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"We're poor?!?" and Intentional Living

March 8th, 2012 at 03:03 pm

My wake/sleep cycle is still a bit whacked, leaving me prone to sleepless nights and cath-up naps at odd hours. I got through spurts and cycles, and I'm hoping it's ending soon. I happened to be napping at 7:00 on the couch in the family room, my boys love the show "Ninjago" featuring characters made of Legos battling an evil dojo. Anyhow, at 7:15 my older daughter wakes me up and given me a thick envelope.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you, I'm being nominated for a scholarship. They'd like the forms by Friday."

Turns out that she is the student that our parish's CCW decided to nominate, based on those who value Catholic education the most and also have a demonstrated financial need.

My 4th grader is listening intently to this. We were talking about demonstrated financial need with our 7th grader, we have a large family on a not-so-large salary, in a very expensive area, and we are sevice-oriented in our the amount of time and talent we share with our parish family. He took away from that the simple idea "We're poor?!?"

I love that he has missed the fact that he doesn't pariticpate in the extremely competitive and expensive hockey team that most of the other students in his grade due. (Where a set of skates cost $200 and hockey sticks are $150). I love the fact that he is happy with his small day trips during Spring Break (to the Arboretum, Zoo, Museum) and that he misses the fact that most people in his grade vacation in Cancun or Aspen, Colorado. I love the fact that he is happy to have new-to-him clothes (muchos gracias a Debbie de New Jersey Smile ), I love the fact that he is happy to be able to pick three hot lunches a months (out of the eight available days, because that is all I can afford). I love the fact that he is thrilled that he can fit into my old Rollerblades. I guess looking at it from his POV, it is kind of shocking that we are deemed "poor".

Thankfully we've done scholarships earlier this year, so it is just a matter of copying more paperwork and making two phone calls to add this scholarship to the list of people who can access my daughter's information. I am off to type her letter to the Scholarship Committee now.

Tomorrow is the Regional Science Fair that oldest daughter moved on to. Should be lots of fun. DH and I are going and volunteering. I'm hoping that her project moves onto State. She and her partner did a great job.

Intentional Living. That is what I'm trying to do lately, mostly inspired by Lent. Thinking about what I'm doing rather than just doing. It's involved turning the TV off and rereading some of my old favorites with the younger kids (Junie B. Jones, for example). It's a matter of bringing CDs into the car to listen to, rather than putting on the radio to listen to any old thing. It's planning for a few days in adavance, and being able to be flexible at the same time.

Observations: We're adhering to an earlier bed time and listening to a book on tape. Children are happier when they are better rested. Grocery shopping: I'm going every fourth day. I'm spending WAY less and my fridge seems full all the time (rather than bare as Mother Hubbard by Day 11 when I shop every two weeks). The chaos level in the house has diminished with the nicer weather outside. We've engaged the boys in coming up with Cub Scout badges and requirements they'd like to work on. The girls are going to do a Cheerleading camp this summer and didn't ask if they could invite friends, they seemed happy to be with each other (I think they'll have some separation issues next school year when they are at different schools Frown )

I also cast aside worry about finances in light of DH considering the diaconite. We've had the good fortune of generosity from a cyber friend when I was worried about clothes. We've had the good fortunte that our girl is being considered for a scholarship given the high cost of secondary Catholic education. It is all fine. Smile

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments »

6 Responses to “"We're poor?!?" and Intentional Living”

  1. Momma23 Says:
    March 8th, 2012 at 03:21 pm 1331220114
    1331220114

    Can you tell me more about how you find schlorships? School counselor isn't much help.

  2. ceejay74 Says:
    March 8th, 2012 at 05:40 pm 1331228416
    1331228416

    That is too cool, about your son! LOL. I remember at a certain point deciding that my family must be somewhat poor, because of the shabby furniture, lack of TVs or other high-tech toys, hand-me-down clothes, and overall thriftiness. It was really only in high school, when I was one of the first friends in my group to get a (used) car, and in college, when my dad would consent to buy me bigger things once in a while (trip to CA, video camera, another car when my first one died) that I had a bit of a revelation, "We're rich?!?" (My dad's not rich, just extremely hardworking and both my parents have simple needs and are very careful with money. But when they do splurge, it's usually to the benefit of their kids.) It's funny how kids can develop their own perceptions that can be quite far off. In your case, definitely a testament to good, smart parenting, that your son is well-taken-care-of but not at all spoiled, and in a big family with less than two incomes.

  3. Looking Forward Says:
    March 8th, 2012 at 07:17 pm 1331234230
    1331234230

    Big Grin Things sound good.

  4. rob62521 Says:
    March 10th, 2012 at 01:14 am 1331342072
    1331342072

    I like the intentional living part. Good ideas...I think I'm going to try and follow your example.

    That's great about the scholarship, but more importantly that your daughter is a good example of living her faith! :-)

  5. SicilyYoder Says:
    March 11th, 2012 at 01:17 am 1331428659
    1331428659

    I know all about the school lunches being expensive. When I first became a foster mom of my nephew and niece,I had Andrew at an SDA Junior Academy. He always liked the larger juices, and it was expensive. I would juggle money and cut back on my lunches so he could have the larger juice- my peanut butter sandwiches and carrot sticks were healthier for me, anyway. Deanna wasn't old enough to go the Academy, so I had o drop her on in Frankfort, then drive Andrew to Lexington. I would cut down by horse farms. I had the lady that cleaned the church watch him, as I didn't get off work until 4:30 PM. She watched another academy girl along he horse-farm route, so that helped out. But, I would do it all again, so my child could be in a Christian school.
    Congratulations on the scholarship. Your life sounds very rich, not poor:>)

  6. Jerry Says:
    March 11th, 2012 at 08:35 pm 1331498112
    1331498112

    That is sure true about the cost of hockey... it's one of the most expensive sports to gear up for, and ice time itself isn't cheap. It leads to a heavy cost, which is unfortunate because it's also the most fun sport I have ever played. Still, it's nice to have the insurance that your child is happy and enjoys his activities and his life. That is a great thing, and congrats on the scholarship!
    Jerry

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