Mom's braggin' board!

[jane taylor]

We cashed in all of our retirement as well. It was awful, but hopefully I'll get back on with the state which has good benefits. We are just now starting to save money for an "emergency fund" which is Dave Ramsey's Baby Step #1. I'm learning more and more how little people save these days.

My mom and dad think of the most creative ways to save and I am learning from them. Guess this ol' dog here can learn some new tricks.

[Minnymouth]

Got news for you young chicks............... I learn a "new trick" or "shortcut" every day just about.....
I have found it amazing what I can do without....... if need be. Do I miss it, not really.......

I firmly believe "less is better"........

If I had the money I have invested in unnecessary items in my lifetime, I could be retired and traveling the world in style.... Shame to learn this lesson so late in life.

Now - just because "I like" doesn't mean "I need or buy"............ my first thought is "do I really need this" - and I think about it over nite.... usually don't get it in the end. And I feel better that I didn't get it.

A whole new way of thinking around my house...... Works for me!!

[edwards2]

LaProf...we moms sure do try hard to shield our kids from tough times but I agree it will make their stronger and have more character. My youngest son has gone through losing a grandfather, grandmother, 2 uncles, a brother-in-law, my best friend since high school and almost lost his dad due to an attempted suicide. He may be aware of our going through BK but we have not sat down and talked to him about it. We did not lose our house but even post-BK we have tightened our belts and learned to do without. He is not a big spender anyway and has become frugal pretty much on his own. He does understand the sacrifices we have had to make to send him to a private school but we consider that an investment in his future. The schools here are overcrowded and very sub-par. He is a junior in high school and currently has a 3.9 average so he is sure doing his part. We have tried to teach him in our own way NOT to make the mistakes we made. Our BK was not due primarily to credit card debt but it did contribute to our filing. Good luck...

[Minnymouth]

LaProf,
Thanks for the kinds words.

Sounds like you and Edwards2 have done their fair share of "keeping the home together" over the years.

And todays children have a hard road ahead of them. They will encounter struggles we never had. Hope they can find an answer to it all.....

To many I'm known as Auntie Dee and to my neighbors and friends I'm known as "Momma Dee".

I've been told that "my chit-chatting" (sharing my thoughts) has kept marriages together, and kids out of trouble. And my love for animals has found many a dog a home with someone.

And don't mis-understand, I'm not a busy body or a nosy neighbor - I don't offer advice or opinion unless I'm asked for it. And when I'm asked I always say "are you really sure you want to hear what I have to say?" Cause a lot of times they may not!!

I don't judge - I just put them in a position that they have to "look at themselves" and see if they "like what they see".... works everytime!!

Kids grow up, they adapt - hopefully they will all survive it with a little guidance and a mother's prayer...

Minny

[SinkingFast]

Wow, LaP!! Your kids' experience sounds like my own personal one.

My dad died when I was 20. I dropped out of college to get a job to help Mom with money at home. Kid sister kinda fell thru the cracks somewhere along the way. One day at school, a couple kids, a boy and a girl, said they were gonna hop in the boy's car and runaway. Did sis wanna go along with them. And she did. No rhyme or reason to it. Just hop in the car and go for a ride.

The car broke down I don't know where. And they started to hitch hike. They got picked up by a trucker who dropped them off somewhere in downtown Kansas City, Kansas. It was a real bad part of town too. That's where they got picked up by the police. By that time, sis had been missing 3 days. The police took the kids to a police station first. Found out what was going on then transferred them to a juvenile detention center for holding until families could get there to get them.

We were the first ones to show up and get my sister. The other girl's parents got her the very next day. The boy's parents didn't show for over a week. The Juvie Center was a bit grungy. The kids there weren't poster children for "The Girl Next Door" look. It smelled. It was aweful.

I don't know what's doing with our one daughter. Her grades are horrible, and I tell her about it all the time. Not preachy or yelling. I learned already that just doesn't work. They have to want it for themselves at this age. I tell her all the time she's gonna pay for this come real soon.

Her social life is back on track. She's gotten friends here now and doesn't hang on the phone to friends back home all the time like she did last fall. She's got a new boyfriend and she just started a new job which she's having a blast at. She's a banquet server at a fancy phoo phoo Hotel. She serves weddings, conferences, things like that. The kids look very nice in their uniforms. They all wear black tuxedo vests, white tux shirts, black bow ties, black pants, and black shoes. There's very few girl servers so she gets some of the choice gigs to work. Who knows??!! Maybe a career as a wedding planner in the works there??!!

[jane taylor]

You ladies are awesome! You are all so kind and supportive no matter what the circumstances are. It is tough being a parent sometimes. Moms especially try to keep everything together and it gets hard.

I had a good meeting with my son's teachers today. They are all for him getting back on track in school and are willing to go the extra mile to help. The sgt. in JROTC loves my son and is taking extra time with him.

It does take a community to raise kids and I'm grateful for mine.