I think being a single parent for 8 years, going on 9, I have developed some strange habits that most people can't relate to.
I have always been super cautious about spending money, devoted to saving as much money as I can, careful in preventing things from breaking down, attempting to hold together my "family" life as if nothing ever worries me.
Anyways, it has worked for 8 years. My daughter doesn't know any different. If you asked her, she will tell you she has the best family she could ever ask for.... family being her grandparents on my side and her uncle on my side.
I love that about her. She is so innocent and has no clue.
But, I'm grateful that I've been able to hide this from her.
My grandmother had a sign up in her kitchen that said, "The perfect hostess is like a duck, calm and serene on the surface, but paddling like hell underside".
That's how I feel most of the time. I'm just trying to keep things running smoothly, trying to keep either one of us from getting sick because I don't think I can afford to skip a day of work, or skip a day to keep her home from school.
Yes, I have sent her to school with a fever, feeling nauseous, etc. However, she always gets an award at the end of the year for perfect attendance. (I think this should be given to the parents!)
So, when I see ways to save money, I jump at the opportunity. Such as, the grocery store. I only go every two weeks and Bri knows that towards the end of the second week, we are forced to eat the food in our fridge, pantry that we would rather just skip over... chef boyardee, cereal, oatmeal...
My family doesn't understand why I don't just "go to the store!". I'm not starving my child, I'm teaching her how to finish food that would otherwise go to waste. To use the resources that we already have before going out and buying more.
My daughter swims on Monday and Wednesday nights in a stroke school. So, after swimming, she brings her shampoo and conditioner and showers in the locker rooms.
My Mother... "Why don't you just let her shower at home!?"
Me... "Why would I not take advantage of this when I'm already paying for her to participate in the swimming and they offer "free" showers afterwards!
I see it as being smart. My Mother sees it as being cheap.
But, at the end of the month, I'm not the one scrounging around for money to pay my credit card bill :)
That's all for now
@---)---)---
I have always been super cautious about spending money, devoted to saving as much money as I can, careful in preventing things from breaking down, attempting to hold together my "family" life as if nothing ever worries me.
Anyways, it has worked for 8 years. My daughter doesn't know any different. If you asked her, she will tell you she has the best family she could ever ask for.... family being her grandparents on my side and her uncle on my side.
I love that about her. She is so innocent and has no clue.
But, I'm grateful that I've been able to hide this from her.
My grandmother had a sign up in her kitchen that said, "The perfect hostess is like a duck, calm and serene on the surface, but paddling like hell underside".
That's how I feel most of the time. I'm just trying to keep things running smoothly, trying to keep either one of us from getting sick because I don't think I can afford to skip a day of work, or skip a day to keep her home from school.
Yes, I have sent her to school with a fever, feeling nauseous, etc. However, she always gets an award at the end of the year for perfect attendance. (I think this should be given to the parents!)
So, when I see ways to save money, I jump at the opportunity. Such as, the grocery store. I only go every two weeks and Bri knows that towards the end of the second week, we are forced to eat the food in our fridge, pantry that we would rather just skip over... chef boyardee, cereal, oatmeal...
My family doesn't understand why I don't just "go to the store!". I'm not starving my child, I'm teaching her how to finish food that would otherwise go to waste. To use the resources that we already have before going out and buying more.
My daughter swims on Monday and Wednesday nights in a stroke school. So, after swimming, she brings her shampoo and conditioner and showers in the locker rooms.
My Mother... "Why don't you just let her shower at home!?"
Me... "Why would I not take advantage of this when I'm already paying for her to participate in the swimming and they offer "free" showers afterwards!
I see it as being smart. My Mother sees it as being cheap.
But, at the end of the month, I'm not the one scrounging around for money to pay my credit card bill :)
That's all for now
@---)---)---
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