The To-Do List
Do the laundry, make dinner, pay the bills, pack the kids’ lunches, clean the house, walk the dog, feed the cat, 5:00 soccer practice. . . This is the ‘to-do’ list rattling around in your head, even before your alarm goes off at 6:00 AM.
Then your day begins and SURPRISE!! You learn you are in charge of homeroom snacks today (which, by the way, your son just remembered to tell you on the way to school) and wait for it . . . your daughter informs you that she needs a Sebastian “The Lobster” costume by tomorrow for her debut in the middle school play ‘The Little Mermaid” which starts Friday. AHHH!! (You are SO happy she got the part, but come on?!)
I know this sounds familiar to many of you.
What is surprising to me is that even now, being an ‘empty nester’, as I lay in bed before my alarm goes off, there is still that pestering, sometimes exhilarating, list of things to do tapping me on the shoulder, begging for my attention.
Maybe not “kid” specific duties anymore. However, those child-rearing responsibilities (originally for the benefit of my boys) have found a way to be replaced by work deadlines and commitments, volunteering, extended family issues, new hobbies and passion, you name it.
As many of you know, my husband and I raised two boys. We were both dedicated to our careers when we got married, and when our oldest was born in 1993, I made the conscious decision to pursue a full-time career and be a full-time mom, which many of you have done. My second son was born four years later in 1997.
As the boys grew up, they became involved in what seemed to be every activity the school had to offer. Not surprisingly, most of those being athletic activities, and our weeks were always full. My husband was the high-school boys’ basketball coach in our community, and there were many (most) winter nights that I was on my own to tackle everything on the calendar.
There were many times I felt alone. . . and very tired.
You Are Not Alone
Over the years, I have taken time to reflect and realize that I was not really alone. There were people who were willing to help me. If only I had been courageous enough or not so proud to ask for help from friends, neighbors, professionals, my parents, and so on. I could have relied on others to come alongside me and relieve me of some of my burden.
It’s kind of like this with our money. We can handle (or attempt to handle) things on our own for a while, but then things change and finances get complicated. We try to manage our money and stick to a budget, to pay down debt, save for college or retirement, and it becomes overwhelming.
We tend to plan for financial issues we know about and are familiar with, but often we don’t think about or plan for those unexpected financial issues or surprises (aka: life events) that we cannot predict.
The great news is you don’t have to do it alone. It is not a sign of weakness to ask for help. There are financial professionals that can come alongside and help you put together a financial plan. Maybe talking to a trusted advisor has been one of those nagging items you have had on your to-do list or maybe it is one of your New Year’s Resolutions. Maybe a loved one or someone in your life could benefit from meeting with a financial professional. Regardless, take the time to determine if you need help and don’t hesitate to reach out for help! Contact us to get the conversation started.
Financial Planning and Investment Advice offered through Compass Financial Services, a Registered Investment Adviser and a separate entity from LPL Financial. Securities Offered Through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC.