This photo of Bean was taken at the library's sing-along last week.
It's still snowing out and has been since the middle of the day Friday, when I left work early as did most of Boston. There's about two feet on the ground now and it's still falling. Bean's first blizzard. My mom calls and says, "What global warming?" and I groan and tell her for the millionth time that it's about macro weather patterns, not micro.
Good weekend to cozy it up and finish making homemade treats and designs for holiday gifts that are going to be a week late. I underestimated how much time it would take to make them all myself and I overestimated my energy to do so. Can't tell you what they are just yet. I'm very much looking forward to having shorter work weeks the next two weeks.
Hubby is applying to grad schools this winter break and making acorn squash with mashed potatoes as I type. Ruby, our cat, has lost a little weight since her diet began. One of the two dogs--we can't figure out which--keeps peeing in the house. Bean is scooting around and we plan to child-proof the house over the holidays. My life is work Bean chores work chores work Bean chores work Bean and little else. My goal is to get my photo portfolio and website up and running this year, because the more I look at how I want to spend my life and what I want to do, the more I come back to my old haunt--photographer. Unfortunately, I have little time to spare beyond poopy gDiapers, divine baby kisses, washing dishes, work work work and dog piss. I will get there.
My crazy boss offered me another promotion this month that would have pushed me into the middle of an editorial career track and brought us out of food stamp-qualifying income brackets. I turned it down. After much thought, I opted to stay away from the rat race. I do need more money if I'm going to continue to support my family, but I don't want to spend my life working for something I care little about five days a week. I don't want to come home too exhausted to play with my kid(s). I want a slower life, not a faster one. I want to be proud of my life when it's said and done. Still, it's hard to look at our checkbook balance knowing what I just passed up, knowing that Hubby's school loans are more than a normal house is worth. I hope I made the right decision.
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10 comments:
Bean is getting so big! Is your hubby applying to local schools, or are you contemplating a big move? With regard to the job thing, I'm sure your heart has led you in the right direction.
I think if the job decision feels right, it is the right decision for you. None of our parents understood it when my husband stayed at home with the children when they were small. The reality was that I made more money than he did and his salary would have almost covered child care expenses. Still, they didn't get it. Do what feels right for you.
Good luck.
Oh, and CUTE picture!!
WOW! That must have been a very hard decision to make. I think I would have been so torn. I was going to e-mail you back about that with some helpful advice but had none. I saw advantages and disadvantages with both. Life is better slower though. I am there right now and can appreciate and enjoy so much more but do miss the $$. Life is what you make it though. Some people want everything resist sacrificing anything and they are miserable. Bean is looking so much like you. No daddy. No you. Agh, only time will tell. She is a beauty. Try the feed thing I told you about yet? It's a dandy!!! Season's greetings!!! Oh, you should NOT have gotten us anything. Now I am going to have to send you a misspelled onesie or something. Ha!
Aw, she's getting so big! Such a beautiful little girl! Yeah, that must have been a tough decision on the promotion offer. Sounds like you have your priorities in order though!
Was she singing along? ;-) What a sweetie.
I really like the idea of a slower life. I hope you can make it work for your family.
Great photo.
I sincerely wish they had gone with "global climate change" rather than "global warming."
We would have had student loans bigger than our mortgage, but the price of houses doubled in our city in the first two years we were married. Now we have a gian mortgage AND huge student loans. What fun.
Bean is so cute!
I understand your trepidation over passing up a promotion, especially under your circumstances.
But I admire you choosing a simpler life. I imagine that many people accept promotions simply b/c they feel that's what one is supposed to do.
Weve chosen less money for a simpler life. It can be scarier, but, so far, it's worth it!
Kudos for choosing with your gut! :) More money does not always equal better!
and I can tell from the photo that your little one has a huge personality! :)
She's adorable, and so lucky to have such a wonderful mother.
She will have a happy childhood.
As for the job: if your financial situation gets bad enough, you can always take it to bolster you for a few years before moving onto something else.
Nothing has to be permanent. Your decision shows the great value you place on your family.
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