With babysitting and then being a nanny post-college, I can not only sing way too many kid songs, but I can build a pretty awesome tower out of blocks and take a decent photo of a child who rarely stops moving that isn't horribly blurry. These are the talents I possess. I don't even want to think about how many diapers I have changed...
Much of this year has been about cleaning up. We have traveled, lived out of suitcases, and had toys and life to deal with all along the way. Cam is actually pretty great at helping me mainly because it is really important to me that she be responsible for messes she creates. We clean up after ourselves.
That last sentence means more to me than just toys being put in a box. My life was a wreck last October. I had a lot to handle and not much time, energy or resources to do it with unfortunately. I am elated at the progress that has been made. The debt created in my name is going down down down--the only direction I am comfortable with it going!
During our marriage, I didn't think twice about using my retirement when we needed it for food and moving expenses. Didn't blink an eye about putting things in my name when necessary because I was never thinking about divorce. Ever. So after the fact when I looked at all that I ended up dragging with me, there were times when I felt like such a fool! But I know that I was motivated by love and compassion to make those choices for our family. I thought I was helping us stay afloat--and it did for awhile, but the tough changes that needed to be made for survival were never made. It was a merry-go-round of stress and debt and late payments with no end.
I am not in that financial hole anymore, and it feels wonderful! The choices made are mine alone and they are pushing us in the right direction, toward an independent future! Cleaning up is a lifelong process, but I'm getting there with every good decision being made. And hey, check out this tower I made. :)