What Do I Want To Be When I Grow Up?

What do I want to be when I grow up? I know we have all asked ourselves this question when we were younger and maybe even more recently. This is a question I have been pondering a lot lately.

In high school whenever I met with my guidance counselor, took personality and career tests, I always thought I wanted to be a social worker. You know the kind that go in and swoop in, rescue abused and neglected kids, and save the day. I know it really is not that glamorous in real life. I few things steered me away from this original dream. First a family member who worked in child protection services strongly advised against it. She said the work was hard and stressful and more often than not you can't really help the kids you need to because of the red tape. She also pointed out that her life has been threatened by people upset that she took their kids. After high school I was distracted by having a baby, working at the bank, etc. I look into being a social worker when entering college and soon came to realize a MSW was the gold standard in social work and almost necessary to work as one and once you have a Master's degree 6 years and $50,000 in student loans later you would make $35,000 out of college. You have to be kidding me!

Then I entered college to get my paralegal certificate. I suspected I wanted to be an attorney and thought working as a paralegal would give me some good insight if law school really was for me. After graduating with my paralegal certificate in a year and half as a single mom and working full-time I looked for and applied for several paralegal jobs. I came to realize they wouldn't pay better than I was making at the bank and in the midst of the post 9/11 recession the hiring had slowed.

I was even more determined to finish school and go onto law school in quick succession. I plugged away and graduated with my Associate's degree and transferred to the University of Colorado to complete my Bachelor's degree in Political Science. I was very interested in politics and most people entering law school have a "poli sci" degree. I quit my job and worked to finish my Bachelor's degree in 1 1/2 years. I took out loans but figured it was just a matter of time before I would be making good money as an attorney.

A few other things happened as I started at CU. I met my husband and fell in love with him and his two girls. The best of plans always have detours. We didn't live together until I was almost done with school but going from life with 1 kid to life with 3 kids was certainly a big change and my priorities slowly were shifting. I interned a lobbying firm heavily involved in local Denver politics, a job I loved but realized would pay low and have high demands for this mom of three. I instead took a job at a prominent IP law firm in downtown Denver and thought I was on my way to what I had worked so hard for.

The law firm was a great job and I learned so much but it was not for me. While there I realized maybe being an attorney was not for me. The attorneys at my firm got paid well but worked 60, 70, even 80 plus hours per week. That was not for me, especially since law school would mean at least $100,000 in student loans. After a year at my position I resigned to be home with my kids full-time. I felt like I was turning my wheels, commuting 3 hours per day, making barely more than to pay my daycare.

I watched a 3 year old at my home at first. She moved out of state and then I began watching Baby Boy a sweet 14 month old my kids and fell in love with. If we hadn't moved to Maryland I would still be happily watching him but things change and here I am.

My husband and I have realized we need to focus on getting ourselves out of debt. We have always been slaves to our debt and it is going to take a few years of sacrifice to free ourselves from the strong hold debt has on our lives. We are ready to "live like no one else, to live like no one else."

Watching a child in my home, while paying OK is not the same as my potential in a "professional career." Since in Maryland I have been looking at all types of job sectors which I have experience, law, politics, banking, non-profit. The results have been frustrating. The legal field is just not hiring, on the contrary they seem to be just beginning with the layoffs. I interviewed for a bank job that sounded really great only to find out the base salary was in the mid 20's plus incentives. Sorry daycare is $12,000 per year for 3 kids. Mid 20's won't cut it even with incentive potential. I interviewed for a non-profit job, also did not pay well and was working nights. Politics doesn't pay until you put in your time and work your way up. Once again, I have three kids I can't put 5-10 years in to work my way up. So I have gone back to what I know, kids. I have been nannying on a temporary basis for a really fun 15 month old little boy.

Last week I went on a nanny interview. The position starts in the fall for infant twin girls. The parents are both teachers so I could follow my kids school schedule including the whole summer off. I would love it! It has been 9 years since my baby was a baby and I miss the baby stage. Plus once we crunched the numbers it would be like making $42,000 once you subtract all the other expenses of a professional job like daycare. My husband was slow to come on board but time with the kids and the net pay I think has won him over. I can't wait. They are working on the background check and then said they are ready to offer me the position. Since I know my background is fine I have breathed a sigh of relief.

While I have thought about being a social worker, an attorney, and even a teacher, I think I really want to be a mommy. This nanny job will allow me to bring income into our home, doing a job I will love, be with my kids a lot, and bring us out of debt. I don't think I could have thought of a better solution for me. Sometimes God works in mysterious ways.

Our House is Starting to Become a Home

So we have been in Maryland for two months now and our house is starting to feel like a home. Here are some pictures of our new home now that we are settled.

Dinning Room (my grandpa painted all the paintings on the wall).

Couches, finally!

Living Room

Wyn's Room (so grown up)

B's Room

Look at that stocked toy box

FiFi's room

Another stocked toy box.

When you first move into a new house it seems like you will never be settled. But with a little time and perseverance it always happens. We are still working on our room. We want to paint so it fits in with our color scheme. If you want to see some pictures of the kitchen and outside of the house look here. It hasn't changed much since my last update.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Happy 9th Birthday B!

For more Wordless Wednesday posts check out 5 Minutes for Mom

Sunday Night and Time for Some Fun!

I stumbled across the Urban Dictionary tonight. Hilarious to say the least. Here are some of my favorite (G rated) definitions:


1. ax
How ignorant uneducated people say ask. This is an excellent example of ebonics.
I need to ax you a question.

(This is my husband's pet peeve and people say it all the time).


2. Edumacate
Edumacate; An uneducated way people, including Redneck's, Hill-Billy's and Feral people use in place of the word Education to sound smarter than they may be.


3. sammich
A sandwich, with connotations of extra goodness. For example, if you pour gravy on a roast beef sandwich, you now have a roast beef sammich.
Subway sells sandwiches, but I'd rather go home and make a sammich.


4. Scrimp
Ebonics for seafood shrimp.
Nigga... pass me dem scrimps!


5. holla
It depends upon the context in which you are using the word. 1.)a term used to try and talk or try an "hook-up" with a female. 2.)meaning to talk to someone or telling somebody to hit u up later
Ex. for #1.) Ey mama can i HOLLA atchu fa a minute. Ex. for #2.)a> HOLLA atcho boy b.>holla bak

I hope that gave you a laugh and for more check out The Urban Dictionary.

More Rachel Ray Deliciousness Strawberry Basil Pork Chops

I know, I know strawberries on pork chops. I was not sure but the pork combined with the strawberries, basil, and balsamic vinaigrette was delicious and one of the easier Rachel Ray meals I have made. Have I told you before how much I LOVE her recipes???

This is from my Rachel Ray 365: No Repeats

Columbus's Pork Chops

1 lb pork chops

salt

pepper

1 pint strawberries (or however much your kids haven't eaten yet if your house is like mine)

1 cup basil leaves, shredded or torn

1/4 aged balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (twice around the pan)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Season the chops with salt and pepper and let them come to room temperature (about 20 minutes).

In a medium bowl, toss the strawberries with the basil and vinegar and let stand for 15-20 minutes.

Heat an ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the extra-virgin olive oil to the skillet and sear and caramelize the meat for 2-3 minutes on each side. Transfer the skillet to the oven and roast for 10-12 minutes (check with meat thermometer 170 is always a safe internal temperature). Let the meat rest for 5 minutes.

Serve pork chops with the berry mixture on top!

Yummy!

Michelle Brown Announced as 2009 Mother of the Year

Watch this CNNBC video:



http://news.cnnbcvideo.com/?nid=NyhM_wDUPVMzPhR1_VyCkzU0ODA0&referred_by=16769203-itkzC3x

Not Me! Monday

Check out MckMama for other Not Me! Monday posts.

1. I am NOT sitting here in the same pajamas I was wearing all day yesterday. That would be ridiculous. It does not matter that yesterday was Mother's Day and I have sick kids.

2. I was NOT disappointed that Wyn was sick yesterday so we had to skip the beach. Of course not since the beach will be here all summer.

3. I am NOT missing my family and friends in Colorado and California right now and really wishing I could hop on a plane and give some of those special people a big hug. Stupid budgets, and finances and responsibilities!

4. I am NOT happy that my house is spotless and we are beginning to win the war on the ants. I LOVE when clutter takes over my house!

5. I am NOT getting frustrated with my job hunt. Of course NOT! We are in the middle of a huge recession. I did NOT expect this to be difficult.

6. I am NOT in a mission to apply for 10 jobs today. That would be a BIG goal.

Not That There is Ever a Good Time to be Sick...

FiFi is my kid who always seems to get sick. It starts like this, perfectly fine, and then bam high fever and not really any other symptoms. She obviously has a weak immune system but they have done tests and can't find anything wrong. As soon as it seems really bad, it takes a break for awhile. My husband thinks we may be on Mystery Diagnosis in 10 years from now. I usually wait out the fever for 3 or 4 days when I finally break down and take her to the doctor almost certain they are going to tell me it is a virus and there is nothing they can do. She has had strep several times in the past 2 years and 1 ear infection so my trips to the doctor are not always in vain though they mostly are.

Friday FiFi comes home from school acting fine. All of sudden, bam 103 fever. I give her Motrin. She sleeps through dinner. Wakes up acting fine. I call Motrin the child wonder drug because it can make a very sick child appear completely fine for hours at a time. I know it is only masking the symptoms and then I have to wrangle a sick child, acting well, into actually resting. I know how crappy I feel with a fever so I tend to give Motrin if the fever is over 101.

So there is never a good time to be sick. My kids were last sick on spring break. Convenient that they did not miss school. Disappointing that my spring break plans did not come to fruition. FiFi is now sick. It put a wrench in our plans for today but we still had a great day. She also missed her first birthday party in Maryland but she never talked about the kid so she will get over it. Now for the drama. The weather is supposed to be beautiful tomorrow. Low 70's, no chance of rain. We really wanted to go to the beach. It is 3 hours away but I have not been to the beach in 9 months and I am itching to go. Not to mention my kids haven't been in 2 1/2 years.

I tried to convince myself that she was not acting too sick and she would be feeling better later today. Surely by tomorrow she would be well. Now it is 9pm and she once again has a 102.4 fever. Rats! I guess I will not be soaking up the sun and frigid I mean beautiful water. My husband has promised breakfast in bed and that they will dig out my garden while I sit in a chair and watch. Considering the full blown ant warfare (for another post) going on in my house right now I may take my breakfast on the deck instead of in bed. I would hate to get a trail of ants right into my bed. Hubby already had a beautiful arrangement of 2 dozen multi-colored roses and a box of chocolates delivered Friday for Mother's Day so I think he is off the hook but someone doing my yard work while I watch may come in a close second to a day at the beach.

Happy Mother's Day! I hope you have a great day!

Thoughts and Prayers Needed for my Aunt and Cousins

My uncle died Monday night and I need everyone to pray for my aunt Cheryl and her two boys, Robert (12) and Jacob (10).

They have a long road ahead but pray for peace and strength for them in this difficult time!

Thanks gals! You are great!

Not Me! Monday

Glad MckMama is back at home and participating in Not Me! Monday so in honor of this here is what I did not do this week...



I did NOT spend hours on the computer when I had loads of stuff to do (you know dishes, laundry, the regular stuff).



I did NOT score an awesome couch and loveseat from Craigslist for $100.



I did NOT move the furniture around in my living room 5 times trying to figure out the best layout. That would've been a huge pain!



I did NOT curse the rain today when loading my trunk full of groceries in the pouring rain while trying to hold an umbrella (us Colorado girls are not used to rain. Rain is something you run through real quick, not something you need an umbrella for day after day).



I did NOT walk 4 miles in said rain yesterday. That would be crazy unless of course it was for the March for Babies then that would completely not be crazy.



I did NOT almost cry when I thought how proud I was of B for out fundraising me and sticking with it to the end of our very wet 4 mile walk.



I did NOT feast on Cheesecake Factory cheesecake at B's birthday dinner and not even think about how many delicious calories I was consuming.



I did NOT think the public reaction to the swine flu was ridiculous. I am completely sensitive to pain-stricken people and the fear-mongering of the media.

10 hours until March for Babies and I am $65 short of my goal!

Please help me and babies everywhere by making a donation www.marchforbabies.org/brennbug

It is not too late to donate!

I am excited for the walk tomorrow! It should be a blast!

Happy 9th Birthday B!

I knew I loved you before I met you!

The day you were born was one of the happiest of my life!

Your beautiful smile, your charming personality, such a smart little boy!


You have made me proud and happy so many days of my life!



You are amazing and I am proud to be your mom!

Happy birthday B! I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be!