by Hope
Five years ago, we began Guys’ Nights with the twins. They invited all their guy friends over for the night once a quarter. And they stayed up all night playing video games, eating junk food and having a good time. The last one took place during their junior year of high school while we were living in the apartment.
It began due to the restrictions of being foster kids. But it continued because it was a great way for me to get to know their friends and know that they were having good, clean fun. It was a cheap way to give the twins’ a positive social life. And those Guys’ Nights were epic.
Now we find ourselves in a similar situation.
New Friends, New Town = Girls’ Night
Princess has really begun to come out of her shell, making friends, the whole teenage girl thing. But in a small town, most everyone here grew up together. They are all related or feel like they are related. We are kind of like ducks out of water. And I’m still the same over-protective parent.
We hosted our first Girls’ Night this weekend. Five girls, five face masks ($1.37/each,) one giant tub of cookie dough from Sams Club ($8.95) and a couple of pizzas ($7.99/each.) It was a blast. And let me tell you, a girls all-nighter is very different than a guys!
The total cost for the night was minimal. The fun was priceless!
Challenge Issued
And after they had baked cookies, taken dozens of pictures and written a play…I issued my Summer Challenge. The girls jumped at it! Immediately talking about their skills and what they could produce.
Several of them asked me to speak with their parents about it. I’m so excited. This gives me more motivation to keep building my training modules for a young entrepreneur’s program.
Princess has been given the liberty to have her friends over every Saturday when Gymnast spends the night. I am still working on how I will manage our summer schedule.
Hope is a resourceful and solutions-driven business manager who has spent nearly two decades helping clients streamline their operations and grow their businesses through project management, digital marketing, and tech expertise. Recently transitioning from her role as a single mom of five foster/adoptive children to an empty nester, Hope is navigating the emotional and practical challenges of redefining her life while maintaining her determination to regain financial control and eliminate debt.
Living in a cozy small town in northeast Georgia with her three dogs, Hope cherishes the serenity of the mountains over the bustle of the beach. Though her kids are now finding their footing in the world—pursuing education, careers, and independence—she remains deeply committed to supporting them in this next chapter, even as she faces the bittersweet tug of letting go.
Since joining the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015, Hope has candidly shared her journey of financial ups and downs. Now, with a renewed focus and a clear path ahead, she’s ready to tackle her finances with the same passion and perseverance that she’s brought to her life and career. Through her writing, she continues to inspire others to confront their own financial challenges and strive for a brighter future.
Hope….I love that you are committed to making positive memories and experiences for your kids, BUT when you are living off savings, face masks, pizzas and cookies are not the best choice. It is not only the fact that it came from savings, but the example it sets for your kids. The goal as a parent should be to equip children with skills to survive and thrive as adults, and sometimes that skill manifests as saying “no, I cant afford that”. Teenagers really dont need to have activities planned out and micromanaged, anyways. 🙂
Girls night is a fantastic idea!!
Priceless! Excited to see what the girls come up with for their business!