New life plan:
Start college this June, complete a "5th year" teaching program, finish with a master's degree and a teaching certificate within one year, begin teaching school in August 2005 at age 40.5 years, and retire in 20 years with a pension.

Cost: $6,000 to $14,000, one year of my life, childcare, missed potential income from a regular job, and begging for help with household management.

Benefit: Ability to pay the mortgage EVERY month! Building some sort of savings, retirement, and pulling out of the debt hole. Helping children to learn. Having a REAL career with a paycheck, feedback, and a social environment.

No, I never wanted the steady job like Dad suggested I choose. I never wanted the big institution where you work for 20 or more years and retire. It sounded so boring, so monotonous, and just LIFE-choking.

Now, however, I believe a job like that would offer me the ability to provide for this family a steady amount of income that will allow my husband to continue to pursue his entrepreneurial dream without my constant harping to "pay the bills!" I also know that it would release a great deal more creativity if I'm not so stressed about keeping the roof over my head. I could still take on writing and editing projects for extra money and maybe work a weekend job.

The children will get very little of me during the year of schooling I need, and that will be hard for all of us. When I begin teaching, I should be able to do a good job of being a working mom.

No this hasn't been thought through in every detail, but I AM educated, I am a GREAT teacher, I love teaching, and I know I can handle the academics necessary to get the schooling I require. For now, I'm getting certified to be a substitute teacher to get some experience, and it pays $60 per day. If I apply at the three local school systems close to me, and the private schools that are within 10 - 20 miles of me, I should be able to keep busy and well paid.

More later . . . .