ChiKat

I have two bad qualities that I am trying to change.

The first is that I can be very judgmental. I try to be laid-back and open-minded. I try to be calm. But really, those aren't my natural qualities. Worse, if I say something snide or point out something funny about someone, my husband often laughs. So I think we have been encouraging each other to be more cynical and judgmental.

I don't want to be that person, so we've both been trying to be nicer people. (So far, my husband says we are becoming boring, but hopefully we will adjust to these new-found higher standards).

My other bad quality is my concern about what other people think about me. I want to be confident in my decision and not care what other people think. But I really care what they think. It's so ridiculous.

When I was pregnant, I distinctly remember talking with a group of friends and agreeing with them that there was no good reason to leave the city. There was no reason why we couldn't raise children in the city. Of course, this was at a time when my husband had an easy 10-minute stroll to work. Not needing to drive or depend on the CTA made this neighborhood so much more livable for us.

I do remember at the time saying that the Chicago Public School system worried me, but that was my only concern. And there are magnet schools! So la la la, we'll stay urban forever!

Now that I want to move to Oak Park, I am actually *embarrassed* to tell my friends. Like I've sold out or something. I've compromised my integrity and become one of *those* people…suburban people. Next I'll be driving a mini-van and making cookies for a bake sale.

This is my decision with my husband. We're trying to figure out what's best for our family. I can't believe I care that much about what some friends think of my decision.