Many of you reading this post are parents and completely understand and sympathize with me when I say – today has been one of those days where I have constantly needed to remind myself that my children are a blessing.

First, let me define drawing closer to someone. By drawing closer I am specifically referring to spending quality time. Time that will encourage communication, increase love, build understanding and result in laughter.

The financial difficulties that we’ve experienced in recent years should both reinforce the need for financial education and give you a sense of the exact types of skills you need to pass on to your child.

As a young mother of three beautiful children and the wife of a grad student, I have been forced back into the college budget. You know, the one where after all bills and obligations are payed you have approximately $50 to live on (small exaggeration).

The Federal government is willing to give me enough financial aid to cover my child care payments but will not give me any assistance in providing for my children in the home.

In my last year of college, a visiting lecturer to one of my classes gave us several ideas on how to be more frugal and better investors. I loved one of his ideas for having a great time as families without breaking the bank.

Today I danced in the rain. In fact, it’s still coming down outside my open window as I’m typing this note. My wife and daughter went outside to puddle jump and beckoned me to follow. I don’t like getting wet much.

I think that I owe you an explanation. I haven’t posted anything since February. I had actually decided to quit completely.

As a young child, I was a bit of a runt. Short, but very thin. Then that whole puberty thing happened and I started to put on weight. I never got that big, but I never thinned out again.

For some reason, we’ve decided to celebrate the insane. I’m sitting here thinking about our financial situation and what we can do to get ahead while Lady Gaga is playing on the radio.

One of the greatest challenges that we face as adults, and especially as parents, is learning to sacrifice our wants and desires for the sake of our family. I believe that the very acting of having a child is one of the most selfless things that anyone can do.

Several of my friends have asked why we would choose to be unmedicated. I hope to answer that question with this post.