Decision: Difficult but Hard

If you follow me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/wanyman), you'll know that I recently mentioned that I had a difficult decision to make, but cryptically, I didn't mention what that decision was.  Now, I think, I'm ready to tell you.

I have decided to put off college again for a while.

There are good reasons for this, of course.  Believe me, it was difficult to make.  As you know, I started back in college last winter, after taking a fifteen year break.  I went for a total of two quarters (winter and spring), and graduated from Freshman to Sophomore.  I was also signed up and ready to go back this Fall, but for various reasons, I pulled out at the last minute.

One of the reasons it was so hard to make this decision was because I had so much support from everyone for my decision to go back to school.  I got a lot of praise from family and friends, and I even made the Deans List my first quarter back.  School was great fun, and it felt so good to be learning again in a professional, class-room setting, even if most of my classmates were young enough to be my children! 

But I decided that I needed to stay home, at least until my wife finishes school.

Let's me honest: her job prospects are much better than mine.  She's healthy, and has a bright future ahead of her.  Me, I'm pretty much unemployable.  Who'd want an employee who could go completely paralyzed, or have a seizure, with little or no warning?

Also, we recently moved to a small town, an hour outside of Spokane, and 45 minutes away from the university.  I began to feel very strongly that my kids needed a parent at home, someone they or their teachers could rely on to come to school if they happened to be sick, or hurt, or whatever. 

So once again, I'm the stay-at-home dad.  And that's OK.  I actually feel right about it.  I feel that I am where the Lord wants me to be, and that's a good feeling.  Sometimes, especially as a parent, we must sacrifice our own desires for others. 

And now I must go; I've got dishes to do!

The Fifteen-Year Freshman

I had expected to have written in this blog much more than I have done since I opened it.  But I've been a little preoccupied since January.

As you may have guessed from the title, I've returned to college to try and finish my degree.  I'm not very far along, so I'm still a Freshman.  I'd started college back in 1995, attending the University of Utah down in Salt Lake City, Utah.  I was determined to work my way through school without going into debt with student loans, and because of this, school took longer for me than for others.  Taking one or two classes a semester, I completed about 28 credits before having to quit at the end of 1997. 

I got married in January 1998, and spent the next thirteen years having a family.  I concentrated on work, as I saw my family as my first priority, always intending on going back to school.

Late last year, I began feeling like I should go back to school fairly soon.  My wife, who is currently finishing her Bachelor's in Business Finance, gave me her approval, and so I applied to attend the winter quarter.  School went very well.  I took three classes--Psychology 100, Introduction to Literature, and History--all of which went much better than expected.

It's been great to be back in school, studying and learning.  But I've decided to take some time off school again, because I've discovered that having both parents in school has been hard on the kids.  Without a parent to be home, home life has been a bit unstable.  Like I said, family comes first.  I'll probably wait until my wife has finished her schooling before I go back. 

In the end, I think it will work out fine.  In the meantime, I'll resume my place as the stay-at-home dad.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all those mothers out there!  Time for us all to stop the busy rush of our lives for a moment, and reflect upon the sacrifices our mothers made for us.  The very fact that you are here upon the earth means that she gave birth to you, which was a sacrifice in and of itself.  Each of us entered mortality through a veil of blood and pain, suffered by our dear mothers.

My mother gave birth to me way back in 1973.  I was her second child, and she had five more after me.  How she took care of us all and stayed sane, I don't know.  I didn't really appreciate all the hardships mom suffered for us until I had kids of my own.  Cooking, cleaning, helping us with homework, remembering everyone's birthdays and holidays, taking extra jobs outside the home when money was tight to provide for us...when I think back, I see her as a tower of strength; a colossus striding the earth with endless energy. I thank the Lord I was blessed with such a wonderful mother.

I hope all of you take the time to think similar thoughts of your own mothers.  Even if you neglected to send a card or a present, at least give her a call (provided she is still around).  If she has past on, then spend some time in quiet reflection, and perhaps say a little prayer, thanking the Lord for her.

Have a wonderful day!