A couple of you all asked a bit ago how I do it all. I'm not sure the real answer to that but I know this is a big way I get it done:
Kevin and I have made a lot of sacrifices this year.
And I'm not going to lie - it's been hard.
Him buying his new agency has been A LOT of work. They say two agencies are the hardest to own...not one or three, but two. And we agree! He keeps saying, "well I've put myself on the train tracks, now I have no choice but to go." And he's right. He has no choice but to make this thing work. And I have no choice but to be his cheerleader (and I want to be!).
I also have a full time plus traveling every week job and I'm crazy busy with that. It's something I love doing and want to do. It's something that is really important to me. Something I've worked for with five years of engineering school at NC State plus two years of consulting plus almost eight years at my current company. The people at my company are my second family. Heck, I spend more time with some of them in a week than I do Kevin! And I love what I do. So it's not something I'm willing to scale back on very much.
How do we make our family and careers work? We don't go to a bunch of social events every week anymore. We have had to reprioritize our calendar. This was a lot easier for Kevin than it was me. I felt like I was giving up times with friends. The truth is, real friends will still stand by you and pick up where you left off next time you see them. And let's be honest, we still have a good time. But, sometimes we have to pick errands, grocery store and chill time versus a party. Happened this weekend...wasn't fun...but had to happen in order to function this week.
Basically we are busting our tails now so we are fully prepared for children and the life we want for them and us. If we want to run off to a beach house, we want to be able to. If we want to take them to see Hawaii, we want to be able to. If we want to jump on a plane and go to Maryland to see my parentals, we want to be able to. You get the picture.
So yep, we are making sacrifices and trying not to apologize for it! I'm way too used to saying yes to everything so learning to say no has been hard. But I'm a constant work in progress. Aren't we all? Gotta do what's best for you and your fam at the end of the day right?
We had to do that too. Zach traveled and was living in Boston this whole summer, so on the weekends when he was home we didn't do any friend or social activites. It was just us and the babe and that's how it should be during this season for us.
ReplyDeleteWe are going through something similar with building our house. Staying in is a financial necessity at this point for us, but once we get started it's going to demand our time too. Like you, we do it with the intention that our children will benefit from what we can do today. Putting it in that context makes it a little easier to stay in, but I know what you mean about saying no, not easy sometimes.
ReplyDeleteaww it will all be so worth it!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have matured and realize social activities aren't important once you are married and have full time job. Your marriage and career should be your main focus at this point in your life. You and Kevin are laying the foundation for your future.
ReplyDeleteIt might feel like a lot right now but it'll all be worth it when you guys are ready to have kids and you have great careers under your belt and you're able to focus all your attention on your children!
ReplyDeleteAnd after all of that, you're still making time to carve out a little time for me on Thursday! Much appreciated, friend! :)
ReplyDeleteReally great post - I would like to feel very "set" in my life before having children! In other words, a long time from now hahah!
ReplyDeleteYou totally have your priorities right. My daughter is in college now- 65k a year, and the college prep courses / college counselor a in high school- thousands! I cannot understand a lot of blogger s who seem to spend all their money on clothes.
ReplyDeleteYou are a breath of fresh air!
- Linda