Opportunity Cost

As everyone knows, everything in life has an opportunity cost. Every decision that is made has a consequence whether good or bad. People always tell me, "I don't know how you go to school and have a family, it seems like it would be tough." I always smiled and said, yeah it's tough, but I never told them what I chose to give up in order to achieve that goal.

I had a revelation tonight as well as a big slap in the face. For those of you who saw my facebook status, I have chosen to remove myself from Facebook for a while and I thought you should know why. Declan came home from school today with 4 circles this week on his calendar. I know most of you have no idea what that means, but each circle represents how many times he was disciplined that day. He had one on Monday, one on Tuesday, and two today. As per our usual conversation, I ask him what happened and as he is explaining this stuff to me I realize that all of it is completely preventable.

I started praying and trying to think of reasons why he would be getting in trouble so much and then I feel like God lifted a curtain and revealed it to me. The majority of the attention he gets from us is negative attention. If he's doing what he's supposed to be doing and everything's going well, he rarely hears from us but as soon as something bad happens, we immediately take action. The more I stepped back, the more I became disgusted with myself. All I have ever wanted since I was a little girl is to be married and be a mommy. Now that I have it, I seem to take it all for granted.

Before we had internet, Declan was newborn until he was about 3, I spent every minute with him and my family. As soon as we got internet I noticed myself justifying my time that I spend on the computer. I was either looking for jobs, editing photos, catching up on homework, etc. As a baby Declan was sooooo unbelievably good. He rarely made a peep. Looking back now, I realized that the bad behavior started occuring more frequently after we got internet. I started spending more time on the computer than I was spending with my children and that is not acceptable.

So, that is the reason I am withdrawing myself from Facebook for a while. I need to reprioritize my life and make sure that I am being the best possible parent that God has made me to be. I want my kids to grow up knowing that they are unconditionally loved, that they are important enough for me to put everything else aside and spend time with them, and that above all else we will always be here for them.

Going well

Well, the first week of kindergarten was successful. We did not get any notes sent home and Declan seems to really be enjoying himself and making new friends. He was going to be brave and buy lunch at school on Friday and then Thursday night changed his mind and said he couldn't remember his pin number and that I should just pack his lunch. He'll get there, it's a little scary at first.

Alaina has felt a little left out with all the talk of Declan going to kindergarten and then with his birthday coming up. I've been trying to make sure she's been getting enough attention. The other day I told her that I wanted to take some pictures of her and she said "with Declan?" and when I told her I just wanted some really pretty ones of her by herself, she got a HUGE smile on her face. I'm thankful that she's pretty easy to please as long as she feels like she's not being left out.

I only have 5 more weeks left of school! This includes: 6 quizzes, 3 tests, 1 research paper, 1 presentation, and LOTS of reading. I can't wait! It's coming up so quickly!!! Thank you to all who have helped us throughout our entire schooling career and with watching our kids, offering transportation, and just being there when we need to talk. We are so grateful to have such great friends (and family).

well the day has come

Tonight it's starting a new routine of earlier bed times, backpacks being packed, clothes laid out, and lunches ready. Tomorrow is Declan's first day of Kindergarten and I couldn't be more excited for him. He's so curious and inquisitive (I hope he always remains that way) and eager to make new friends! I can't wait to see him when he gets home from school tomorrow. I love him, he's my baby, but it's exciting to start this next chapter!

Amazing

God is so amazing and sometimes chooses to show himself in such cool ways. This afternoon, the kids and I were out running errands and we had to stop by the grocery store. While we were on our way there, Alaina asked me if this store had peanuts. I told her yes but that we weren't getting any today, we were going in for specific things. She was a little bit disappointed but didn't throw a fit or anything. Well, tonight, I was at school and my group member and I did our presentation. When ours was through another group went and they did their presentation on Southwest Airlines and what did they bring to share with the class? Little individual bags of PEANUTS! I couldn't help but smile and remember how much our "daddy" takes care of us no matter how small or insignificant things may seem. I can't wait to tell Alaina when she gets up tomorrow, she's going to be soooo excited!!!

I know that this is not what this verse is talking about but it is the verse that popped into my head when I got the bag of peanuts:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matt. 7:7 (NLT)

7 more weeks!!!

As most of you are already aware, I only have 7 weeks left before I graduate with my Bachelor's Degree!!!! I couldn't be more excited! Anyway, I am taking my capstone, which is a 3 credit hour class and a history class (world history from 1500-present) which is also a 3 credit hour class. I thought this quarter would be a breeze considering I'm used to taking 9 credit hours every 12 weeks. Boy, was I WRONG! This has been sooooooo much work! I am happy to say that this will probably be my busiest week and the rest should be pretty smooth sailing. This Monday night I have a 50 minute presentation to give with one other group member along with a quiz. Wednesday I have a solo 15 minute presentation and an exam. Between these two presentations, I feel like I have spent hours upon hours researching, reading, organizing, and putting together a powerpoint for each. It seemed a little overwhelming but I am so glad to be finished and I will be super psyched when this week is O V E R.

On another note, Declan goes to his school on the 10th at 10am to meet his teacher Ms. Molitor. He is so excited about starting Kindergarten and I hope that it feeds his curiousity. Declan, Alaina, and I watched the Disney movie Ocean, it was more of a documentary and of course Alaina lost interest almost immediately. Declan, however, LOVED it! He thought it was so cool and informative. I'm so glad that he was born in an age where if he has a question, we can find the answer almost instantaniously thanks to the internet! I hope he never loses his sense of wonder and curiousity and that he always learns as much as he possibly can. He is so smart for only being (almost) 6.

Alaina is upset that she doesn't get to go to school this year but we are going to enjoy our "alone" time with her. I start working (3 hours/day) soon and while I'm at work Pat gets to hang out with Alaina, all by herself. She just amazes me everyday. She is so sweet and caring. Today I had a band-aid on my toe and she asked me why I had it on there and I told her because I have an "owie" and she said "aww, poor mommy, let me give you a hug". If you would have told me when she was a baby that she'd grow up to be such a sweetheart and a cuddler, I would NOT have believed you. I love my kids more than anything and I'm so proud of who they are becoming. I hope that Pat and I always root for them no matter what they want to do in life.

Lastly but certainly not least, my hubs. Pat has been working so hard for the last month. He has been painting the interior of a house for a friend during the day and then at night he's working his job at Daddy Ray's. He is so exhausted but still makes time to spend with us. Next on our agenda is to purchase a second car. We have been relying on people these last few months and although we are extremely grateful for those that have helped us, it's time for us to hopefully be able to help someone else.

That's all that's new in the Mahoney household!

Frustrated and Ranting

As many of you know, Pat has gotten a job. He works for a temp agency, part time, however, it is in the field that he's wanting to pursue. He works 6pm-midnight Monday through Friday. We had two problems with that, 1. I am finishing up my last quarter of school and I have class from 6pm-10pm on Mondays and Wednesdays: a. we have to find a sitter and b. we only have one car. So, our options have been to drop Pat off at work, drop the kids off at my parents, go to school, pick up the kids, pick pat up at midnight (with the kids) and come home OR someone pick me up from school and bring me home. Out of all the people that always told us "oh, just take whatever job you can get" (which we've done), not one of them have stepped up and offered help. People LOVE giving input into our situation but they don't thoroughly think things through. I'm not complaining or whining, I just find it INCREDIBLY frustrating that so many people want to offer advice but not help. We have been incredibly blessed with three different couples that are helping us out without us even asking. They haven't offered any "advice" or looked down on us, they simply stepped in and helped and for them we are beyond grateful. I hope that someday whenever we can fully get back on our feet and are able to help out others that we show the same graciousness. We are hoping that the education that Pat and I have obtained helps us to land jobs that allows us to be a blessing to others as much as these three couples have been a blessing to us. I hope that the next time someone needs help that I don't just offer "advice".

I try to always remember the golden rule. My mom always told me "don't dish out what you can't take" and that has forever stuck with me. I know I am not perfect and I am not claiming to be, I am sure that there has been numerous times that I have given "advice" where help was what was needed. However, think of how much better the world would be if they followed this verse and we all loved our neighbors as more than ourselves.

“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets." (Matt 7:12 NLT)