WHEN MOM GETS SICK...

Spencer isn't happy with me taking his picture OR mowing the lawn:)

Spencer earning his allowance...

When mom gets sick the world does not stop. Everything continues and may even possibly get worse. As my luck runs, it got worse.

I developed an eye infection last week and it doesn’t seem to be improving. Bright lights and sunshine kill me. My eyeball is on fire! I have to work on the computer in small segments and should only drive at night. However, since life doesn’t stop when mom gets sick, I still did my carpool duty an hour ago and drove to Tampa, yesterday. As luck would have it, my laptop charger decided to quit and the nearest Apple store is an hour away. 

As I sit on my shaded deck with sunglasses on, contemplating on what I was going to write this blog about, for my Marketing assignment, it suddenly hit me! The world doesn’t stop when mom gets sick!

 First, you must know, I was in the middle of a heated argument with my 13yr old, son.  I asked him to take out the trash and mow the lawn, which he didn’t want to do. Spencer HAD to get his pre ordered PS3 game last night so I advanced his allowance. Now, I expect him to pay up without argument and do his duties. 

Let me recap the last couple of weeks, for you. Spencer spent the weekend with his dad and I secluded myself at home to work on my Marketing assignment. No one came over, and I only left the house for a quick run, to the store. Monday, I wake up with an eye infection and spend the following weekend in bed. 

Monday rolls around again, and now Spencer is sick. He stayed home Monday and Tuesday (yesterday) from school. Now I have a sick child to take care of, groceries to buy a dirty house to clean, a lawn that desperately needs to be mowed, and I can’t see! I shouldn’t drive; taxes are due and ALWAYS school work! RefWorks decides to do maintenance on their site, as I try to retrieve my references for my assignment.  The clock was ticking and their site wasn’t up before the assignment was due; Thank you Linda for your understanding…my charger dies, I have to drive to Tampa with one good eyeball.  I’m now over due for my hair appointment, and I can’t be seen in public with these two-inch dark roots (and my droopy, eye!)  I’m not going to even get into my flat tire, situation.

Needless to say I’m not a happy camper!  Life doesn’t stop when mom gets sick, but it should.

Robin

Why This Isn't Such an Easy Task

Part 2:  Continuing my education at 40 isn’t easy, for many reasons.

1.) RESPONSIBILITIES:

Unlike when I was 18, I now have bills to pay, a house to maintain, a child to take care of and I’m paying for my education, not my parents. I have to worry about my own car maintenance, auto insurance, heath insurance, taxes, my school obligations, and my son’s. Then there is braces, car pooling, Dr. appointments, monthly, mandatory Middle School meetings, field trips clothing both of us and even mowing the lawn!  My responsibility list is much longer then the first time around, at school.

2.) MY CHOSEN SCHOOL AND CAREER PATH:

I always heard Full Sail was tough but one of the best. I had no idea the time involved in an accelerated program was so much. I am making straight A’s so maybe that has a little something, to do with it. I was NOT born, naturally smart.

3.) SACRIFICES: 

My son hates it! My life no longer revolves 100 percent, around him. He is 13, though.  He’s quite capable of putting a frozen pizza in the oven and “Nuking” a snack. I no longer have much of a social life, either.  I don’t have time for friends, family, and late night chats with girlfriends. My house is dirty, l can’t stay caught up on laundry and dishes, my truck needs an oil change and new breaks, weeds are rapidly growing in my yard, the leaky faucet is going to have to wait, another day. I don’t sleep or eat much. (I still managed to gain weight, though??) I go to bed with the laptop and wake up with the laptop. It’s a good day when I get out of my PJ’s, shower and put on makeup. It means I have a purpose for the day other then being a student or mom!

4.) SUPPORT:

This is a BIG one and the main reason why I chose the platform that I did, for this blog. 

My support system is nil to none. Occasionally, I will get support and reassurance from a friend.

It’s always a friend, who just finished school, or is about to return, like me. They get it!

Forget about support from my 13 year old, son. Not only is he an only child but also it’s all about him, at this lovely stage in his life.  Boyfriends? Not happening! They require more attention then Spencer! (And I don’t mean to sound like a male basher). “The Ex”? Nope!  He has forgotten how easy I made it for him, while he was in school.  Last is “The Family.” Love them or hate them, everyone has them.  My dad said “I’ll be proud of you when you graduate.” I’ll cut him some slack, though.  I didn’t finish the first time around and he was paying for it.

Robin

Welcome To My First Blog!

Until now, I wasn’t exactly sure what a blog was. I’ve read blogs on websites but didn’t know they were “actually” blogs. The plan is to make this blog a “little journal” about the next two years, while in school.  If I keep it up, it should be interesting to read the posts closer to graduation and compare them to now, the beginning!

20 years ago, I was a business major. Mom died, I quit school, met my future husband, and worked during his four years of Dental School. We moved to Florida when I was six months pregnant and I’ve been a “Stay at home” mom ever since. If you are interested, there is more to my story in the bio. 

After divorcing, I realized I don’t, nor never really had, a career.  I’ve been out of the work force for 14 years, I don’t have a college education, and Alimony won’t last forever! Unless I want to work for minimum wage at the mall, I have to do something about the situation. Two months shy of my 40^th birthday, I enrolled as an online student at Full Sail University. I’m in the Bachelor of Science program for Music Business. 

I’m very excited about my decision. I’m learning so much and my brain is finally being stimulated, again.  This isn’t an easy task, though.  I hope my rants and raves will show other single parents or people returning to school at a late age, it is possible and you aren’t alone!

Now, I have an outlet to get things off of my chest, to others who can relate. The intentions of this blog are to provide encouragement, inspiration, and support to those who may be in a similar situation.  In return, please feel free to respond with your ranting and raving, ideas, links and stories, too. This IS the reason why this blog was created.

I hope you enjoy it and check back soon for part 2: Why this isn’t such an easy task.

Robin