In the 30th % apparently

So I was in Wegman's last night.  It's amazing how peaceful (and costly) it is to shop ALONE.  ::blissful sigh:: I could read labels & think clearly without entertaining children, picking my toddler's Hansel and Gretel like trail of child-appeasing-crackers off the floor, and explaining to a 3 year old why we can't now buy anything that looks good, despite how rich our coin jar at home makes us look.

Anyway, I was at said food store finally checking out at 10pm and the gentleman behind me started helping me to put my groceries up on the belt.  He struck up a pseudo awkward conversation and one thing struck me.  I told him about having three kids and he asked if I had a full time job outside the home.  (I'm telling you... very nice man, awkward conversation) When I told him no, that I stay home with the kids, he said "ooooooh one of the lucky 30%."

Annnnd that brings me to my post. 30% eh?  I know I've been blessed in a lot of ways and I'm sure there are other blessings that I take for granted.  This is one I always realized and was thankful for, but never put a figure to.  At that moment when I heard "30%" I was overcome with appreciation. Jim never pushed me to work.  We penny pinched, scrimped and saved and did what we needed to make it work.  Money gets tight, corners are cut but my kids wake up every morning and see me. I am the face that feeds them breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  I'm the one teaching them their ABCs, making sure they are comfortable and well taken care off.  I see their milestones.  I dictate their schedule.  I get their snuggles of appreciation.  I kiss their ouchies.  And I stick their little booties in time out, when needed.

It's an honor to stay home and raise my kids.  If that means cloth diapers, Goodwill clothes and handmedowns, homemade baby food, no fancy toddler tumble/sport/music classes and sharing bedrooms, then so be it.  I am blessed to be able to be in that 30% and I wouldn't change a thing.

Thank you Jim for putting me staying home a priority:  for driving an hour and 15 minutes one way to work just so we can live in a more cost effective area, closer to family.  Thank you for busting your butt to get your Masters so that you can advance at work. Thank you for travelling so that we can have the extra cash.  Thank you for driving my college car with over 200,000 miles on it just so we don't have to have a car payment right now.  Thank you for cutting your spending even thought it's "your" money.  Thank you for sacrificing... for me... for us.  Your children are the ones benefiting and my hat is off to you.  We will never have lush living, nor would I want it.  We will always be conscious of the budget and what money goes where, but we are starting out, on 1 paycheck and are rocking that 30%.  Thank you for giving me that opportunity.

::bows::