Well, I'm about 4 months into the new era of being 40. After quite a long break from 40 days of boxing, many beers and pondered thoughts, I am moving in a new direction. Shortly after my 40th, I was driving home one day and a thought occurred to me like a ton of bricks! Why am I paying someone $533 a month to pick up my kids from school?? This is clearly something I would love to do and the payoff would be priceless.
After both twin births, work was always waiting 8 weeks after. I knew I had to return for financial reasons and benefit reasons. I would continue in the rat race because I knew I had to. I would not think about it too much to avoid thinking about missing out on their moments. I still remember loading those tiny little babies in car carriers and delivering them to someone else to enjoy all day. Then, I would return for pick-up after a long day and totally exhausted. That just became the norm and a way of life. After going through the daycare stages, it remained the norm but just in a different way. After many long days of work, I would wander home to find my family had already eaten dinner without me, homework was all done, and lunches were all packed for the next day. Why this might sound like a dream to most Moms, it was really sad for me. I was totally missing out!
How could I change this? Our kids will only be around us for 10 more years (maybe less as they continue on in the teen years.) I want to be there everyday to pick them up! To find out how their day went, what they learned, and who got in trouble, hoping it wasn't them. I love to hear things from their perspective. It makes me think differently and become even more creative. Speaking of creative, we will be doing just that. After submitting requests, knocking on doors, talking to lots of other working mamas, and spreading the word, I've finally achieved MY GOAL. This is not some personal mission of a fitness challenge, but real life stuff. I've decided to slice my hours (and salary) to make a pretty significant change. MY GOAL, which was set several months ago after that tireless drive home became to be in a role that I could pick my kids up from school everyday. So, the time was ticking because I had a deadline...August 13th! For anyone who knows me well, I went right to the numbers and my friend, the excel spreadsheet. What would this look like? Could we do it and still pay the light bill? After lots of number crunching, the answer was absolutely we could find a way to make it work. After all, I am the queen of thrift. I can make the best of anything. I am a survivor of financial creativeness. (Thanks Mom!) I've always had that in my blood, but having Dave Ramsey knock me over the head about 4 years ago was definitely a factor. At first when living the Dave lifestyle, the kids wondered why we were so concerned about money and how much things cost. Why weren't we going to dinner? Why couldn't I get that new pair of shoes that I really, really WANT? Best thing we ever did, as it has taught our kids the value of money and financial awareness. They really consider now and almost need to hold a debate of whether to spend a dollar of their money. Is it something they really need or just WANT?
MY GOAL has become so much more than a goal. It will be life changing for us all. August 13th will be here soon, and that is the day I will start my new schedule and will be stepping out of the greeting card arena at 2:30 sharp everyday. Yes, I made the deadline..and yes, I will be there to pick my kids up from school everyday. But even more is I will be there, be present, and ready to listen. Really listen! I can't wait to start my new role. Not the one at the greeting card biz, but the one titled "MOM."
