friends and family:

i hope this letter is received in the manner in which it is intended.  i am not trying to call out or be negative in writing this but rather to explain once and for all a situation that has come up numerous times.  i want to just put it out there so that i have no need to have this conversation again.

i do appreciate all of you for wanting to include me in your plans for parties, concerts, and other outings.  i regret that i may have to turn the majority of those invitations down. it is not that i do not want to spend time with you but it is because of financial reasons.  without sounding all “woe is me”, here is the gist.  while i am on maternity leave, i will not be getting paid. once my vacation days run out, that’s it. no more paychecks until i go back to work. that doesn’t mean that the bills will stop. so any extra money that i have now is going into a savings account to maintain my household during that time.  and while you may say “well it’s only $30 or it’s only this amount of money”, i am looking at that “only” $30 as part of a bill.

so with that said, i hope that you all will understand when i have to say thanks but no thanks when you ask me to attend something with you that comes with a cost.  i am not looking for a handout either.  so no i don’t want you to pay for anything.  i just wanted to put it out so that i don’t have to keep having this conversation and to avoid the behind the hand whispers that i have changed or i’m acting as if i am the only person that has ever been  pregnant. that’s not the case at all. i just have to be smart with my money and if the activities are not a necessity, then i can do without them.

again, this letter is not intended to call out anyone in particular but rather an announcement to all.

be blessed,

tarius