What it's all about

It's no secret that I'm a planner.

I pretty much have a five year life plan rolling around in my head at all times. I know how long I want to stay in our house (another 4 years max), when we should buy a new car (next month), and where our first post-baby vacation will be (Spain).

These aren't rigid plans by any means. I'm open to things evolving and changing. But I like having an idea of what's coming next.

Part of the plan in recent years has been for me to go back to school. UW Oshkosh has the master's program I'm looking for (Student Affairs in Higher Education), but I never really considered attending. I wanted to go to a larger school. I wanted to enroll in a more competitive program. I wanted to live in a new city.

Seeing a pattern here? The decision was all about me.

Ben was promoted at work recently. He went from a job that was fine and paid the bills, to a job with more responsibility that he really enjoys. It's challenging. It's interesting. Its given him a whole new perspective about his professional career.

Its been great to watch his attitude about work shift. He's taking pride in what he does. His days are long, but they're also more fulfilling. He really loves it. And then it hit me. It's not all about me anymore.

We've been married for three years. You'd think this realization would have come to me sooner. But truthfully, it didn't. I was still thinking primarily about what I wanted, not what was best for us.

It's not as if I was making these life decisions without Ben. He was open to and excited about a move. He was ready for a new adventure. He was incredibly supportive of my goals. But that's Ben. It would never occur to him not to put me first, even though he's happy and thriving right where we're at. He's an incredibly kind, wonderful, generous partner.

Somewhere between Ben's promotion and expecting a baby, I realized that uprooting our family was incredibly selfish. Especially when I can get the education I want right here. For now, I see that staying put is what's best for both of us.

After all, we have an incredible support network of family and friends. A home to call our own. And a life full of love and laughter.

That's what it's all about.