I'll Give Up A Lot, but Never this Stuff

In this crappy economy and the “change” that isn’t working (at least for me) there have been a lot of things that I’m sure all families have had to cut back on or cut out – unless of course you are a “Real Housewife”.  But this is another testimonial at how much more it rocks to be a “Real Mom” over a real housewife.

Going from being a working woman to a (for the most part) stay at home mom, my part time job from 5am – 10am allows my husband and I to be with our kids all the time, has caused a decline in income.  With the decline in income for the past couple of years, and Autism and Cancer in our house we have had to cut back and cut out some things and adjust our lifestyle accordingly.  Unlike the Real Train Wrecks who spend and spend even though there are notices of default filed on many of their homes, my husband insists we pay our mortgage (he’s a stickler)  before Botox or plastic surgery or just general shopping for clothes that are ridiculously expensive.

After the last couple of years of “doing without” and adjusting our lifestyle I am happy to report that I am no longer feeling deprived because of the things that I have cut back or cut out completely.

I have however, realized the following list of things that I CAN NOT live without.

I CAN NOT LIVE WITHOUT:

• The look on Franklin’s face when he sees me when I pick him up from school
• The way Jackson runs to me when I get home from work and plants a big ‘ol sloppy kiss on me.
• Our family drives into Silverado Canyon so the boys can throw rocks in the creek.
• Wrestling on the bed with daddy and the boys
• Doing puzzles, building blocks, and playing cars
• The patter of bare feet running on hardwood floors
• After dinner walks to the park to play
• Swimming with my kids
• Neighborhood get-togethers
• Spending time with our friends and families
• Watching my 2 little boys sleep peacefully.
• Getting out on the road for a nice run.

There are a few things that I miss about having a disposable income like Pedicures, and getting my hair done, especially after my last home hair color debacle that made me look like Elvira Mistress of  the Dark, and sometimes when I have an extra $20 I may go get a pedicure to get an hour of silence to myself, but the whole time I’m there I can’t wait to get home to my kiddos and husband to hear the giggles and pandemonium that is the life of a “Real Mom”.  It is so much different and so much more fulfilling than a “Real Housewife” will ever be.

 Rebecca