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

It's going to be a "Rainy Day" on Wednesday....

With my kid #2 that is the orthodontic challenge we learned on the last visit that he needs all the wisdom teeth out.  The lower ones are looking like they are "angry" and the uppers are heading sideways.  Early in life for a kid to need them out but whatever.  The orthodontist sent a letter to a dental surgeon (too complicated for a regular dentist) and we would wait to hear back.  Well if I don't get a call 2 weeks later and an appointment in less than a week.  I don't know about anyone else but around here to get a call and then get in to a specialist in less than 3 weeks is nothing short of a miracle.

The caveat... $2300 due Wednesday morning.  No billing to the insurance company first, cash on the dash thank-you.

I think that I should get $800 from my insurance and I will bill the x half of the $2300 so 1150 - 800 = 350 when the dust clears in a month or two.  But still need it up front.

Luckily my credit card balance is 0. 

I think and I hope that we are done with funerals for awhile.  This business of driving all day, come home, do laundry, repack and drive again wiped me right out last week.  $45 clothes for kid #3, $300 in gas, $130 hotel, $30 dry cleaning, $50 eating out.  Not in the agenda but what can you do?

More than my wallet, my heart can't take anymore.  I don't know if I even ate 2000 calories all last week.  Grieving, the stress of my mother, my perfect idiot sibling, so many people around (my family members funeral had 350 people) it was hard to handle. 

We've made a point to have quiet family time at home.  I'm making our favorite roast tonight and a pie made this morning.  Comfort food for us.  The kids have all talked about the way they feel over the losses and I think they are doing well.  My little ones teachers are such caring and loving people.  They have given him lots of love and support over the last couple of weeks.

The Good Things...
My little family
Wonderful teachers
Money in the rainy day fund so that I don't stress when things like this come up
Carla's bread recipe that is now all my kids will eat! (hate store bought!)

Things that suck...
wisdom teeth
even when your brain understands that everybody has to die someday, that ache that sits in your heart and the tears that roll regardless.