FUN EXCURSION: UNC-Chapel Hill

Saturday, May 12, 2012, was an important day for me.  After five long years, I graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill’s Gillings School of Global Public Health with my Master’s in Public Health.  While working nearly full time as a PR consultant.  And raising three kids. Attempting to have some kind of fun with them on a weekly basis for a “Fun Adventure.” Not to mention devoting at least two nights a year to “date night” with my husband.

There were little breaks here and there, like whenever I delivered a baby.  But, I was paid back with double-duty this spring, taking a class and working 10 hours a week at a practicum for “real world experience” on top of everything else. 

At one point, I realized that I’ve been in school (or studying for the entrance exam) for the length of my kids whole little lives.  It’s the reason why I said “no” to Saturday night games of Star Wars Monopoly, or reading an extra book before bedtime, or making a better-tasting dinner, or doing the dishes, or having an organized linen closet. But, my kids survived, thank you. And learned about delayed gratification by way of “I will play Monopoly with you three months from now when I am done with my homework.”

And so, as far as lessons go, I wanted my older two kids to see me walk up on that stage, wearing my cap and gown and cool Salmon-colored sash, shake some hands and hear some cheers for the graduates. The drive would be long – nearly three hours up from Charlotte and three hours home in the same day.  But I knew they could do it, and they did.  I wanted them to see that sometimes a lot of little “no’s” to things that you want to do at any given moment can add up to one big “YES” down the road.

Visiting the Chapel Hill campus, our kids were super excited to pick out fun trinkets from the book store and promises about cake at the reception following the ceremony.  Realizing they could (and SHOULD) yell at the top of their lungs when my name was called put the day over the top.  And, yell they did, “MY MOM ROCKS!!!”

And so, with my new-found free time, I am looking forward to getting a life and getting out a little more.  Expanding my “Fun Adventures” to include (gasp) cool date night places and even, dare I say, an outing with friends once in a while.  But, I don’t want to get too ahead of myself.  After all, my poor linen closet has been waiting years to spend some time with me.