Brandon (and our family) have completed term 1 of the Duke MBA program! I would say it was not the easiest 3 months of our lives, but we were able to manage. Brandon had some late nights and weekends away from me and the kids, but we tried to sneak in as much family time as we could. Brandon really is enjoying what he is studying and believes he has done well in the classes he has completed.
To celebrate Brandon finishing his first term and try to catch our breath before the second one begins we decided to take a quick trip to Greensboro. It was a great time to visit with family, have some good food, get a little help with the kids, and just escape our normal lives for a day or two. Brandon's only request was that we ate at Yum Yum's hotdogs for lunch one day, which we did, but most of our time in our hometown was just to relax and actually get to talk to one another.
We enjoyed our time so much we decided to stay an extra day and make the quick drive over to Stone Mountain to enjoy the beautiful weather. We have hiked to the waterfalls and the overlook many times, but never made it to the summit with all the kids (or any kids for that matter). If you've never been before, in order to reach the top from the front of the mountain you must climb hundreds of steps and at the very top literally climb on your hands and knees up the rock to reach the summit. It is quite a feeling of accomplishment to look over the edge from the top. To reach the summit from the backside you just walk up a paved trail with just a bit of an incline the last 1/4 mile. It was quite fun to see the faces of a few that climbed up the stairs, pulling themselves to the top for the first time only to see Brandon and I in our flip flops with 3 kids and a double stroller waiting for them at the top.
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We made it back to Apex just in time to make a quick late dinner and rush the kids off to bed. It was good to be home, but we both knew what waited for us when we got there. Term 2. Duke has warned us that this is going to be the worst term of the entire program. The next 4 months are meant to break the students down to nothing so they can build them up to be the Duke MBA students they expect. I've heard horror stories of men crying by just reading the schedule. So until it's over all we are requiring of Brandon is to go to work and get through this program. Well, and probably attend Bella's first birthday party and maybe join us at the table for Thanksgiving dinner. The rest of us will man the fort and support him in any way we can. Some days the best way for us to do that is to just NOT be here for him. Ever studied for an MBA with a baby crying, a toddler breaking into your office to show you her boo boo, and a 1st grader playing twinkle twinkle on the violin for the millionth time? It's not for the faint of heart. Anyone interested in a visit from me and the girls while we are escaping?! Bring on December 6th!
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