Rejected

Well I got into the Bach of Midwifery at ACU.

Even though I already had it in my head that I wasn't going to accept the offer if I did get in, I couldn't reject it without exploring every possible option to see if maybe there was a way. Nope, not going to work, unless I was prepared to put the kids in day care and sacrifice so much of our family time. The uni is a 2 hour each way trip from here, way too far. I spent the whole day going over and over the timetable, trying to work out if everything could be crammed into the one day. Well it could, but would mean from 8am -8pm of solid lectures, prac's and tutorials. Yeah, way to get burnt out quickly hey!

Next idea was to start Nursing at a uni closer to me. I was keen for that, eager to get started and closer to the end. However after having a chat to the the lady in charge of Midwifery, she's not too confident that the nursing subjects would give me any credits for Midwifery. The curriculum hasn't been set yet, and she thinks they will make the subject a lot more midwifery specific. She's the one to take advice off, considering she's setting up the course for 2010. It was great to chat with her, really put everything back into perspective. She asked how old I was and also how old the kids are, then told me that I was only young and the kids are only young so enjoy them for the year. She explained how the Mid course is so demanding on families as you have to do so much practical work and also follow through 30 women with antenatal, birth and post natal appointments. She suggested that I spend this year getting ready for next year, involving myself in all things babies and birth and reading everything about maternity that I can get my hands on. No one has any real idea what the ranking will be to get into it, there's talk that it will be high seen as how it is the first year and plenty of people are eager to get in. I hope that my 89 will be enough to give me a spot, even the last one - I really don't mind.

So I am a lady of leisure for 2009. It's going to be a great year for me too, I'll make sure of that! The kids are less dependant on me now, so I'm getting lots of me time. I'm making the effort to go walking as much as I can, trying for every second night to get out with a dog and clear my head.. I'm keen to start a photography course and hopefully work out what all the extra buttons and dials are on my camera. Duane & I are going to make more time for each other, whether it be out of the house or after the kids have gone to bed.

It's also a big year for our group of friends. 2 of my best friends are having babies this year and I am looking forward to helping them out as much as I can. I know how appreciated it is to have an extra pair of hands, whether its meals being prepared, washing up down, clothes hung out or just holding onto a newborn thats still adjusting to the outside world whilst Mum has a quick shower. I missed out on helping with the first round of babies, and now my kids are a little older I can offer more assistance.

So 2009 is going to be a productive year, lots of things I want to achieve and also lots of time to just be a family.

I know it is the right thing to do, but it absolutely killed me to press "reject" on my application.

It's my dream, it was there and now I'm just hoping and praying that I get an offer next year at Griffith.