Behind Dedicated Mama

I am the queen of perfection. If things aren't perfect and how I want them, I go back to re-map my plan. When I started this blog I didn't really have a solid idea on how I wanted things to be. Well, after some thinking and talking to some of my friends I was finally beginning to realize what work best. One of my friends, Gabby from camonkeymomma.com, has constantly told me I needed to blog about how I am, as she puts it, a renaissance woman. Well, I started to really ponder on the thought of that. That is how 'Dedicated Mama' came about.

For those of you who don't know me, let me explain all of the ways I fit the description of a dedicated mama:

1. I work from home writing articles for various employers. I have had to write some pretty ridiculous articles on some boring topics, like the 50 articles a week on virtual phones or the 10 articles on how to export a vehicle from Japan. I don't write them because I enjoy the topics. Instead, I write them to pay the bills and take care of my kids. When I end up in a financial bind, I utilize all of my resources and search for other ways to make money. I do whatever I can to pay my bills and take care of my kids.
2. I am currently in school to get my BA in Business with a concentration in Marketing. Business has always been appealing to me, so I felt as though this would be a good fit for me. Also, I know that once I receive my degree I will be able to provide a better life for my kids. I am always looking for ways to advance and make a better life for my kids. I recently looked into becoming a certified bookkeeper or accountant. I ultimately decided on an accountant because the annual average income is $5,000 more than a bookkeeper. It is something I can do at my own pace, but the sooner I finish the sooner I can start to make a good income. I know it will be double the schooling for a while, but the end result will make it all worth it. After I get my business degree, I can open my own accounting firm. Both of these degrees will help me to reach my goals for myself and my kids.
3. My older son, BL, is a bit of a challenge. Once I started seeing the potential of him having some issues, I found the right resources to start getting him the help now so it hopefully won't hinder him in the future. He is in occupational therapy and speech therapy. He has also gone for eating/swallow studies and will be going for a developmental evaluation. I want him to be a happy, healthy kid. So, that is why I put in so much effort to try and get him taken care of now.
   
4. I dedicate myself to my kids night and day. They are my whole world and I don't know what I would do without them. They are the most important thing to me and I wouldn't change having them for the world. They are why I am here. They are my motivation for everything that I do. I dedicate my whole life to them.

I know I am not the only mother or parent to be so dedicated. I don't think I am the perfect person or parent, but I do my best. I give my all to doing all that I can to excel for myself and my kids. I give credit to every other parent out there who does the same. I know I'm not the only one, but I also know of parents who don't do much for their kids. Those are the parents who disappoint me. I think we should all join together and make a vow to do ad much for our kids as we are capable of doing.

Onto my next class in school.

I'm currently in school for my BA in Business with a concentration in Marketing. I just finished my first class (I'm only doing one class at a time) and I'm onto my second. My first class was pretty easy because it was an introductory course. It was called Skills for Success. I'm waiting on the last two assignments to be graded, but as of right now I have a B. I am happy with that.

My class that just started today is called Interpersonal Effectiveness. It seems like it will be a helpful course, but it also seems a little tougher with more work. I sat down to do my first assignment today and it took me an hour. Eeks! With this course, I have an ebook text book, which is different. I can highlight and stuff all the same. It's just weird to not have a physical book. Oh well. A book is a book regardless of the format, right?

I am hopeful I can excel in this course. I completed my first two assignments so far. I have one more due this week and attendance/participation to meet. So far I would say I am off to a good start. When I do well in school, it brings up my confidence because I know I am working towards my goals.

Accounting or bookkeeping?

As I posted yesterday, I was considering bookkeeping. Well, after speaking to the woman from the school; she also offered me the option of accounting. She said the program includes everything that bookkeeping does plus a little more, like taxes and payroll. It's $200 more, but the increase in average annual income is $5,000. I am beginning to think that maybe accounting would be the better option because I would have the ability to do more and make an extra $5,000 a year.

Now, I am in no way money hungry. However, I do want to provide my children with the best life possible. I am not going to do something I won't enjoy. However, bookkeeping and accounting don't seem all that different. I can work from home for either one. Once I finish my business degree, I could truly open my own business for it. I could start off working for someone else if I would like. I would have more opportunities.

Which would you go for? Something with a little more income or a little less responsibility?

Considering Bookkeeping.

As someone who really enjoys working from home and wants to provide my children with a good life, I have been looking at different certificate programs that I could complete quickly. I have decided that I will become a certified bookkeeper. I love business so something like medical billing just wouldn't interest me. Being a bookkeeper would still give me the ability to work from home and would provide me with a good income. This would be a great career for me while I finish school for my business degree.

Some Fun Facts About Bookkeeping:

• $35,000 a year potential income
• One of the top quick-start careers
• Is an ever-growing industry
• Can work from home and set your own hours

I'm sold! I found a school where it will only cost $689 for the entire program and I can make monthly payments of $39. I can work at my own pace, so it will be my goal to finish in under 3 months. They certify you right away and help you get setup with a job, even from home. So, I think this is a great opportunity. I am excited to get started. If you want some info on certificate programs, check out the US Career Institute.

Turn that frown upside down.

Well, my not so good day turned into a better day. I ended up taking a nap when the kids did. It was a good refresher. It definitely made me feel better. After our nap time, I got the kids ready and we went to Wal-Mart. They each got a new toy, which they both seem to be happy about. BL got a cool monster truck that lights up, honks, plays music, and moves forward on its own. AB got a cool little toy to put on his walker. Also, since I don't feel like cooking I ordered pizza. I had a $10 credit with Pizza Hut and they have a deal going on right now for any pizza $10. So, that was a good deal. I'm just waiting on it to get here. Soon after dinner, it will be bedtime for the kiddos. Then I can get some work done. I want to say I'm going to call it an early night, but we'll see. I do have a lot of work I'd like to get done.

Have you ever started out with a bad day that ultimately turned itself around? How did you help turn your day around?

If only I could say it were an awesome day.

I woke up today and it seems like it's going to be one of those days where nothing can go right. I feel like today will prove the saying of when it rains, it pours. The kids are fine, so it's not that. AB is still asleep and BL is eating his breakfast in a good mood. It's everything else. I can't seem to find one of my debit cards. I used it last night. I don't feel like I left it at the store, but I'm not entirely sure where I put it. It's really frustrating to me when I misplace things. I don't want to turn it off until I am absolutely positive it isn't here because if I do, it will be then that I find it. On top of that, it feels like I just can't do a single thing right this morning. Maybe I just need to go back to bed and re-start the day. Unfortunately, I've got about 2 1/2 hours until nap time.

I feel like the next two days are going to be the longest ever. I just want it to be Tuesday already. Most people use their weekends to relax, but Tuesdays are my weekend. It's my day to relax. I look forward to it every week. So, is it Tuesday yet?

What do you do when you are having a bad day? Do you have a favorite day of the week?

Lots of fears minimized.

Monday has been the day I have been dreading for about a week now. I've had a bill that needed to be paid by Monday and I've been unsure on how or if I would be able to pay it. Unfortunately, I don't have a money tree. However, by the grace of God it has all come together. This just puts truth in the saying that sometimes you just have to leave it up to The Big Guy. It was just getting really close to Monday, so I was freaking out.

I love it when I experience one of God's miracles. It really helps me to be more thankful for what I have. It also helps me to realize that others do have it worse than me; a lot worse. Seeing beggars on the street and reading the news really helps me to appreciate all of my little blessings in life.

Have you ever experienced a tough situation that you were unsure how you would work through? When a miracle happens in your life does it change how you think about things? Tell me about some of your little blessings.