We Joined the Country Club

I can’t tell you how often I feel the envy rise in my blood when I see pictures of friends’ beach vacations or read about yet another date night or impromptu road trip via Facebook updates. I am just not good at being “not the jealous type”. Last week I was starting to feel a little sorry for myself, but then I realized, I’m 29 (yes, I am implying that is young). I have a toddler and am expecting another baby in several weeks. I have a husband who has managed to find that delicate balance of hard work and quality time with the family. I only work part time from home. We keep our house at 70 degrees at night and occasionally let food go to waste in the fridge while going out for sushi. What do I really expect?

I’m learning to take my luxury in small doses! I was just on the phone with mom telling her how my standards seem to have shifted in the past couple years, and there are some afternoons sitting by the Walmart kiddie pool with my feet propped up that I feel so darn glamorous, like the luckiest woman in the world. Welcome to our country club! The best part is there are no skinny bleach blonds with their just barely chubby toddlers dressed in seersucker to judge me in my purple tank top and green gym shorts as I sip on ice water and share a box of Cheese-It crackers with my toddler who is probably in the middle of his week-long hair cut where I get to the back one day, the right side the next, the left side the day after that, and trim up the stragglers the last two days. This life, this season is absolutely precious, and there is not a moment to waste on envy or wishing or being anything less than absolutely grateful for what I’ve been given.