Sacrifices

This parenting thing is already testing me.

We're not even really parents yet but I feel like I'm already thinking about this child more than myself. I guess that is exactly what is supposed to happen when you have a kid. You, ya know, put their needs ahead of your own. Well this baby isn't even here yet and I'm already trying to make decisions that will better his/her future.

The reason this is so on my mind right now is due to the events of last weekend. This time last week I should have been in Myrtle Beach. Where was I you ask? Here, in Columbus, having a very average weekend. When I was asked by some friends to join them at the beach I wanted nothing more than to say yes. However, being a good student of Dave Ramsey, I consulted our budget to see how much money we could spare so I could go on this trip. Looking the budget over there was definitely money for me to go....

...However, knowing that in November our lives were going to change drastically forever, I could hardly bring myself to spend this money. Right now we already have the bill from the doctor for my appointments, ultrasounds, and her fees. After that we will get what I'm sure will be a fairly large hospital bill. Then of course we are bringing home a baby who needs diapers, food, clothes, and all that other stuff. Like I always say, I'm not trying to complain and I certainly don't want anyone to think "oh, those poor kids!" 

As parents, Tim and I have decided to slow down our spending and save money like it's going out of print in an attempt to be better prepared for this child. This decision has come at a cost to us. This means that we will spend less time going out with friends, we will eat less expensive food, and we will certainly not go to the beach. It just seems silly to us to spend our extra money which can be saved for the hospital bills and such on things that aren't really that important.

Becoming a parent has been a humbling experience of our lives. While becoming so focused on this tiny being we are then forced to push down our own wants and desires. But isn't this exactly what all good parents do? How much more respect do I now have for my own parents. How much have they sacrificed over the years? I'm 25 years old---they must have given up thousands of things for me over the years. And I know that this simple sacrifice of saying no to one vacation is the first of thousands of sacrifices that I will make for this child. Not just financial sacrifices but I know that I will have to sacrifice my time, energy, and every resource I have available for this child.

So, to be honest, it was REALLY HARD for me to say no to this girls weekend at the beach. However, when that baby comes home with us, I know these temporary feelings of jealousy and sadness of not being able to go will leave. So this post is for all you current parents, who understand way more than me that being a parent is easily the most humbling job on the planet. I still have a lot to learn!