MLC

Yes. I'm experiencing an MLC, also known as mid-life crisis. I realize I'm probably not to "mid-life" yet, but whatever. It's a crisis none the less. Here is the dilemma.... WHAT AM I GOING TO BE WHEN I GROW UP?????

The past year I have been looking into early childhood education. I LOVE KIDS! They're so cute, and I love being able to help them grow and develop. I'm even in all of the pre-requisites for this major. I love the classes. I've learned so much.

(These are from the pre-school class I took in High School. I loved these little kids so much!)

However, as I was sitting in class yesterday it hit me... I really DON'T want to be a teacher. I don't want to teach a classroom full of little kids the same information from year to year. I would get bored. That's when I realized....

I still want to work with kids! Yeah, no idea what I'm going to do. I just would SO much rather work with kids through support/changing their lives/ giving them the things they need to properly develop... rather than just education. Don't get me wrong... that is important. Extremely important. But there is so much more that every child needs to develop and grow. They need love, support, a good home environment. SO MUCH! Stuff that education doesn't even come close to covering. Stuff that I would much rather be involved in.

So what course of action should I take to get where I want to go? Here are my thoughts:

• Recreational Therapy--- I had considered this before, but now more than ever it seems a far better option than education.
• School of Family Living, with an emphasis in Human Development--- I'm in a 210 level of this class right now. It's amazing. So interesting to learn why kids develop the way they do and how you can help them to develop properly.
  
• Social Work--- This would, by far, get me to where I want to be. Improving children's lives? HELLO! That's exactly what I want to do. However, I don't think BYU offers this major anymore, and I hear it's a completely draining job that burns you out quickly.
  

I don't know what else I should do. I'm sure there are more options that I don't know about. I don't even know how to get where I want to go. I just want to help kids, on more than an education level. I think it is all part of the orphanage thing... I simply feel horrible when I think about how some kids are being treated. It's not fair. They don't deserve it. I want to help them, SO bad. If you have any suggestions as to what I can be when I grow up, PLEASE let me know. I'm in serious need of some help on the matter :)

(Look how CUTE little kids are!!!! Of course I want to work with them!!)

Recent Discoveries

So here it is. My new findings as of late.

• So, 2 guys have gotten either ENGAGED or MARRIED to the girl that they DATED right after ME! Lets just say, thank goodness for the awkward-standoffish-stay away-I hate you vibe that emanates from me. It proves to have come in handy a time or 2. Or 3. Or 4.
  

• 9 months and 3 days in the future could NOT come soon enough!

• There has been FAR too much snow this winter, and I am more than ready for it to be done already. However, my handicap pass is quite nice and convenient during this time of the year...
  

• I would love, more than ANYTHING, to volunteer at an orphanage...just to hold the babies and show them that people love them so they can live long lives. It breaks my heart to think of the little kids laying in rooms all day, everyday, without any physical contact from adults. Volunteering at an orphanage is my DREAM!

• There is nothing wrong with epidurals. In fact, there is no doubt in my mind that I will be all for them someday :)
  
• Watching 3 baby births in 1 day was perfectly wonderful birth control. In fact, possibly the ULTIMATE birth control. I keep being told that one day I'll get over this form of birth control.
• Authoritative parenting works FAR better than yelling. Discipline with love, not with anger. (I just wrote a paper on this... so interesting! Kids respond so much better, plus they feel loved... and in the end, they don't act out nearly as much!)
• Little elementary kids are very entertaining and sweet. They always give me such nice compliments. I like them. :)
• Clorox wipes are probably the greatest invention next to duct tape. With post-it notes coming in a close 3rd. They help me on a daily basis when it comes to cleaning up my lovely roommates crumbs. And when I say daily, I mean DAILY. They are an outstanding thing.

And now... you can go and ponder these little pieces of information that have come to me during my wonderful days of sitting through long classes and my confrontations with wonderful roommates whom I adore so much. And, just random stuff because I'm weird and like doing weird posts :)