Ron and I have been discussing him changing career paths lately, because, let's face it, working at a non-profit in the social services never made anyone rich. The simple fact is, having a large family requires a certain amount of money. It doesn't require much more than having a small family, honestly, but it does require a bit more. For instance, if children are close enough in age, one set of clothing can easily be worn for several years by different kids. If you buy the right clothing from the right stores, you can really get a great deal of use out of it before having to send it either to charity or the trashcan. Having 4 or 5 kids insn't much different than having 1 kids when it comes to things like clothing and toys. Feeding 4 or 5 kids is different, but by making some slight "sacrifices" (if you can really call it that) such as buying the store brand instead of the name brand, a frugal homemaker can "make it work", as Tim Gunn would say. That being said, more money is needed for things such as more house, because people take up space., and that's something you just can't share. (It's silly how that whole physics thing works, isn't it?)
Looking at all our options, we've both been thinking of his becoming an APN. It will mean a couple of years of hard work getting his RN, for starters, and then a few more to get his APN, and possibly his Masters. What makes all this furthering of education worthwhile, you might be wondering? To begin with, he'd be making a far better living doing that than doing this, and that's just with the RN. If he manages to get his APN, forget it. We'd be...good. We're not looking to become rich. If we wanted that we wouldn't have decided to get married in the first place until we had things in place, such as a house, 2 cars, and lot's of money in the bank. We are looking to make a decent life for our family, doing good and necessary work, while raising our children as good Catholics, and this is where the nursing option comes into play. Being a nurse would afford us all of that.
Why do I feel like I'm trying to become a nurse? Well, as all us married ladies know (or maybe it's just me -- I'll consider that possibility), our husbands generally need a nudge or two or ten in the right direction sometimes, and often, a good bit of help to get to where they want to be. After all, we are supposed to be their "helpmates", right? In helping Ron right now, my second full time job (you know, after the whole homemaker/mom thing) is researching RN programs at local community colleges, making appointments with admissions contacts, and generally scheduling all of Ron's "free time" with activities that will help us reach our goal quickly and in the most efficient manner. I didn't do this much research before starting at Seton Hall, hence why I feel like I'm the one getting ready to enter the nursning program.
At the moment, we're considering both Essex and Bergen County colleges, each for their own benefits. Obviously, we live in Essex, so it's less expensive and close to where Ron works. Bergen, on the other hand, has a better laid out, more clearly defined, evening nursing program that would fit better into his already busy schedule. On the down side, it's also about twice the cost when all is said and done, but all will definitely be said and done inside of two years, whereas at Essex, it could drag on for three or more. Both will mean a great deal of work for both of us. Ron will have at least two to four nights of classes each week, and that means that I will have the same nights on my own with the babies for dinner, baths, and bed. We'll have to weigh them and pray over them, and hope that St. Rita will help us make the right decision.
At the moment, we're considering both Essex and Bergen County colleges, each for their own benefits. Obviously, we live in Essex, so it's less expensive and close to where Ron works. Bergen, on the other hand, has a better laid out, more clearly defined, evening nursing program that would fit better into his already busy schedule. On the down side, it's also about twice the cost when all is said and done, but all will definitely be said and done inside of two years, whereas at Essex, it could drag on for three or more. Both will mean a great deal of work for both of us. Ron will have at least two to four nights of classes each week, and that means that I will have the same nights on my own with the babies for dinner, baths, and bed. We'll have to weigh them and pray over them, and hope that St. Rita will help us make the right decision.
In the end, the main goal is to get to a point with his career where we won't have to worry quite as much about money as we do now. (I guess though, if we really have the faith we profess to have, we shouldn't be worried in the first place.)
So, if Ron becoming a nurse means that in two year's time we can get a house of our own, and have a bit more financial stability, then that's what we need to make happen. And if to make that happen, he has to be out of the house more, and I here "alone" more, then so be it. It'll give me the chance to catch up on all those sappy romances he doesn't really like to watch but indulges me in when he can't help it.
No comments:
Post a Comment