fbpx
:::: MENU ::::

Jul 1, 2019    |       4 comments

A Birthday Day Wish for My Missing Son

by

Please join me in wishing my youngest son, the one called Gymnast here, a very happy 14th birthday! I am grateful that I get to spend today with him here in Texas.

Hope, Gymnast and Princess in Texas

Hope, Gymnast and Princess in Texas

But it doesn’t mean it’s not bittersweet. I’ve spent most of the last months questioning every parenting choice I ever made with him. It’s been very hard mentally, but I feel, I hope I am finally in a good place.

A Little History

For those new to my story, Gymnast is my youngest biological child. He trained and competed as a competitive gymnast for almost 7 years. Thus, the name. He quit last year.

He’s also my high maintenance child…lots of attention, lots of demands and lots of needs. Last fall, after living with me for over 13 years as his sole guardian, he decided he wanted to go live with his dad…in Illinois. It about broke me, but I let him go.

He came to Texas for Thanksgiving with us and my family.

He came to Georgia for his Spring Break.

And he’s spending the summer with my family and us.

But then he will return to Illinois and his dad for his first year of high school

Has anyone else done with shared custody that required your child to live states away?

I can’t lie. His move has saved me a tremendous amount of money. Teenage boys alone…and groceries. But boy do I miss him, every single day. And I hate missing the things going on in his life, not knowing his friends or his teachers and so much more. But I have learned, the hard way, that I have to let some of my kids go earlier than others.

Today We Celebrate

But today we celebrate. He is now 14…

We will celebrate in the same tradition we have had since they were old enough to decide…

He will choose a restaurant for dinner. And will receive birthday gifts at that time. I brought him a few small things I have picked up over the last few months with my cash budget. But the bulk of his gift will be cash. He wants to buy school clothes.

Ongoing Related Costs

I continue to for Gymnast cell phone. And of course, send him presents for holidays, but otherwise, do not have any financial responsibility for him. I did attempt to move his phone to his dad’s responsibility but he refused to pay it. And I will not lose my connection with Gymnast.

Jun 28, 2019    |       6 comments

Not Quite There…But Definitely Closer

by

As expected June has been my cheapest month ever. And I am grateful for that. I’ve rarely left the house these past two weeks. Done lots of cleaning and rearranging. And prepared for my oldest son to leave the nest at the end of next month.

My June challenge has been a success for me, but not the overwhelming one I hoped for. I haven’t quite been able to pay off my credit card debt.

I started June with a balance of $2,075 on my credit card (see my last debt update here.) A week or so ago, I was able to pay an extra $600. Which was awesome! But I’ve fallen short of paying the remaining $1,475.

How about you? How has your June challenge gone?

July is a Busy Month

I have decided to take July off from challenges as I have several big events next month. (Don’t worry they have already been budgeted and paid for.)

  1. Princess and I will travel to Texas for 11 days. Not only will we be visiting my parents and 4 siblings, but I will also be meeting two of my newer clients in person. I paid for the airline tickets a couple of months back, they are part of my travel budget.
  2. Gymnast will return with us from Texas for the remainder of July. He’s been there since the beginning of June
  3. We have college visits set up for History Buff and Princess during the latter part of July. History Buff is working on his plan for post-high school. He will finish at the end of December, and Princess just has two years of high school left.
  4. Gymnast and I will travel to Chicago at the end of July. I will just be staying overnight and have an appointment set up with his high school counselor. Again, this trip has already been paid for…airline tickets and one night in a hotel prepaid to a discount.
  5. And finally, I will be prepping for back to school for both Princess and History Buff.

As I said, a lot going on!

But this doesn’t mean, I have lost focus. I am continuing to live on a cash only budget. Here’s to a busy month!

What do you have going on this month? Anything fun or exciting?

 

1 … 378 379 380 381 382 … 1,830