The Big Picture

I had a conversation with my husband last night.  He was wondering what I was going to do today, and I was running down my list when he (sweetheart that he is) said, "Well, don't work too hard.  This is your vacation, after all."

I responded, half-jokingly, "Well, I want to do such a good job that come August you will say 'Stay at home wife, I can't do without you!' and then I won't have to go back!"  I expected a smart-ass remark, but I got a concerned look and a serious, "Do you really not want to go back that badly?"

The answer is I absolutely would love to not go back.  But I said, "Well, its only June.  By August I might feel differently."  He knew exactly what I meant.  I went on to acknowledge that for our kid plan and travel plans over the next few years, it is necessary that I teach at least another three years.

I think the time has come for a perspective check on my part.  Every once in a while, I really need to step back and take a good long look at the big picture.  Last time, I needed to take a perspective check because I felt like I was floundering.  It really helped to set some goals and remind myself of the good things about teaching.

Now, it's summer (one of the best things about teaching), and I have plenty of summer-time goals, so I don't feel as if I'm floundering.  Instead, I am having such a wonderful time being a Stay-At-Home wife, I have already started dreading returning to teaching in the fall.  But, as I said, I know it is necessary.

So, to make the necessity less onerous, here is our big picture:

Medical

With our insurance, we have a set maximum that we pay out of pocket each year.  With my health issues and medication costs, we will have to spend that amount each year.  So, my goal is to save up enough money during the prior year to cover the coming medical expenses.  That way, no matter what pops up--additional medications, higher doses, surgeries, whatever--we're covered.  I almost have next year's saved up!

Vic's and Bryanne-Michelle's Weddings 2010

I want to have enough money saved back to cover all things maid of honor/bridesmaid:  dresses, shoes, hair, make-up, jewelry, showers, bachelorette parties, wedding gifts, hotel rooms, etc.  I do not want to have to put any of this on the credit card without having money saved back to immediately pay it off.

Europe Trip 2012 (1 to 2 weeks)

Our goal is to save enough money so that we come home with money left over, instead of low-balling it and coming home with credit card debt.  And any extra will be rolled over into Baby Fund!

Baby G 2013

We're planning on starting to try to conceive when we get back from Europe, so that means Baby G would be born sometime in 2013.  I want to have as much money socked back as possible to ease the transition into parenthood, especially since I want to be a stay-at-home mom for at least a few years after the baby is born.

Over the next few years, the hubby's salary will increase much more quickly than mine (no shit--teacher salaries crawl upwards), so hopefully we'll be able to adjust our budget so that, eventually, most of my salary goes into savings.  By the time Baby G is born, our goal is to be living off of Bryan's salary--meaning paying bills AND meeting savings goals.

This would allow us to not feel the pinch as bad when I stay home AND would mean that most of my salary would have ended up in savings, providing us with a comfortable cushion against whatever might happen.

And that, ladies and gents, is why I will teach for the next three years, or possibly longer if it takes us longer than planned to conceive.  

It's all about the big picture.  And remembering that helps.

Most of the time.