A Time of Sacrafice

I am really looking forward to this upcoming week. I'm on vacation from the day job until January 26 - nine whole days, but it doesn't mean I don't have plenty to do. I have articles to write online, a blanket to work on knitting, plenty of cleaning to do, more writing my in progress novel, creating marketing materials for my current one, running errands and taking time to celebrate the swearing in of a new president.

Today I am heading to the art store to get supplies for my son's Design class. I hope I will be able to get everything he needs before I run out of money. A couple years ago, I pictured him gone this year, off to college in another city, taking classes, working part time, coming home for the official breaks and maybe a couple other times. Getting help from grants and loans, etc.

But that hasn't happened. Plans are good to make, but taking them too seriously can have it's drawbacks. He took classes last year at the local community college, in high school as a PSEO student because the high school environment had worn him - but he still had to go to the high school part of the time. It was a hard year for him, and he ended up on academic suspension and lost his admission to the school he'd been planning on going to and also his financial aid eligibility -- until he redeems himself at the community college.

So that's this year. Most of his high school graduation money, and a contribution from me went to paying for four credits at the community college first semester. This semester I miraculously came up with the money for a 3 credit class - in Design. He's decided by the time his academic probation is clear he'll be close enough to his A.F.A in Art he may as well go ahead and get that before transferring. But, I really hope the financial aid works out next year so he can go full time. This is making things tight for everyone. More bills on the back burner, and we're all eating more dry beans and ramen. But I really believe he should keep going -- it's hard to start up again once you stop completely.

The books and supplies are turning out to be a small fortune. He would've contributed, but he hasn't been able to get a job. Instead he writes and draws a web comic, and a daily blog he just started which I am helping him try to figure out a way to profit from -- even a little. He also volunteers at Goodwill a couple days a week. That's at my insistence, if you can't work for money and you live at home-- you volunteer. Period. And he's still looking for a real job, helping his grandmother and studying.

I had planned on ordering a few copies of No Sensible People, and donating them to libraries while I was off work, but I can't now because there is nothing left after these college expenses. Maybe my taxes will catch me up -- at least part way. But in the meantime I think the sacrafice is worth it.

Gretchen Lee Bourquin is the author of No Sensible People available on Amazon.com and Lulu.com