Last Day

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Just over two years ago, I wrote this post about my husband starting a 2-year MBA program.

Today, is his last day.

I know I don’t have things as hard as some of my friends. My husband doesn’t travel for work; he still made it home for dinner most nights. He wasn’t deployed overseas; other than ten days doing a program in Brazil, his travel has been with our family. And, his work and school hours weren’t as heinous as someone starting life over as a chef; at least his Executive MBA program was designed to minimize the amount of on-campus time.

But, I’ve had to get used to him leaving for work before the sun rises so he can squeeze some studying in before his co-workers arrive.

I’ve had to tell the kids to quiet down after dinner because Daddy is on a call upstairs or signed in to a lecture.

I’ve learned to keep myself occupied with reality TV and Twitter before creeping into a dark and quiet bedroom.

And, I gained over 10 pounds these past two years. I never thought of his school and my appearance being related, but I wonder. I’m pretty certain that without Kristen, Bill and Jillian, I’d still have those 10 pounds, maybe more.

I haven’t been a “school widow” exactly, but there are times I’ve felt like I’m steering this big ol’ ship on my own. It wasn’t terrible or impossible, but it hasn’t been as much fun either.

When my husband “graduated” back in May, it was only a ceremony. We knew he still had a few more months of hard work ahead. For some reason, these four months have been the hardest on me mentally.

I remember one of the heads of his department speaking to us “spouses” at a gathering the night before the ceremony. He said that the period after school is one of adjustment for everyone and that it won’t always be easy.

He also asked us to hold back a few weeks before handing over the “Honey Do” lists we’ve shoved in a drawer for the past two years.


Screw the Honey Do list. Who’s up for Girls Night Out?

So, here’s to two years that, of course, went by in the blink of an eye. Here’s to all the hard work, the sacrifice and the compromise.

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Congratulations, Baby. We did it!

Comments

  1. Best. Wife. Ever.

  2. Best. Wife. Ever.

  3. Boston Mamas says

    YAY YAY YAY!!!!! Congrats to your family! I totally know how you feel since Jon was also doing the work/school juggle.

    Hope some celebrations are in order SOON. -Christine

  4. Boston Mamas says

    YAY YAY YAY!!!!! Congrats to your family! I totally know how you feel since Jon was also doing the work/school juggle.

    Hope some celebrations are in order SOON. -Christine

  5. Congrats to both of you for surviving this! Have fun celebrating.

  6. Congrats to both of you for surviving this! Have fun celebrating.

  7. Suburb Sierra says

    WHOOOOOHOOOOO! Wait…does this mean he's now officially too smart to hang with us under-educated folk?

    I remember when hubby moved to a normal day schedule from the overnight and suddenly the family unit snapped back into place. It's awesome!!

    Enjoy the accomplishment and having smarty-pants Reff back 😉

  8. Suburb Sierra says

    WHOOOOOHOOOOO! Wait…does this mean he's now officially too smart to hang with us under-educated folk?

    I remember when hubby moved to a normal day schedule from the overnight and suddenly the family unit snapped back into place. It's awesome!!

    Enjoy the accomplishment and having smarty-pants Reff back 😉

  9. Oh honey, I've called you an MBA widow. Obviously, it not that bad, but at times I can only imagine how frustrating and lonely it is. There should be a diploma for spouses, too.

    We are so proud of John and are more than impressed by the insane hours… working and then coming home to work some more… studying when sick and studying when just plain sick of it. Oh, I can't even imagine having the stamina or will to keep up with it for Two. Whole. Years.

    Just imagine how nice it will be to sleep in on a sunday morning, spend the day in PJs and enjoy bad reality tv. Together.

    We love you all for being such a superhero family.

    No when can we tap the keg?

  10. Oh honey, I've called you an MBA widow. Obviously, it not that bad, but at times I can only imagine how frustrating and lonely it is. There should be a diploma for spouses, too.

    We are so proud of John and are more than impressed by the insane hours… working and then coming home to work some more… studying when sick and studying when just plain sick of it. Oh, I can't even imagine having the stamina or will to keep up with it for Two. Whole. Years.

    Just imagine how nice it will be to sleep in on a sunday morning, spend the day in PJs and enjoy bad reality tv. Together.

    We love you all for being such a superhero family.

    No when can we tap the keg?

  11. Congratulations to the whole family!

  12. Congratulations to the whole family!

  13. Life As I Know It says

    Congratulations to all of you. I'm sure it was a looong few years, but well worth it!

  14. Life As I Know It says

    Congratulations to all of you. I'm sure it was a looong few years, but well worth it!

  15. Wendy Hawksley says

    Congratulations and best of luck!!!

  16. Wendy Hawksley says

    Congratulations and best of luck!!!

  17. anita tedaldi says

    that's awesome. Congratulation!!!!!! What a sweet post 🙂
    Ciao
    Anita

  18. anita tedaldi says

    that's awesome. Congratulation!!!!!! What a sweet post 🙂
    Ciao
    Anita

  19. and so nice of your hubby to post on facebook, so we all could read how much he appreciates you (he better) best to you both!

  20. and so nice of your hubby to post on facebook, so we all could read how much he appreciates you (he better) best to you both!

  21. Congratulations!

    How lucky he is to have you.

  22. Congratulations!

    How lucky he is to have you.

  23. Issas Crazy World says

    YAY on the end of it. 🙂

    Girls night out is the way to go. For sure. Ha.

  24. Issas Crazy World says

    YAY on the end of it. 🙂

    Girls night out is the way to go. For sure. Ha.

  25. You two are amazing! Congratulations!

  26. You two are amazing! Congratulations!

  27. OMG – that is so great!!!!

    We have at least 18 more months before my husband finishes school. And man, I can so relate to the leaving before the sun rises and then keeping the kids quiet so he can study bit.

    He finished his first set of 8 weeks (supposedly the "eay" part) and we took a much needed trip (of course, we felt just a little bad leaving the kids behind, but boy, we needed it!

    He starts the "hard part" in mid November and it scares me – there's no break from that for 18 months.

  28. OMG – that is so great!!!!

    We have at least 18 more months before my husband finishes school. And man, I can so relate to the leaving before the sun rises and then keeping the kids quiet so he can study bit.

    He finished his first set of 8 weeks (supposedly the "eay" part) and we took a much needed trip (of course, we felt just a little bad leaving the kids behind, but boy, we needed it!

    He starts the "hard part" in mid November and it scares me – there's no break from that for 18 months.

  29. Chicky Chicky Baby says

    Congratulations to you all!!

    Now that he's going to have more free time, we should plan another ladies night really soon. You know, on one of those few nights my husband is not traveling so he can watch the kids for a change. 😉

  30. Chicky Chicky Baby says

    Congratulations to you all!!

    Now that he's going to have more free time, we should plan another ladies night really soon. You know, on one of those few nights my husband is not traveling so he can watch the kids for a change. 😉

  31. My hubby did a 12 month full-time MBA at one of Canada's top business schools and we moved several provinces away for it. It was super hard. I know exactly what you're talking about. And you deserve congrats too! I know I felt a sense of accomplishment when he graduated and I was very glad to have him back again in the evenings when it was all done. So enjoy some time with him!

  32. My hubby did a 12 month full-time MBA at one of Canada's top business schools and we moved several provinces away for it. It was super hard. I know exactly what you're talking about. And you deserve congrats too! I know I felt a sense of accomplishment when he graduated and I was very glad to have him back again in the evenings when it was all done. So enjoy some time with him!

  33. CONGRATULATIONS! that is so much work for EVERYONE.

  34. CONGRATULATIONS! that is so much work for EVERYONE.

  35. Mrs. Chicken says

    Congrats to all of you! We have one more year to go. I get this.

    WOOT!

    ps – my bro went to Babson.

  36. Mrs. Chicken says

    Congrats to all of you! We have one more year to go. I get this.

    WOOT!

    ps – my bro went to Babson.

  37. CONGRATULATIONS!! That is a great picture…

  38. CONGRATULATIONS!! That is a great picture…

  39. Audrey at Barking Mad! says

    Congratulations! What a journey that must have been!

  40. Audrey at Barking Mad! says

    Congratulations! What a journey that must have been!

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