Justis needed poster board for a history project he’s working on. So after I picked Skyler up from dance and dropped her off at gymnastics and picked up Keaton’s friend and dropped him and Keaton off at church, I headed to Target. (I could have just said I went to Target to buy poster board, but then I wouldn’t get any sympathy from you for how busy I am. )

This was the first time I’ve been to Target in quite a while. Lee usually does all of the shopping and Christmas is over so there is seldom any need for me to go to the store.

As I walked in to the store I thought, “I’m going to buy something just for me.” I rarely buy anything for myself. And I love Target. So it seemed like the perfect opportunity to splurge on myself a little.

But as I walked through the aisles I couldn’t think of a single thing I needed or wanted. I picked up some big band-aids and tape because Spencer scraped up his leg yesterday. I picked up some ponytail holders because Skyler is supposed to wear her hair up for gymnastics. And I got the poster board Justis. I even scoured the office supplies section to see if there were any pens or anything I wanted. (I’m a big sucker for the office supplies section. Yes, I am a nerd.) But there was nothing.

So I bought apples.

Yeah, I know. I’m just one wild and crazy lady. I’m at the store by myself. I can buy whatever I want. And I buy apples. They should handcuff me now before I get even more out of control.

What made you choose the career (or job) you have now? What was your criterion for the perfect (or at least perfect-for-now) job? Was it the money? The security? The flexibility? The first step to your dream job? The only place that responded to your resume?

I already told you about my journey to where I am today. To recap, when I graduated from high school I either wanted to be a genetic engineer or a geriatrician. But college wasn’t really my thing when I was 18. Now a…umm…few years later, I really wish it would have been a priority. But you just couldn’t tell my eighteen-year-old self how important an education was. I was too busy worrying about boys and friends and partying.

Eventually I went to community college to get my Certified Nurses Aide certificate. A CNA was close enough to being an actual doctor (at least to a nineteen-year-old) and it only required a three month course and some work at a nursing home. Score.

But when I got pregnant with Keaton I didn’t want to work nights anymore. And I didn’t want to have to do all the lifting being a CNA often requires. Plus being a CNA really doesn’t pay that well.

Eventually I landed a job in an office. I started as a part-time receptionist. Then I became a file clerk at a different company. And finally I got a pretty good job as an assistant at a brokerage firm. I learned the accounting software and began doing account receivable and payable as well as payroll for the brokers. I also typed reports and letters for the legal counsel. It wasn’t an exciting job, but it paid the bills.

And that’s when I realized it was all about the money. Office jobs paid better so that’s what I was going to do with my life.

I went back to school to get and associates degree in business administration. I quit jobs (often) for better paying jobs. I had no loyalty to my employer. I could be bought by whoever was willing to give me the bigger paycheck. I defined success by how much money I made.

Then I grew up, had more kids, and started to think that maybe money isn’t what defined me after all. At least I knew that wasn’t the message I wanted to send to my kids. I didn’t want to be one of those moms who worked 80 hours a week and rarely showed up to her kids’ soccer games or dance recitals. I wanted to play a very active role in my kids’ lives.

By this point I was in school to get my bachelor’s degree. I changed my major from Management (I chose management because that’s what makes the most money of course) to Marketing. I’m a creative person and marketing allows me to utilize the business skills I have acquired over the last several years and combine it with my creative side. I also took on some freelance jobs; web design and writing.

My current job is very flexible. I can work from home twice a week or when I’m sick or the plumber has to come or whatever. I can sneak out for my kids’ events; holiday parties, soccer games, field trips, etc.

So why did I pick the job I have? I chose it because it gets me closer to my goals. I have built up some loyalty with my company so I can easily move in to other areas that interest me while still retaining my five weeks of vacation. I have the flexibility to both work and still spend time with my family. And, I can’t lie, it pays well. Let’s face, money is still important even if it’s not what defines you.

Justis turned sixteen today. SIXTEEN, people! Hold me.

His party isn’t until this weekend, but we had a little party at home tonight. He got everything he wanted; new tennis shoes and money.

Teenagers are so easy to shop for. All they want is money. It’s always the right size. And it’s always the right color.

I also got up at 7am to straighten his hair. Just because it’s his birthday. That was the best present ever. Better than the cash. Because I never get up at 7am.

After the gift opening, we did something really, really mean. We found some old keys to a truck Lee sold at least eight years ago. Lee rattled them behind his back.

Justis said, “What’s that behind your back?”

Lee pulled out the keys. Justis jumped up, “What?!?”

Lee said, “Look outside.”

Outside on the porch was a little toy convertible.

I know. I know. We are horrible parents. We get our kid all excited about a new car and all he got was a small toy. We should have gotten him a t-shirt that said, “It was my sixteenth birthday and all I got was this stupid toy car.”

Then it was cake time. I was apparently delirious from the whole car joke because I cut up pieces of cake for everybody before it dawned on me that we never sang “Happy Birthday” or have Justis blow out his candles.

So I searched the kitchen for candles, but I couldn’t find them anywhere. What happens to the damn candles every year? Every year I have no candles for Justis’ birthday. So I buy new candles for Caleb’s birthday thinking I’ll keep them in the drawer for the next birthday. But somehow they are never there come April. It’s like that damn missing sock in the dryer. Where does this stuff go? Can somebody please tell me?

I didn’t want to do what we did last year where I had him blow out pretend candles. So this year we put sixteen matches on the cake and lit them. I know. Could we be anymore redneck? We might as well put the car on cement blocks in the front lawn.

But even with the evil trick with the “new car” and the matchstick candles, I think Justis had a pretty good day. I can’t believe he’s 16.

My daughter is so sweet (or else a total suck up).

Now that the weather is getting warmer and the kids have more activities going on we can’t seem to make the normal bedtime anymore. So the kids went to bed about 45 minutes late tonight.

By the time Skyler got in bed she was pretty tired and was rubbing her eyes. I gave her hugs and kisses and she said, “For some reason I’m crying.”

I said, “I think you’re just tired and need to get your beauty sleep.”

She said, “Or I just love you so much.”

Let the ooohhs and aaahhs commence.