When I realized that I loved skydiving and that I wanted to obtain a license, I started to think about the cost of the training, and the cost of purchasing my own equipment. The cost for AFF training at Orange was almost $3,000! Let's not forget the expensive part - gear! Brand new gear would cost roughly $6,000!

Several of my friends were very supportive and suggested that I just do it and make it part of our monthly budget. Staying at home with two kids is work - volunteering at school, driving carpools, doctors appointments, lawn care, dance lessons, dishes, laundry, house cleaning, making meals, etc. I didn't earn money, but I was providing a valuable service.

I should be entitled to spend some money on myself. I agree with that theory. However, initially skydiving is costly. Once I've been through training and have my own equipment, it could become part of our monthly budget.  Plus, my husband really didn't want me to skydive.

Since I have a BS in Accounting, I figured I could get a part-time job to pay for it. I could...work. What a great idea! After the summer, I could find a job and work one or two days a week to pay for this new hobby. I hate accounting, but I could suffer through a couple of days a week.

Then, I went to visit a friend who recently started working. She and her husband have acquired a new business, and it demands an enormous amount of their time. They were never home. I spent most of the visit just hanging out with the kids. One afternoon, my son remarked that they had a great house. They do...five bedrooms, three full baths, an awesome kitchen and a pool.

I asked him if he knew what was missing from the house. After a few minutes of looking around, he hesitated and then said, "I know this is going to sound mean, but this house is missing a mom." He was right! Or a parent - one of them should be around more often.

If I get a part-time job and a hobby, how would that affect my family? My husband is extremely busy during the week and was frequently gone on weekend nights. I would have to find an alternative way to pay for skydiving.