So, for reasons that I do not know, I have nearly always been one to under achieve, do just the minimum, find the shortcut. School, I did just enough to get by (high school and college). While I was in college, my dad (who got his degree in music performance and now is one step below VP for a major computer networking company) would tell me, all that matters is getting the piece of paper at the end. So, as long as I got the piece of paper with my degree, I put in the time to get it and that would suffice. So, when I was debating on yet another new major, I chose the major of "folding towels and washing pots and pans", otherwise known as Hotel and Restaurant Management. Sure, this meant some added business classes, but nothing was too hard. So, I did just the minimum for a degree, then did just the minimum for those classes.
I finally came across something I was interested in. Accounting. I had heard it was hard, very hard. So I was prepared to work and not get behind in the class at all. I loved it. I was one of the best in the class. My teacher tried to get me to change my major to accounting. I now wish that I had.
Back in my marching music days, I was in a drum and bugle corps group. I was also given a baritone part for a trio that included a soprano (trumpet) and a mellophone (marching French horn). Due to the placement of myself on the field after the trio, it made it nearly impossible for me to get to that spot without running like a bat out of hell, they made it just a soprano trio. As this was my first year in the group, I nearly quit. Well, technically, I did quit. I just never left the school where practice was going on. I learned that if that was the only reason I was staying in the first place, then I was not welcomed there. I didn't want to be not welcomed.
I stayed with that group for 2 years. The next 2, I continued to try to march with "the big guys", the real championship contenders. I would audition in November, make it, and come to practice in December, and find excuses to leave early, like catching my flight back to AZ. I would never go back for January. I would quit. So, my age out year at age 21 comes up. I make it in November, and am told with the rest of the hornline, if you made it and were an out of town member (not from the bay area of CA), you do not have to be here for December. Great, my family was leaving for a cruise the following day after the camp, so I would not go and just start with January. I was, after all, technically an out of town member. I had to fly in from school in AZ to attend the camp, even though my permanent place of residence was in the bay area. But, I had to fly in just like everyone else. I would skip the December camp with their blessing as it caused me so much trouble, and join in January and march my last year.
While on the cruise, I got an email from the director saying I was cut. I have no idea why. I had every intention on marching that last year and to this day, I hate him. Thankfully, he is no longer director of that group.
Why all this? Well, my friend Vanessa just posted about having a home birth. I know it truly was nature's way for us to give birth until medicine advanced and there are these "shortcuts" now. But, that, yes, our bodies were made to be able to do this. I don't judge people that choose this option. I had a good friend attempt this option with her first child only to have to have a c section at a hospital over 24 hours later. I don't think that they will regret this decision or wuss out or anything, because, we were made to be able to do this. I however, don't feel that I have the mentality to do this, thanks to my "do the minimum" mentality that has gotten me next to no where.
I really don't understand where it came from either. Both of my parents are very hard working, do the most, kind of people. Perhaps it was their parenting. Well, especially when you think about my dad's "just get the piece of paper" comment. I don't want my kid to be like me in that regards. I want him to reach for the stars and do what it takes to get stuff done, not just the minimum. I regret not having the will power for these things.
This is actually a wallpaper decal, not vinyl, that we can stick on. It's about 4 feet in length. So, instead of his shadow being stuck in the room, he'll be in there, ready to take Hunter to the place where time stands still. We also want to put up the words "Second star to the right and straight on 'til morning" above the window, as you're leaving the nursery, ready to start the journey to Neverland. This one below is not the exact one we ordered, I am currently unable to locate it, Jason found it. But, it's the basic idea. Just no Peter with it. 
