This Is Not the Life I Imagined

Imagination can be a wonderful part of childhood. Most kids grow up imagining their future careers, who their spouse might be, and what their home might look like. Of course a lot changes over the span of a lifetime, and what you imagined can be quite different from reality.

This Is Not the Life I Imagined.

I stayed home for college. Never in my wildest years did I think I would be living away from my family, missing day to day activities with my nephews, and only seeing my Dad once or twice a month. After all, my mom always told me “New Orleans girls never leave home.” I moved 2 hours away from home when I graduated from college and never looked back. At some point in life, my best friend and I were nearly inseparable. Now, we somehow manage to function without being by each others side. 

This Is Not the Life I Imagined.

I imagined I’d have a corporate career, married with 3-5 kids of my own. I mean at least 3, hopefully 5. Maybe a dog, but definitely not two. Even when I got married, my husband was a strong maybe on 2-3 kids and a definite no on a dog. Now I’m an entrepreneur (of a dog business, no less), married with one adopted son and TWO adopted dogs.

This Is Not the Life I Imagined.

We recently took professional family photos for the first time. Professional photos are not really our “thing” but we made it happen. When I got the sneak peeks back, I was elated. Everyone looked great; the outfits I stressed (like stress hives and ocular migraine stress) over blended as they should and my sweet puppies were smiling ear to ear. But I couldn’t help but think, this is not the life I imagined.

I’m not sure what it is about childhood that makes us imagine how our life will turn out. Is it movies? Is it parental influence? Is it seeing a family you go to school or church with and hoping one day yours looks the same?

I’m sure there’s a psychology study that could answer some of these questions. All I know is, I’m so happy life turned out to be nothing like I imagined. Living away from my family is hard, but every time we’re reunited is the best. My son, well if he’s not a direct gift from God, I don’t know what is. My husband and my dogs – not at all what I imagined – and some days I still not sure how I ended up so lucky.

This Is Not the Life I Imagined. Thank God.

Traci Pecot
NOLA born and raised, Traci moved to Lafayette in 2005 to pursue a career in corporate marketing. She married her husband Ryan in 2010 and adopted her son, now 8, in 2016. Today, along with being a full time mom, she owns and operates a dog daycare, boarding and grooming facility in Lafayette. She and her husband maintain a part-time residence in NOLA, spending weekends "home" visiting family and friends. Avid sports fan, dog obsessed, wanna be distance runner (finishing just one half-marathon), and adoption enthusiast, she looks forward to adding "blog contributor" to her lists of accomplishments.