I want a simple life. It's all I've ever really wanted. I thought I was on my way when my husband and I started our own business. I thought we would move out to the country, start a homestead, and live the life I always wanted. But that's not what happened. As the business grew more successful he became more and more obsessed with material possessions and status symbols and more and more verbally and financially abusive.
So this fall, I made a change, we are getting a divorce, after 5 years of marriage, and I find myself with my son, my clothes, a few pieces of furniture, and a car, and no money as he took everything. I'm living with my parents and I got a job. Thankfully my first paycheck will be coming at the end of this week. It will be the first time in 4 years that I have my own money.
I got a job substitute teaching. The pay isn't great, but I like the challenge and the flexible schedule. This divorce has given me the chance to examine myself and my life and the opportunity to choose where to go from here. I've got nowhere to go but up, I suppose. The plethora of choices has me floundering a bit.
A. I could go back to school and get my teaching credential. Within 1.5 years, I could be teaching and earning a decent salary that would provide for myself and my son. I may never be rich on a teacher salary, but especially where we live, teachers a paid quite well. I do enjoy teaching, but I'm questioning if I'm rushing this out of fear. Tuition wouldn't be a problem, as my dad has generously offered to fill in any gap left after scholarships and finaid. But I hate the thought of taking all that money. This is definitely the option my dad is pushing me toward.
B. I could continue to substitute teach while building another business. I'm crafty/artsy and probably could do ok selling the things I make. It wouldn't be a predictable living or a lot of money, and there's a chance it wouldn't always be enough, but I love making things and building a business from home would let me be there for my son, and it wouldn't be the first business I have started. I have experience building a website in WordPress and have started taking codeacademy courses. I have several ideas for websites I would like to try to build.
C. Something else. Wait and see. The divorce isn't final yet and I'm fresh from an abusive relationship. I feel like maybe I shouldn't be making any long term decisions yet.
Why did I post this here? I want to live a simple life. I want to declutter. My dream is to live on a small, sustainable farm. My parents do not live simply, the amount of toys they are buying my son for Christmas borders on obscene to me. He doesn't need those things. One or two new hotwheels and some clothes would have been fine, but he's getting like 20 hot wheels, a bulldozer, more mega blocks, etc, etc. He's 2, he'll never play with all of it.
I'll need to get my own place, if I am to raise him how I see fit. And I'll need to be able to afford my own place, and I'd like to be able to pursue my dream. So what do I do? How long do I live with my parents saving for my dream, but around a lifestyle I disagree with? I'm torn between my choices. What are your thoughts r/simpleliving?
Submitted December 24, 2017 at 02:09PM by Laughters_Mother http://ift.tt/2kRkvjU
