into Ryan's talent show act and we did a dance routine in front of the whole high school when we were like, what how old were we? Oh? My goodness, I think we were like in fourth grade.

And it was like a really big deal because the talent show was for the school that we didn't attend, and it was for seventh grade to twelfth grade. But somehow the Carolines weaseled their way in and we did our little dance routine with our cut off shorts and we didn't split. Yeah, and we pretty much thought we were the coolest people ever. We thought like we stole

the show. We're like, we're hanging out with the high schoolers and the I mean, you know what it was because your brother Ryan, he's so cool, but like he was the guy that like just kind of like made everything happen at and like he's so rolling in hot. So they didn't have an act, like every grade had to have an act, and so he just decided to like act like a talent scout and throw us in

the act as like the talent he was scouting. And then he just went together this act and he didn't have to do anything and we got and we got to shine. He's pretty much known for being efficient with everything he does, and so I think the most efficient way to get to accomplish his requirement for the Talent Show was to get us and then he didn't have to do anything and it was great. Oh man, gosh. We also Caroline growing up. Every single weekend we would

spend the night together. We would do jazz or size exercise, videos would play all I mean, we go hunting for giant scary things that lived in the little pond behind your house. Um, we would go what was what called those things that Ryan would find in the paul um the alligator gars? Yeah, yeah, I don't know, but you know what we love to do most was go to

Mervyn's body suits, Yes, matching outfits. We matched every day and we loved Mervyn's and we would go with our moms and buy every single matching body suit we could. We only wore Caroline. He made body suits cool before body suits were cool, if you Oh, definitely, yes, we had every single color. And um, we also wore our hair. You remember the same way. Oh, we as have my hair so I could get it to flow the right way.

So we wanted to do the sunflower Oh, we would spray sunflower like leaving condition on our hair and make we oh, we lay on the head and put our head on the back of the bed so it would fall off, and then we brush our hair and get it so smooth on the top and do the tightest, tightest ponytail you could get. And then we'd spray it down leaving condition and let it dry so it literally

would crack. It was so hard. Right, you have the one little hair in front of our face like Madonna that I would cut to make sure it's just that one hair that because it had to be on the same side. We had to just match perfectly. How do we even come up to have the hair in our face the one little way? I don't know. I think that was your your initiation. I think you started that

and I just of course went along with it. Oh my god, I mean talk about true best friendship, like literally, Caroline, I feel so and the fact that we have the same name is crazy. But I feel so lucky because we have been best friends our whole life. Like it never didn't we never like lost it, you know, I know. I mean even after you went to Baylor and then Nashville, you know, and then came back to Austin. It didn't matter, you know how far away we were. How you know

many days we're in between us chatting. Um. You know, when you have something like that, it's just rare, lucky and it never goes away. Man. So when Michael and I broke up are now Michael and I had dated four years and then I broke up with him for two years. And when I broke up, I was like, I am moving to Austin. And Caroline, you had just moved to Austin because you we both said it, I guess you you've been living in Fort Worth and you moved to Austin. And I was like, I don't know

what I'm doing. I feel like my life is flying apart, but I am moving in the same apartment complex with you. I got an apartment in there before I even like looked at it, like I didn't care where the apartment was. Was like, I'm moving in the same place with you. We were like on like one floor apart, but like so close. So every single day we would hang out and like I was even there when you started dating Jason,

your husband. I hope y'all meet, I know, I mean, well, I mean, the funny thing was was I was so so I went to UM I was living in Waco because I went to law school. There were not in for so I was so excited because I was going to move to Austin and I was gonna be single, and then my best friend was moving there and we were gonna be single together. Yes, Pato, we were just gonna date like crazy, which I did you stopped, yes, yeah, weird. Well then I met Jason, like basically right when we

moved there, and then that's all. Man, that was a fun year. We had lots of fun. Oh Aia, you hope you ran. Katherine and I decided to train for a marathon, a half marathon, and you just would run with us just for fun, and then we run to the bar and get angrea and drink. We'd run two miles, run straight to the bar and then just drink tons of sangrea. Yeah, that's the best Thingria ever. That was so good. But yeah, we lots of lots of fun times.

I mean, that was a fun year. I'm so glad we got to, like before we were married, before we had kids, we got to like live adult life. We got to like live adult life together exactly, and it was so fun because we were you know, older and like out of a certain time of our life and um, you know, just got to enjoy kind of a new face. Yeah, I know. And then here here comes all the babies. So you have two babies. Now one of them is my god child? Yes, sorry is your board? And Knox

and were cutting out before in October. I can't believe Knox is already four. Okay, yeah, so Knox will before in October and four it will be two in October. So um yeah, just grown up. What's that like raising boys? Because you are outnumbered? You have obviously your husband and two boys, and so what is it like in a house of boys? Um? Well, I mean it's all I know, unless I'm comparing it to friends that have girls or you know, remembering my nieces when they were younger. But

boys are crazy. I mean they're full, They're full of energy. I mean, for me, I love it because, um, you know, you know, we played basketball and I love sports and I love being active and so I love all that kind of high end activity with boys. But it's exhausting. I mean, they wake up they're ready to go and it is NonStop. So do they just run around like little tornadoes? Oh? Yeah, we call them ban cheese. There are band cheese and they are NonStop. I mean it

requires so much energy. I mean my mom and dad are helping right now. Um, but like you really can't. I can do to both of them, obviously at the same time because they're my kids, but a lot, you know, for my mom. She can't take both of them at the same time so much. They run off there exploring, like I mean, it's just NonStop. So y'all are in Colorado right now? Yes, so we escaped, escaped the heat and um, you know, just being able to stay you know,

six ft away from everybody and your whole fans there. Yes, everybody's here. They're slowly starting, everyone slowly starting to leave. But um, yeah, we're just enjoying the nice cool weather here and staying out of Texas. What has it been like being in Colorado? And did you'all fly there? No? So we um we usually fly because we come every summer, but um, you know, with the pandemic and everything, we

just weren't comfortable putting our banshees on an airplane. Um. You know, they just put their hands in their mouths. They aren't great at wearing their masks, and so they were just too too young. So we um packed up our vehicle and left and we spent the night in Amarillo and then made the rest of the trip here.

But they did great. You know, how was that car trip? Well, I really geared myself up for it to be awful, Like I was like, this is gonna be awful because we took them to edge Falls, you know one time. That's like a little little secret water hole in Texas that y'all go to, like a little pond far. Yeah, so it's um, it's our family's place that's um in

Texas and it has a big watering hole. But you know, going back to that, you might recall when we took a little trip there when we were seniors in high school.

But anyway, so we took the kids on a trip there and it's usually like three hours from Waco, and Knox is potty trained, and so anytime he had to stop to good bathroom and we had to pull over, and then of course he wanted to buy something at the gas station, so it ended up turning into like a five and a half hour trip, right, And so after that, I was like, I'm never driving anywhere that's longer than like two hours with these kids. But then this whole opportunity came up and I was like, well,

guess we're just gonna go. Yeah, how many hours? So I think it was like fourteen and a half or fifteen? How how did you do it? So? Yeah, how did you do that? Well? I guess during COVID. You know, the great mother that I am, I got my kids addicted to the iPads, so we um, so we put the iPads on and they didn't complain too much. Okay, what do you what do they like to watch? So? Um? I mean they call it bob Ba, which is just

really anything they find on kids YouTube. Kids so Knox has really gotten into They watch all these little like truck videos and car videos like kids. Um. Knox has recently gotten into more like Pepper Pig and um Curious George. Um. But yeah, they like to watch There's all these like songs and like baby Bus and all these different things that I hope they're learning from. Um. But yeah, so it I geared it up for it to be awful, and then it turned out to not to not be

so bad. So what have you love doing in Colorado? What have you all been doing? This? And awesome? Well, the best part is that you know, we can get the kids out of the house. You know, in Texas it's like so so hot that if you're not in water, especially now, you can't go anywhere. Um, it's just so hot outside. So you know, it's just so beautiful here that we can take them to every single playground. I

bike them, you know, all around. We got to watering holes and just kind of adventure outside seven So it's so fun. I know what, Um, what are your thoughts on this pandific? Like? What is happening? Like? What is happening in the world? You know, it's it's crazy, it's scary. Oh I don't even know if I've told you, but um, you know we actually had a COVID scare here really yeah, So um, first of all, back to my thoughts. Um, you know, it's just it's to me, it's scary. It's um,

it's just the unknown, you know. So um, but you know, we are where we are and we just have to go with it. And um, you know, for me being around my parents, I want to make sure that um and they help with the kiddo that we're taking all the precautions weekend too, you know, be safe and keep our kids around them. So UM. But anyway, so our babysitter drove up to Colorado with my mom because my mom didn't want to fly. So she drives up with my mom and UM, she's with us for like from

Monday until Saturday. She flies home Saturday. Well, Sunday, the next day she gets home, she um doesn't feel good, mostly sinuses, et cetera, and goes to the doctor thinking she just has a sinus infection. Well, they ended up testing her for um corona and she had it. Oh gosh, she was with you all the whole time. Yes, so we were totally freaked out because my mom was in the car with her for sixteen hours and with you at the house and I mean everything, How did I

have no idea? I mean, we are so shocked. But you know, when my mom drove up with her, she made her wear a mask the whole time in the car, and my mom wore a mask and then she sat in the back seat. Um, because my mom had talked to my sister who lives in Hong Kong, and in Hong Kong at school, they've rearranged desks and they don't they do something where kids can't turn backwards or something.

I don't know. Something she learned from my sister. She put her our babysitter in the back seat, and so she took every oh and road with the windows down most of the way. Your mom has always been when it comes to taking precautions, Leave it to Cynthia to go right. There's a ten out of ten. Cynthia is doing a twenty twenty out of ten checklist exactly exactly. Safety first. Always, she's always seen a new articles on the internet about some weird disease floating around, and now

it actually is happening. All her precautions are paying off, right, So um, anyway, she sent um, she did all that, and then none of us bought it. So we called our you know, doctor to make sure, you know, we didn't need to do anything else. But we stayed away for fourteen days and kind of followed all that stuff, but none of us got it. That's crazy. Yeah, but you know she had very very mild symptoms and lost

our taste and smell, and yeah, that's it. I know, I'm like, I just it's like I always tried to find the positive and everything, and there is a lot of positive like yes, we're getting like family time and like you know, it's like helping us reassess our values. But like just like when is it kind of and you know, jobs and working and like but I don't know, I just I've just we've never lived through anything like this.

It's just bananas and like I want to get to Texas to go see to see my family, to see you, and it's just like living in Nashville, it's hard to We're debating on if we should fly it will that be like is it worth the risk? And it's just like you know, yeah, yeah, I mean it's it's hard and you know, Sunny being so small, that's a long car trip with her that. Um, we got to keep on chugging along and just doing all that we can.

And you know, I actually pulled my boys out of school so I was I wasn't comfortable sending them to school, even though I know the school is going to go above and beyond to keep them safe. Um, but you know, they're just so small, and um that was my personal decision. So are you homeschooling? Well, they're you know, they're so small that we don't really have to homeschool much, right right. Um, So my mom um has a preschool curriculum knowledge, and

so she's going to homeschool and art. She'll help teach Knogs a little bit. I feel like your mom's made for that, Like she's probably gonna love it. Yeah she she We'll see if not, how Knox does. They're so close that I don't know if Knox will be able to like sit and try to learn stuff. He'll want to go outside and explore and all of that. Is it so great having your family around now that you have kids? Yeah? So, you know, we have Knox in Austin and um, Jason, my husband just travels all the

time with work. And as much as we loved Austin, it just we just knew that becoming Dwaco would be easier. Um. And you know, being being home and having family right there to help. I mean, you don't realize how incredible it is until you have it. Yeah, so um yeah, So we've been so blessed and lucky to have that and they're so so helpful and gives mommy a break Oh my gosh. So what is it like coming back to Waco as an adult? Because we grew up in Waco and I felt like Waco was such a great

place to grow up. And then you went to TCU, which isn't Fort Worth, and then, um, I guess you came back to Waco for law school, so you kind of knew what it was like living in Waco, but you're in the college vibe. What's it like living in Waco as an adult? Well, you know what's funny is that I always said and thought to myself, I'm never going to come back to Waco. I mean, I was just like, why is it that we say that about our hometown. It's like, oh, I'm gonna get out and

go do all this stuff. But then you're like, god, home is really actually great. Well yeah, and I think like everything changed is once you have kids, you know, I mean, everything changes and your priorities changed, and um, you know, when we're young and single or newly married or with no kids, you can go and you can do and you know, we like in Austin, we've loved like going out and going to restaurants and all the things that you can do. But once you have kids,

especially babies, all that changes so um. I mean, even once I had Knox in Austin, I truly missed the community that Waco was to us growing up. I mean, they're just incredible people in Waco, um like so supportive. And you know, I remember somebody saying that it takes a village to raise a kid, and you know, you pick your village and you find people that are there

to help and support you. And I just think that Waco has such strong community and support you know, so so yeah, so coming back to raise a family, you know, it's just so it's so different, and um, there's so much to do. I mean, you have great children's museums you have. I mean, to me, one of the my favorite things is Ridgewood and you know, being able to get on the lake in five minutes, you know, I mean up on the lake. Oh my gosh, the lake

was everything. Your dad taught me how to ski. I mean I wasn't great at it, but he taught me. You would like get up on your swallow like at five, Yes, and then I've got two skis trying not to bust my face. Um, but yeah, your dad was the king of teaching everyone to ski. I know, we used to live on that lake. There's just so do well and especially when you have a family, you know, there's just a lot to do when you have a young family and a family. I still remember when my dad surprised us.

Do you remember our jet skis? Okay, so yeah, Well my dad like surprised us with jet skis. But they were literally I mean I had never even seen a jet ski before. They were like the first jet skis like ever out. And we thought they were so fast. Oh yeah, but now looking back on what they have now, I mean they were like do do do? Just like not not so fast. We felt so independent, like being on a jet skime and getting to go dart around

the lake. Ye oh man but um and then we would you know, tie those alligators behind the barge, blow up alligators, like sit on the alligators while we went out, and it was so fun. So now I'm taking the barge out. So we grew up going out on that barge. Now I'm taking up taking it out with my friends, and it's so fun. I know. I realized now like

our parents really did design a really great life. I mean, you got the you got the swimming pool, you got the barge, you got if you want to go golfing, then there's great countryside near a Waco where you can go explore. Really, it grows, great schools, a great community. Really is a nice, nice thing. Now that we have funy, I'm like, gosh, uh, we're so far away from Waco, but I'm like, god, I get it, I get it.

You get it. And also what's so great about Wakers You're right in between Dallas and Austin, So I mean I remember we would always go shopping in Dallas. Yeah, and you know it's just so easy to get to and if you want to go, you know, out to eat in Austin, you can go and come back. So um, yeah,

we've we've enjoyed it. And you know for me too, uh with Jason traveling for his work before the whole pandemic um happened and he stopped traveling, but you know he would when we lived in Austin, it could take him an hour and a half to go, you know, ten miles from the airport. But in Waco, I mean he literally just lands and um is home in ten minutes. So for us, it's just been easier and I think, you know, we get to spend more time with our family.

So yeah, for us at work, you know, every you just got to evaluate what you know your family needs. And you know it's hard, but I know, fitting it on. So how do you balance because you're obviously a lawyer, you're a mother, and sometimes you are a single mother because Jason is gone traveling. How do you keep all those plates in the air? How do you do working and raising kids and then parenting alone sometimes? Yeah? So, um, you know, I I think all of it is hard.

Whether you're a full time mom, whether you're full time worker, part time mom, single mom, all of it is hard, and so you just have to, you know, give yourself grace to be the best that you can be and just kind of take it day by day. So, you know, I just try to balance everything the best I can. And I realized that I'm not gonna be able to do something and work life. But what's your work balance? What's your work? Um? I guess work? Yeah, yeah, so um,

you know I try to. I try to spend as much time as I can with my kids because it's gonna go as fast as it it's gonna go, So I try to do my work when the kids are napping or when they've gone to sleep at night, or I wake up an hour early before they wake up to try to get it done. So I try to get my work done, um, you know, when i'm when i'm can and the kids are you know, sleeping, et cetera.

But I also know that sometimes I'm just not going to get it done and I might have to give him the iPad to to let them just sit there for an hour. And that's okay, you know, it's okay. So um, and then I call in for help because it's okay to call in for help. I call my babysitter, you know, I call my mom, um, because you have to realize that it's okay to have help, you know, and to call on help. Yes, And I love too though.

I love that our generation, especially like I feel like it was really hard to do, uh, to sometimes be a full time mom or as much of a full time mom as you can, and to have a career. And I love that like we as women in this day and age, we really can we can do both.

But I think it's I think it's great to show your kids I'm having your career I'm also percent here for you, but sometimes I have to, like I have to get help because I I am a I want to show that to Sonny, Like I don't want you to not do your dreams, like when you grow up, like if you have kids, Like, yes, obviously you be a mom if you want to, but like, still do your dreams. And I think that's good to show your kids that you're still working hard and providing for the

family and doing your dreams and being a mom. Like that's a great love that that's we live this generation. And I right, And I mean I think like for you having a daughter, I think it's awesome for her

to see her mom doing that. For me having sons, I want them to, you know, see the importance of um having a mom that's doing that or in the future, you know, a woman supporting them to support their dreams and goals and help them, um, you know, get where they want to get, um, you know, whenever they're older, finding their wife, I guess, um, so yeah, I mean I just try to And you know, for me, it's good for my kids to get a break from me. They need to be around, you know, other people. And

for me it's a good. I need a break, like I need to get on you know, a work email and have an adult conversation with somebody. You know, it's just, you know, it's good for everyone to get that, um, that little bit of break too totally, and I just try to do the best. You know, I've realized I'm not going to be perfect at everything. I'm not going to be a perfect mom every day. I'm not going to be perfect at my work every day. I just have to do the best I can and then you know,

tomorrow's a new day. Amen to that. What has motherhood? How has motherhood changed to? Well, for me, you know, it's completely changed my UM priorities. You know, I before I was more about myself probably we all all were, because you know, I focused on what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it, um, you know, and I could because I had no other responsibilities. So you know, now everything is about my kids first and so put I always of course put them first, and

everything I really try to do is for them. UM and so changing probably parties and just you know, of course, you know, feeling a love for somebody that you've never felt before. So it's just life changing and it's the greatest you know, gift that I think. What's a day or memory that you think of that just brings you so much joy, Like when you think about it, it it just swells your heart. Um. I think probably the day that I gave birth to Knox, because um, you know,

but not everybody else knows that we did. We did surprises, you know, with knocks and boards, so we didn't know if it was a boy. We didn't know if it

was a girl. And so with our with Knox, you know, just having that moment not only that I became a mom, but also only Jason and I in that moment knew that we had a son, and so it was it's pretty seriously, I know, it was just like you know, so besides the doctor's nurses of course, but just having that moment of becoming parents, but also like here's here's our son that nobody else knew whether it was a girl or boy, and so it was just really um, really special and um, you know, I just you don't

ever know what it's like until it happens, you know, So that day, I know what you mean, like that day when meeting Sunny, like I it is, oh, it is just the most transformative experience I think I'll ever have in my life. Like it's just insane, I know, and you just are holding this tiny human being that depends on you, i mean for survival, and so yes, it's you feel like, oh my gosh, I have this responsibility, but you know, the love and everything that goes along

with it is just there's nothing like it. Yeah, so that's probably obviously my happiest moment, you know, kiro Um Okay, So I well, I'm so happy that we finally haven't had a chance to get this interview documented because literally you have shaped me so much. You are so much of who I am, like honestly the Carolines for life.

Like it's just been such a blessing in my life to have you as a best friend, To have someone that you walk through every single phase of life with who has known you from the start, like to just be seen you have seen each other our whole lives.

I mean, what a blessing is that to have a friend like that, And now like you have families together, and our husbands get along, and when we all get together, it's like so fun and it's just like that's just so rare and I think the older I get, the more I realize the rarity of it, you know, because when you're young and you're doing all this stuff, like every exciting and you meet people and all this stuff, but then like when you get to this next chapter,

it's like, wow, these are the people in my life. Like you are a person in my life who is a rock of who I am. And it's just amazing, right, And I mean there's very few that have you know, that that are able to go through all of this part of life with each other. You know. You meet your good college friends, you you meet your good post college friends, you meet your mommy friends. Like, but I mean you and I have been going at it since birth, and you know we I mean I still have my

best friend necklace. Best friend necklaces when we were like in elementary school. I still have mine too. Yeah. So we had it's the little heart that fits together, and then on the backside of it we have k Rose and kiro S and we got the other one's name, Like I have the Caro s because you're my I wear that piece of my heart is you, and then you have the Carol seat. And we needed to do gymnastics together. All the time, and you were South Carolina

and I was North Carolina or what was it? Or yeah, yeah, that's right. Yeah, I mean everything, not one thing that we not do together. I know it's so fun. I mean, I mean you could we could go on literally for years of all our our memories and excursions and uh, all the things we did. But what's something? What's the story you are there any stories that you have of our childhood that just like pop into your mind that must be shared. Um well, I mean to show what

strong of a bond we had. You know, I got really upset when you started going to camp, like because I mean I pretty much only spent the night with you, you you know when we have sleepovers, so you know, you start going to camp for like a month, and what is she doing? She's leaving me for a month. And after that it affected me because I couldn't spend

the night. And remember when you came back, I would try to spend the night with you and you get a stomach acheta ache am but ur tim pm I mean yeah, and your dad would have to take me home. But oh every time the night would come around and you be like, let's don't reake her. I know, I know I ruined you. I ruined you. Yeah, so that really affected me. When you started to go to camp what would be yours? Then we even thought like I just don't know why this is pup in my mind.

Like we would get boxes and you and I made little symbols of like a language, and then we'd write out like all the language and the symbols and we try to like we hear to each other that no one else could read with us. Yes, we had our own private language for sure. Oh yeah, I don't know. It's just like it just such a blessing in my life. Like I am so thankful for our relationship. It's just amazing.

I know, it's so incredible. I remember. I also remember like when your mom would pick us up from carpool with that fried okra oh from under U. Yes, we go get fried okra and need a whole pint of it. Um so so good, oh gosh. And when we were spending night at your house, we would prank called boys would like callum and prank call all the boys, and sometimes boys would even come over to your house and we like prank called Grand Gooble and Russell Jones and

Oh my god, that's what I remember. When we were in like third grade, Russell. Wait, somebody wanted to ask you out, but you already had a boyfriend. So they asked me out for the Consultis prize. Who wasn't which one? I can't remember one of the boys. I think it was Russell. I think he wanted to ask you out, but you already dating Grant Goble and third grade and then so Russell just asked me out as the side of that, as a as a second place winner, and

I said, yes, three up. Oh gosh, but we would we would have like whenever we would break up, we would have a friend break up with them. We couldn't. Nobody ever did it themselves. No, no, every all the boys always wanted to ask you out, and then I would just get I would be the leftover, like whoever. It's so true. You were like the one all the boys wanted to date, and then I was like cool and stuff, like I would get if you were taken. Then they'd be like, Okay, I guess I'll ask out

Caroline Cuver. Oh hush, well you know what I mean. We went together, So yeah, you and I always together. Oh that's so funny. Oh my gosh, I feel like they're like I feel like I remember we would go to elkie Kistador with our parents like every First Friday or something, and I feel like one of us broke up with a boyfriend from the pay phone at El Conqustador. You did with Grant Globel. Yeah, yeah, that was right. Oh man, Caro, God, the memories, it's just so good.

I love that love. I love it all. So I always in all my podcasts with leave your Life, but I'm kind of traying it into since the podcast is called Get Real. Why do you want to get real with people? What kind of what do you want people to know about myself? Anything? Just like what comes in mind? Like what do you want? What kind of wisdom do you want to get real and drop on people? Um? I think that's a tough question. I know, what do you want your about yourself? And then what do you

want to know about life? I know, I'm sorry, there you go. It's not it's no easy. There's no crying in baseball, Caroline. Okay, got to ask you a question. You know, I think that as you know, I've gotten older, you know, I've just realized that life changes, you know, and you know, you think that things are going to go a certain way, um, and and they don't. And so I think you have to be able to And for me, change is hard, you know, I don't I don't like change. I get comfortable in my way and

I don't like change. So I think you have to realize, um, that change is inevitable and when it happens, UM, you have to accept it. You have to be strong, and you have to persevere. Um. But you have to remember to look out for yourself and take care of yourself. And so ud you learn that would you not look out for yourself for a while, like way you down? Well, I mean I think that um, you know, just their

family experiences. Um. And I think I was always one to kind of UM, I would think kind of put others first and um, and I you know, I think it's just important to take care of yourself and you know, um, you know, for for me, you know, one reason that I became a lawyer was that my parents always instilled in me that you know, how important education is and being able to support yourself because you never know what's

going to happen in life. And so um, you know, That's one reason I continue to, you know, try to work and balance everything because you never know what's going to happen, so you have to take care of yourself and um, you know, look out for yourself when things happen. But I think realizing that change is inevitable, you know. I mean you'll have experienced it with death and the family and unexpected death and just work changes, life changes, and you know, yeah, that's what That's what I think.

So as Carol, I don't know about that. I you know, it's also trying to live by your words. You know, you can say a lot of words, but you know it's it's hard harder to live by what you're saying. So kind of making it a purpose to practice and act what you believe in. You know. I love that. Yeah, walking the walk, not just talking the talk exactly exactly because you know a lot of people, a lot of people do talk the talk because they want people to

perceive them a certain way. And so um, you know, I think just trying to find who you are, what you believe in, um and act it, you know, act what you what values, what morals, et cetera. That are yours? Amen, Carol, I love you so much. If you're getting the boys out with your parents and and figuring out the time to get this podcast done. I mean, it's just I'm telling you, making it all fit. It's like a puzzle. And I am so glad we could have this conversation

history forever. And I'm glad I could use my cell phone because I couldn't figure out the zoom on the and you know, of course, like not able to you know, get myself ready every morning. Oh don't worry. I mean I look terrible every day. I mean I'm like, oh my god, I'm sorry, Michael, I need to try again one day. Well, you know what, you know what's funny is every New year, every new year, I'm like, right, I'm gonna really folk. Like I mean, I love you know,

I love to work out, to work out. You always want to work out, right, and I can put my workout clothes on and go work out. But you know, I look at so many moms that are always put together. You know, their hair's done, their makeups done, they have a cute outfit on. So every New Year, I'm gonna do this partason and they get back to their pre pregnancy anyway, and I'm like, how do you do this? And their hairs all curled and everything. And every New Year,

I'm like, I'm gonna do this for Jason. I'm gonna like start getting myself ready, you know, because I mean in high school, I love to get ready. I would get my hair straight, I would have it queued outside every day, Oh my god, and I would like think the night before about my outfit that I was gonna wear. I mean, come on, So every New Year, I'm like, this is the year I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna focus on really getting ready. And that's where priorities, you know,

or not there. We're not first anymore, I know. And I'm like, I want Michael to think I'm sexy. I want him to think like, oh dang, girl, you look good. But I'm like, when it actually rolls around in the morning happens and Sunny's crying and you gotta get the bottle going and you're on the floor chasing around, I'm like, I do not want to be in freaking jeans. I cannot have my hair down because she's gonna rip it out. That's on earrings anything other than instead she's pulling them out.

I mean, if I put on makeup, I'm gonna have milk on it. She's gonna wipe her face. Hey and down it like why food is in my hair. It's like, I'm not, I'm not. I can't do it. I'm sorry, I cannot do it. The actual um, the the the reward is not worth it to me, Like it is so much more of a pain. And they asked to have to do to be ready than just to put on work our clothes and roll with it. I'm sorry us take his time a date now dressed up? Yeah, and we're in a pandemic. So where are we going?

Yeah exactly. But you know they make so much cute workout clothes now, so and it shows your button your boobs and that's great. Yeah, yeah, there we are. Well, I love you the whole world, and have the great rest of your time in Colorado. Thank you, love you so much, and thanks for having me. Yeah this is the best, Okay, I love you.