Moving across the country...

In 2010 a lot happened to my little family.  I decided I needed to go back to school and figure out what I would do if I had to support myself. I really do not understand why I felt so strongly about this, but I did. During that year, I took the GMAT applied for my Master's Degree, and got ACCEPTED!! Woohoo! Wait, then I had to start school again, with a small child. What was I thinking!  How was I going to pay for this? I didn't consider any of these, I just jumped right in.

As for the money, I only took out a student loan for ONE semester. The other semester's I had a graduate position which not only paid my tuition, but paid me too. I got a stipend to live off.  If I didn't have that extra money I wouldn't have been able to afford day care for my small child. Some how the money was all taken care of.

The University also had a Day Care to bring your children. You got a discounted rate based on your income and how many hours you attended. This was surely sent from the heaven's.  My first semester of night classes the Day Care started offering night hours. And it not only met state standards but had much higher standards.  My son was not only taken care of, but well taken care of.  He had so much fun and learned so much.

What an adventure!  After I graduated I was so worried I wouldn't be able to find a job but I found several.  I remember when I was considering what to accept, one felt right over the others.  This position was in tech support, not really my thing, I accepted the position with a lot of hesitation.  I worked at that job for only 3 months. During that time I had met a customer who like me and asked me to apply for an open position in their company, and 6 weeks later I was moving across the country.  Wow, that was fast!

It was a hard move because I left behind 4 sisters and a brother, and lots of cousins for my son.  How was I going to live so far away from everyone.  I was no longer able to run over to my parents on Sunday when I didn't want to cook, or during the week to eat. I used to spend a lot of happy time there. I was so homesick when I arrived.  I remember being dropped off at the airport and crying because I didn't know when I was going to see my family again. When we arrived I just kept thinking what have I done. Was I crazy for moving our family across the country for this job?  Why did this feel so right for us?

One year later, I love living on the East Coast.  I am so much happier.  I still miss my family greatly, but I needed this move.  I don't really know how it all worked out but I am convinced it worked out the way it was supposed to.  I have never had a job I loved so much.  G2 has enjoyed getting  so close to me.  He tells me he is my best friend. In a few more months we will have a house to grow into.  As for now, we are glad we made this move and didn't just stay where we were comfortable.  Risks are what make life interesting and sometimes it won't work out but for now we will enjoy our adventure traveling the East Coast.

Long Lost Blog and the working Mom

I haven't posted in a long time. I was busy with Graduate school and moving across the country. Moving has been really good for us.  G2 and I moved 7 months before Dad could join us. It was a hard 7 months but I learned a lot from this experience. Thankfully we are all in one state now.

I learned the hardest job on earth is being a working, single mother. Everything falls onto your shoulders.  My husband would try and help but just talking on the phone was a task I couldn't do.  I would start feeling guilty about not having the perfectly clean house and eating a healthy dinner every night.  Working out takes the back burner too. I never knew how great TV was until I was alone trying to keep up with laundry and dishes.  And don't get me started on grocery shopping... it was a never ending task. What an adventure we have had!

Here are some thing I learned during this time:

• Don't feel guilty! Seriously, Don't!
• Hire a cleaning company to keep yourself sane.
• Get produce delivered weekly to your home.
• Work out over a lunch break or after the kids fall asleep. Hulu and YouTube have workout videos.
• Dishes and Laundry can wait, when you are having fun.
• Enjoy the time you have with your kids.
• Take advantage of free activities, such as Lowe's build and grow.

I am so glad to have had those experiences.  I am equally as glad to be done with them.  Having two parents is no joke. There is a reason you need two to have a baby.  I can't imagine how these single mother's do this year after year. Props to you ladies!!