not what I was going to write about

I didn't know what I was going to blog about tonight.  I thought about Harlow, again.  She brings me such happiness so often that I like to share it with the world.  I thought about being kind, but luckily my lesson in being kind called in sick today.  My blog might be about being kind tomorrow.
At tenish tonight, Hayley came into the house and let me know what my blog was going to be about.  My blog is going to be about changing the mind. 
Hayley moved back home in December and switched from UNI and life in the dorms to DMACC and life in the bedroom next to ours.  Though our house is very fun, there are no pick up football games, theme bathroom stalls or taco bars in our dining facility.  Oh, she is saving a ton of money.  I think somewhere around seven thousand dollars.  And that is great.  But at what cost?
Watching Hayley this past month, I think the cost is pretty high.  Hayley is going to class, she is working at Hy Vee, she is babysitting.  Hayley is getting her homework done.  She has taken up boxing in the basement.  She goofs off with Jacob.  But every night Hayley is on the computer with her friends from UNI. 
So tonight Hayley decided to go back to UNI in the fall.  And Danny and I are supporting this decision.  We were proud that she was trying to save money.  That was a very grown up decision to make but Hayley is not a grown up.  She shouldn't have to make those decisions yet.  Hell, Danny and I are in our forties and we don't want to make grown up money decisions.
I am glad that she is going back to UNI. 
In four years, Hayley will be broke just like every other kid that is graduating from college.  Her debt might be a little less then some of the others, but it is going to be there just the same.  But Hayley will have four years of memories that money can't buy.  And there is no other place in her life that will be like college. 
So, in eight months, we will move Hayley back up to UNI.  The bedroom that was going to be my room that is now Hayley's room will become the guest bedroom.  Danny has already started framing my room in the basement and if you ever read my Facebook status's, then you already know how excited I am about this room! 
Hayley made the comment tonight that "at least she tried".  In that comment was a hint of failure but she didn't fail.  Not at all.  Hayley made a decision based on money and made a better decision based on her happiness.  I call that success!