The Bank of Mom

I always thought that infants and kids would be the hardest part of raising a child.  LOL!!

It is physically demanding and they have 1000’s of books to resource on sleeping, eating, behaviour, learning... not so much with kids in their 20’s.

This week my oldest encountered dental issues that had to be taken care of.  $1900 of surgery issues and $50 of medications.  This office doesn’t bill insurance, you have to send it in after the fact.  But when you don’t have $1900 available on your credit card (because your limit is $1800) and you don’t have that much cash...Mom to the rescue.

There will be reimbursement of likely $800-900 by the insurance, but that is it.  The importance of having some extra money around is very clear.  While I was getting medications I thought that the fridge was pretty low on fluids for someone that can’t eat solids, so I added smoothies, ginger ale, sports drinks, broth soups.  I’m so happy that I could do that.  30 years ago I needed a huge surgery to have my wisdom teeth out.  I was hospitalized.  My parental units wouldn’t help with a penny of the cost.  It was $800.  They also felt no need to be with me.  My sibling had all of her dental work through high school and college including COSMETIC paid out of pocket by my parents.  I didn’t even see a dentist between the ages of 12-20.  I couldn’t imagine treating my kids so differently.
I guess that is how they saved money.  Pretend that you only have one child.

We have been trapped inside with very cold temperatures here for the last week.  I would really like to get away on vacation.  It hasn’t been booked yet.  Waiting for some dates we have to be at home added to the calendar.  The dh has been on his yearly diet/fitness try for all of January.  He’s not happy with the scale, but his digestive issues are so much better without a pail of Diet Pepsi and a bag of chips every day. (Go figure).  Kid 3 is enjoying the fitness equipment that we’ve bought.  Very dedicated to exercising daily.  So that is nice. It gives dh a workout partner too!  The rap music pumping through the house is a bit much for me and the dog but we will survive!  LOL.

Kid 1 has been texting me and looks to be recovering really well.  I’m relieved.  That is the part that I worry about, not the money.

I had a huge find in my “Clean and Purge” last week.  In a drawer were 5 gift cards (to the same place) and I didn’t know if they had money on them.  I took them into the store yesterday - $100!!  Wowza!  Happy day for me! I already know that I will use this for a xmas present for one of the kids for next year.

Have a good week!

The good things:
Having money in the bank  of Mom
Having appreciative kids
Finding $$

Things that suck:
Painful dental work
Having to pay for painful dental work
-40 windchill

I Made it!

I made it to the end of my temporary full time, plus overtime, plus call my cell all hours of the day and night job!

I also haven't had a moment of vacation since the end of June.

Thus, I am off for a month.  With the exception of a 30 minute meeting on the 10th (which the &@!3's are going to have to pay me for).  I have health matters to attend to.  An ultrasound done yesterday, 2 more physio appointments and I have about 8 months of sleep to catch up on!!

This past month has been beyond belief the people that I know and love are dying.  I've lost an Uncle (but he was 96 - not a shocker), 2 dear friends one with ovarian cancer, the other breast cancer, 2 family friends one with lymphoma and another "young" woman of 42 to breast cancer.  My best friends mom has just been diagnosed with brain cancer.

This is bullshit.  What is going on?  With the exception of the 96 yr old that smoke and drank his whole life, everyone else has lived a very healthy lifestyle!  I can't make sense of any of it.

My friends mom means the world to me. Every day after school was spent at her house.  She was the mom I wished that I had.  More importantly she is the Mom that I have tried to be like for my boys.  One that loves and hugs and laughs.  She talked to me like I was important, she took us kids places to see concerts, go camping, participate in sports.  She cheered for me like her own daughter.  I'm so grateful that I had her in my life as a role model as a child and teen.

It is a time to evaluate what I consider important.  What I want to accomplish

I don't feel much like Christmas decorating.  But I will, because it matters to my little guy.

My little family matters, my dear friends matter, I matter.  I just need to sort some things out.

Peace