Decisions, decisions
I've been thinking a lot about where I'm headed in the next few years. The time is now to make some decisions and it is tough. The first decision I've been wavering back and forth about is the school vs. baby thing. I've thought about it a lot- would I want to do both, how many years do I want to wait before I pursue the baby thing, do I want to school first then do the other, or do school later? I think my current state of mind is that I will concentrate on paying off the debt I've accrued in the last year. My intention is to then begin saving for a baby that may or may not be in my future. I think I've decided that for now, I don't want to add an additional 15 grand to my student loans and use up precious hours and hours of the time that I have with Jayce and stress myself out. I have enough stress from work. This could change, but for now, I'm happy with my choice.
The other decision is related. There's been some talk at work about me pursuing a higher job in education. My principals feel that I should take the classes to get an administration license. The job salary is almost $20,000 more a year--ohhhh how nice that would be!! The trade off? I would likely HATE my job every day and I would have to leave my current school. Neither of those, at this point, are worth 20 grand to me. I just can't do it. I've tried hard to convince myself that I would learn to love being an administrator or working in central office, but I know in my heart that I am supposed to be a school counselor. It fits me so! Yes, I work 10 hours days and on the weekends sometimes but it is because I love love love love it. Lots of people work that many hours because they have to- I don't. If I was an administrator, it wouldn't be a choice. I would work that many hours or more because the job demands it. At this point, it isn't for me. Can't I just have the twenty thou anyway??
I'm thankful right now that J is doing well in math. She got an A on her last test and is loving what they've moved on to now (geometry). When I look at what they've already covered this year (long division, adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators, multiplying multiple digit numbers with decimals, etc.) I am so proud of her. Next year, my understanding is that they go deeper into these skills but there aren't as many "new" things. Whew! I hope that is the case.
Back to the saving thing, boy, it is a change for me. I took out all of my credit cards and put them in a drawer so that I can't access them. It isn't that I use them that much, many of them I have only used when I opened the account, but it changes my mindset which is great. That's what I needed. In addition, I'm trying to make small changes. I have two weddings to attend next month and I soooooo want to buy new dresses! I have plenty though. I don't have shoes but next weekend I'm going to hit some used places and hope to find cheap ones. I will not be taking any trips this summer (well, I'm taking one with Lois but I won't have to pay for the airfare or hotel so I'm not counting it) which will be a change. I always look forward to going somewhere with Linda and Chris. I'm also not signing J up for any camps. She'll miss it but she'll also understand. I feel like these changes will help me buckle down and pay off quickly so that I can start building the savings. I hope so anyway. I'm trying to think of as many things as I can to change but it is a hard road at times. Little things like if J wants to go buy new books--does she need them? Well, no, she has a library full. But, who can say no to a kid wanting new books? Apparently me. It is hard for me to do that when the item in question isn't in mind an "extra"--I can obviously strike off going to the Limited or going to the movies as extras, but books? Art supplies? A new dog crate? These are things that I'm having a hard time with!! Ug.
My other goal for this year was to get back in the habit of working out and thankfully that has drastically improved! I'm still not working out at the level or frequency that I was last year, but that will get better if ever I can get my treadmill in my house. Soon, I hope!
I sure do love our life right now. I wake up every day feeling so blessed, so full. I am scared at any moment that things will change, which is inevitable. I am so proud of my kid and how funny and hard-working and thoughtful and compassionate she is. I love her obsession with dogs and animals. I love her need to cook me breakfast on weekends. I love how giddy she gets around my mom and brother--who would have thought? I love seeing how she puts together outfits now with her little hair accessories. I love that she goes to my school so at times I'm talking with students in the hallway and I see her down the hall and we wave for just a sec, or she gives me a hug and keeps going. I love that her teachers can tell me funny things about her day (yesterday her teacher emailed me because her class had been allowed to use calculators to check their classwork...but J was so scared of changing her answer. She thought if she checked in on the calculator and then changed her answer she'd get in trouble. Her teacher said she has way too much of a conscience. Hehehe). I love how much she wants to hang out with me- whether we're running errands or watching movies or playing Just Dance or reading in bed together. Maybe we aren't meant to just be the two of us. Maybe I shouldn't rock the boat with a plus one...? Decisions!
The other decision is related. There's been some talk at work about me pursuing a higher job in education. My principals feel that I should take the classes to get an administration license. The job salary is almost $20,000 more a year--ohhhh how nice that would be!! The trade off? I would likely HATE my job every day and I would have to leave my current school. Neither of those, at this point, are worth 20 grand to me. I just can't do it. I've tried hard to convince myself that I would learn to love being an administrator or working in central office, but I know in my heart that I am supposed to be a school counselor. It fits me so! Yes, I work 10 hours days and on the weekends sometimes but it is because I love love love love it. Lots of people work that many hours because they have to- I don't. If I was an administrator, it wouldn't be a choice. I would work that many hours or more because the job demands it. At this point, it isn't for me. Can't I just have the twenty thou anyway??
I'm thankful right now that J is doing well in math. She got an A on her last test and is loving what they've moved on to now (geometry). When I look at what they've already covered this year (long division, adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators, multiplying multiple digit numbers with decimals, etc.) I am so proud of her. Next year, my understanding is that they go deeper into these skills but there aren't as many "new" things. Whew! I hope that is the case.
Back to the saving thing, boy, it is a change for me. I took out all of my credit cards and put them in a drawer so that I can't access them. It isn't that I use them that much, many of them I have only used when I opened the account, but it changes my mindset which is great. That's what I needed. In addition, I'm trying to make small changes. I have two weddings to attend next month and I soooooo want to buy new dresses! I have plenty though. I don't have shoes but next weekend I'm going to hit some used places and hope to find cheap ones. I will not be taking any trips this summer (well, I'm taking one with Lois but I won't have to pay for the airfare or hotel so I'm not counting it) which will be a change. I always look forward to going somewhere with Linda and Chris. I'm also not signing J up for any camps. She'll miss it but she'll also understand. I feel like these changes will help me buckle down and pay off quickly so that I can start building the savings. I hope so anyway. I'm trying to think of as many things as I can to change but it is a hard road at times. Little things like if J wants to go buy new books--does she need them? Well, no, she has a library full. But, who can say no to a kid wanting new books? Apparently me. It is hard for me to do that when the item in question isn't in mind an "extra"--I can obviously strike off going to the Limited or going to the movies as extras, but books? Art supplies? A new dog crate? These are things that I'm having a hard time with!! Ug.
My other goal for this year was to get back in the habit of working out and thankfully that has drastically improved! I'm still not working out at the level or frequency that I was last year, but that will get better if ever I can get my treadmill in my house. Soon, I hope!
I sure do love our life right now. I wake up every day feeling so blessed, so full. I am scared at any moment that things will change, which is inevitable. I am so proud of my kid and how funny and hard-working and thoughtful and compassionate she is. I love her obsession with dogs and animals. I love her need to cook me breakfast on weekends. I love how giddy she gets around my mom and brother--who would have thought? I love seeing how she puts together outfits now with her little hair accessories. I love that she goes to my school so at times I'm talking with students in the hallway and I see her down the hall and we wave for just a sec, or she gives me a hug and keeps going. I love that her teachers can tell me funny things about her day (yesterday her teacher emailed me because her class had been allowed to use calculators to check their classwork...but J was so scared of changing her answer. She thought if she checked in on the calculator and then changed her answer she'd get in trouble. Her teacher said she has way too much of a conscience. Hehehe). I love how much she wants to hang out with me- whether we're running errands or watching movies or playing Just Dance or reading in bed together. Maybe we aren't meant to just be the two of us. Maybe I shouldn't rock the boat with a plus one...? Decisions!