My Kids Are My Reason To Smile.

by Marilu Varnell
(Lubbock, Tx, USA)

I have 3 beautiful kids that always do things to make me laugh and smile. Well kinda smile. I'm a single 25 year old mother and my kids are 6 years, 2 years and 4 months old. My two oldest know my teeth aren't what they could be. They always want me to smile and I smile a little without showing my teeth.

My teeth started to go down hill when I was just 19, I went to the dentist when I had medicaid, and they just drilled and put plaster into them which didn't help, after I hit the 21st mark of my birthday thats when my teeth completely decided to take a turn for the worse.

I am beyond happy with my kids I just wish I could smile like I want without wanting to cry every time I do. I rarely take them out because I know they will want me to help them do something or they will make me smile and laugh and I'm truly embarrassed by my own teeth. I hate when friends come over to visit because they all have the teeth that I wished I had. I envy them to no end.

I'm ok with everything else with myself, I don't mind that I'm slightly overweight because I can change that and I am changing that slowly. But my teeth I can't change, money wise it's not possible. I can't afford to go to the dentist and get everything I need done without it taking everything that my kids needs away. My kids need more things then I do and they are going to get that. I stay at home with them I don't work.

I used to work and I couldn't deal with my teeth being like they are so I quit so I could stay home and hide from everything. My kids and I live with my mom and she works and everything and I just stay home and take care of my kids. I want to change staying at home and be able to take my kids out without bring myself down when I do.

I'm tired of hiding from everything, I want my life back and I want my smile back. I want to know that when the day comes that my kids graduate I can smile brightly and not want to break down and cry when I do smile. I want to cry for the right reasons that they are grown up and taking on the world by themselves and I also want to be able to smile as they meet that one special person and get married to them and have a wonderful life.