Mrs. Practicality

I do not delight in being the practical one.

Between my husband and I, I am always the person looking at the practicality of things.

In my mind, I believe that it is typically husband's who are more frugal and practical in purchases and spending; while wives are slightly more impulsive and carefree in their spending. Please correct me if I am wrong.

This role, of Mrs. Practicality, has just become painfully clear to me this weekend.

Let me begin by stating that from the beginning of November until the beginning of January, our family is inundated with special events and holidays this year: two 20th year class reunions, eight birthdays (including my my son's 7th and my mom's 60th), Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's.

Now, we have known about these events all year. And as a one-income family, we have had to monitor our spending all year in preparation for these special events and holidays.

So, last week when my husband's best friend called to say he was getting married, we were excited.

Until he told us it was in Disney World. In Florida. At the end of October.

Taking a trip to Disney, with a family of four, is not a cheap trip. It is a financial event which, even in a dual-income family, typically must be planned well in advance and saved for. We are a single-income family, and we have not planned for a trip to Disney.

Plus, I am not in favor of telling Drewby his birthday will now be celebrated by the four of us in Disney. For an entire year, he has been asking for a birthday party with his friends. He will be seven and has only ever had one birthday party with a few friends. We have told him since last year, "You can have a party when you turn 7". That is this November.

I am also not in favor of telling my children that Santa (yes, Miss M still wants to believe) will be leaving less presents if we go to Disney. And, unfortunately, that is the cold, hard truth.

I have run the numbers many different ways. Flying, driving, staying in the park, staying out of the park, doing five days in Florida, doing only three days in Florida: I just do not see an economically feasible way for us to add another financial commitment into the mix at that time of year.

Hubby really wants to go to his friends wedding. I understand that. I have told my husband he can go to the wedding alone, but he will need to figure a way to tell the children why he is going and we are not. I am not trying to make him out to be the bad guy, but get him to see that we cannot always afford to do what we want.

Mrs. Practicality. That's me. Again.

Hubby knows, deep down, we cannot do this trip. And I know in my heart, he will decide the right thing.

Til next time, I'll still be....

Being Brenda

Remembering Maria

Today, Maria would have been 39 years old.

Maria was one of my good friends. We met through our daughters - they were in Kindergarten together and danced together. And Maria was their dance teacher.

She showed our daughters, and many other girls, that dancing was a sport. It took skill, grace, determination, focus, effort, and sacrifice. All the while, showing them how to have fun and believe in themselves.

To many of her students, she was more than a teacher; she was a mentor, a confidant, and a friend.

Maria was a competitor. She taught our daughters how to compete with grace, win with grace, and most importantly - how to lose gracefully (although as a group, they did not lose very often).

She was a wonderful wife and mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend. She had a radiant smile and could warm a room with her presence.

Maria passed away suddenly on June 9th, 2006.

Happy Birthday, Maria. Always will I miss you; Never will I forget you.


Til next time, I'll still be...


Being Brenda