Becoming a Nursing Student...

I don't know if I have really conveyed how EXCITED I am to become a Nursing Student. I feel like I am finally doing something for ME. And a real something for my Boys. I know that salary shouldn't be a main goal in achieving this career, and it isn't everything.. but it is a lot. I know that as a registered Nurse, I will finally be able to support my boys with no question. I really don't know why I didn't do this years ago... what was I thinking?? Obviously, I wasn't. I thought I could get by with whatever job I did and everything would be fine. Well it's not. Living paycheck to paycheck.. really not having the financial backing to support us independently. I did start college classes a few years ago.. I was majoring in business, and I wanted to own my own coffee shop/art studio somewhere on the beach. But when I found out I was pregnant with Griffin... well, things changed.. as they always do with a new child. I knew that majoring in business would not be a good idea with a new baby. So I dropped out. I didn't really know what I wanted to do or what I could do for at least a few years.

So.. I started Nannying. And that was the perfect thing for me to do while Griffin was a baby. I really didn't want to be away from him at all. So doing that helped me prepare myself and figure out what I should do with my life, and how it would effect the boys' lives. Now.. something I have figured out is that just because you make enough to support yourself and your bills... it's not enough for people to approve you for a car or apartment or house or loan or anything... And I cannot tell you how frustrating that is.

I have been wanting to get out on my own since I had to move back in with my parents 4 years ago. But it's never worked out. I probably could've worked it out with a assistant managing job i had 4 years ago.. but I just didn't know how to manage my life or my finances back then. I made the money I need to make now... but I worked 40+ hours a week ($30,000/year) but the drive was 45 minutes each way, 5 days a week... and so although it was the perfect job to attain what I needed... I was away from Riley 55 hours a week. And for all you parents... you know how much that is to be away from your toddler. Plus there was some drama going on at the workplace because I worked over teenagers.. no fun. No offense.

So I quit that job and went back to work as a waitress. And as a waitress you DO make good money. But unless you claim every penny... it's still not good enough.. and as a waitress, some of you know, you don't want to claim all your tips... and I didn't when I should have. But I was young and wasn't looking so much into the future.. just looking forward to the shopping trip I could make that weekend. Shopping is so much more fun than a renters bills.

So here I am, 26 years old, two kids and just now starting the journey to a career. But I really don't think I could've done it before. I think I had to go through the disappointment of not making enough and not being able to do what you needed.. and being stuck in a place I don't want to be as a adult.

So my excitement for becoming a Nurse is palpable. I want to get it finished as quickly as possible... and do WELL. I know I said before that I want to succeed, and I do. More than anything. So I figure this blog will become a lot of about everything in my life.. and now as a Nursing Student, classes, getting jobs and all the while being the best Mom I can be.

Let the journey begin :)

I am so thankful for everything in my life right now. It's a good place to start over.