Ok, so it's the new year! What now? Do I pledge to quit smoking? Lose weight? Search for world peace??? Why do we put ourselves out there to fail? I am just hoping that I am making the right decision about school.  I have been working dead-end jobs pretty much all my life! Pretty sad, huh? I wasn't miserable, just always regretted not going back to school.

 So, here I am.  Started in May of 08.  But the part that I am the most worried about, is what it next? Who is going to hire a 40-something college graduate? I am interested in Human Resources, but every job out there is asking for experience!!! How do I get experience!? I am really feeling good about myself, just ashamed that I waited this long! How do you compete with the market the way it is? I feel that I would be viewed as having 'one foot in the grave and one on a banana peel'!!!!

 Has anyone else every made such a drastic life change? I thought that I was doing right, I CHOSE to be a stay at home mom, and felt that I accomplished a lot.  We also had to sacrifice a lot.  No fancy cars, no cabin by the lake, etc.  Now I feel like I am playing catch up!! Is there such a thing? Do I want to 'catch' up???

 I live in a very small town, that is like living high school all over again.  My best girl friends all live in the city and are thriving.  I am living in the woods and trying!!!

 Boy, could I whine anymore??? I am really happy, just have always been afraid to take that leap, and now that I lept, was it too late?????

Ok, so it has been a while since I have done anything.  Pretty embarassing to see that this old message is still sitting there.  Just to update, if anyone is interested, my boys are doing fine, with the staying home thing.  Just a minor panic time when they don't answer the phone right away.  But things have changed, and I am able to be home more.

I am starting the school thing.  Feels funny, after 21 years I am finally taking that leap.  All my friends, are very supportive, but then again, they aren't doing it!  I am doing my schooling mostly online, which is why it will be helpful for my boys. 

I love listening to this station, and am trying my hand at conecting to the city folk!  I miss the city soooo much, and this station just brings the cities that much closer!

If there is anyone else out there, that made the switch from 'city mouse ' to 'country mouse', would love to compare stories and share some laughs!!!!

Gina

I have a very emotional decision to make.  My oldest child is 12 and my second is 10.  I live in Wisconsin, where they are have babysitting classes for children that is my oldest son's age.  My oldest is wanting to stay home, when we make plans, and tell me that 'all his friends are'.  I am wondering what is the opinion on this subject? Can I leave then alone for a few hours? I have been a stay at home mom for most of their life, and it has become a routine that they come with to run errands and such.  I live in a small town, so I must travel a distance to go to the grocery store, etc.

Am I being to over-protective? Is it time to 'lengthen the apron strings'????  What is the right time? What is the right age???

My children are very mature, and I have left them alone for, at the most, 45 minutes.

 am I a bad mom for NOT letting them stay home? Am I a bad mom if I decide to let them stay home????

HELP!!!!!!!