Decisions, Decisions

There are times in life when an idea, or opportunity presents itself and you feel the weight of the world (ok maybe a little bit dramatic here) on your shoulders to decide what is "best" for your family. The issue can stem from what is "best" for you personally, or for your family, or even for your life in the long run. I currently feel like this is where I am. Joe has a 4 yr degree and has been with the same company for 9 years. His current position is Management and it works just fine for our life. We have bills, like everyone else and have goals about our life together like everyone else. We have often contemplated the benefits of him going back to school for his MBA or me going back for my 4 year degree. If I'm being honest with all of you and myself, I have no desire at this time to go back. I am content being his wife and the mother of our kids. I do need "me" time but more then the "me" time I really crave "we" time. "We" time encompasses any and all time with Joe. If the kids are there, great! If it's a date night, great. I just LOVE having him around.

That said, both of us are looking into him going back and the total cost for him to go. His company will give up to $6000 a year total for graduate degrees. However, the schools we are looking at cost a total of $24-36,000 total to attend. I guess there is a way to get around $12-18,000 from the company but that still leave a chunk of change for us to pay off. I know that it's totally worth it. I just struggle with the colleges we can kind of afford and the one I wish I could have him go to. That one costs $84,000. Yes, I swallowed hard when I saw that figure. That school though is known world wide and would look better on a resume. It's also hard to swallow the fact that we know that there is another school that is accredited that would cost $12,000 and we would pay nothing out of pocket. But, this school is like buying at Walmart versus buying at Macy's. I'm more of a Walmart type shopper. (Champagne taste on a beer budget). So, there it is. I don't know if it makes sense but the struggle is 3 fold. The cost of the schools versus the "name" of the schools. The time it will take versus the stress it will put on us. Finally, the benefit in the long run versus being content with the current status quo forever.

All I can say is this. I am currently happy with our life. I would love to be able to send him to the big school and have him be done in 2 yrs and have our financial situation improve so that it's not scraping money together to send the kids to private school (if we even go that route) I just think it will help us. I also fear though that the stress will hurt us.

At least there is no decision to be made right now. We have some time before we have to do this. In the mean time, I will enjoy the last few days of fall before it gets really cold and do so with 2 sweet faces that make me smile, fill my heart with warmth and love and let me know that no matter what the future holds.... I'm blessed.