Karie Does Some Self-Evaluation

Wow! I’ve gotten some fabulous, supportive, and funny responses. Thank you all! I was going to keep the writing thing under wraps until I’d actually been published, but it’s too hard to keep it a secret, especially as it eats up a noticeable portion of my time.

There was one person, who does not read this blog, that thought I was going for my doctorate because I was bored. I have to say, that response infuriated me. This person thinks that they know me fairly well and has said as much. As I was thinking about it, however, I realized that this person only had a very superficial idea of how much prayer and consideration I was putting into my decision. I honestly felt (and still do) that it was what I was supposed to do at the time. I didn’t know how I was going to make it work, but in no way was I going to set aside my children to pursue extra education. Mat and I are very firmly against putting our children into daycare unnecessarily—his three years of working at a daycare solidified that opinion. There were women whose children attended the daycare from the time they were six weeks old, but the mothers themselves didn’t work, didn’t volunteer, were in the higher end of the tax brackets. Not surprisingly, their children had some serious behavior problems. But that’s not my point. The point is that I wasn’t sure how it all was going to work, getting my education while Mat worked and we had small children, but I was going to trust in the Lord that He would prepare the way for me. I was not BORED.

As I was processing that person’s response, I had to evaluate, again, my focus as a mother. President Hinckley said, “Teach your children when they are young and small, and never quit. As long as they are in your home, let them be your primary interest.” Here’s what I see my life (and thus my primary interests) as, after my short evaluation: I am a mother—it’s second nature for my children to be my primary interest, enough that I don’t even think about it anymore. Also, I am a writer—this is what I sacrifice my precious, precious sleep for. When I have another kid, well, that’s what I’ll be sacrificing my sleep for. It’s a cycle that leaves me without a lot of sleep. I have a lot of secondary interests that I pursue, such as sewing and reading and what-have-you, and if I don’t pursue them somewhat I get cranky. But my kids come first. The writing and other interests get put on hold when they’re babies or when they’re sick. So to that person I say, “My priorities are in order.” End of processing. I am at peace with myself again. For the moment.

In other news, have you ever watched the Miracle Blade commercials? They’re the ones that feature Chef Tony slicing aluminum cans, putting a serious dent in a hammer head, then slicing a tomato paper thin. Mat and I, when we watch the commercial, are always in awe that he has all his fingers. The man slices so fast, while he’s talking, and yet he never leaves blood on the cutting board (that we see). Anyway, we saw the knife set at the grocery store last week. Normally the full set is $40 plus shipping and handling. At the store? $20, no shipping, no handling! Sweet deal! We snapped them up and have been playing with them ever since. I have to admit, between these Miracle Blades and the Cutco knives that Mat’s sister got us for our wedding, I’m in danger of losing an appendage. Each set of knives has definitely been fully inaugurated with my blood, that’s for sure. As I type this, I have a nice bandage on one thumb. Of course, the way I was cutting the chicken would have gotten a corner cut off my Totem Chip, so I’m lucky it was a little slice. But the Miracle Blades are definitely sharp. I won’t let Mat slice up the hammers, though, much to his chagrin.


And now we have a picture of father and daughter (Afton) studying together. Enjoy.