We are still feeling the financial pinch. I've been thoroughly fed up with DD for some time now. She is 17 and doesn't seem very motivated to get a job. I told her yesterday that I'm not getting her any new school clothes this year. None. The expensive things she has from Abercrombie, Hollister, and so on are strewn about all over her bedroom floor. She's not speaking to me, and DH disagrees with me too. He said "You got tons of new school clothes when you were her age." I fired right back at him, saying "Yeah, well my dad made enough money to pay for them." My husband says that we can find a couple of hundred for school clothes for her somehow. What a laugh. We are so tight right now we're barely making ends meet. I'm not doing it. I cut up my credit card for a reason, and the heck if I'm charging clothes for an ungrateful brat. That may sound harsh but I guess I'm feeling harsh right now.
I'm going back to school for sure. I'm taking accounting courses and the semester starts August 25th. This weekend my SIL is having a yard sale and I'm going to put any money I make towards school. Wish me luck.
I told my husband that things need to change, which he obviously knows. We looked through the course selection book together and he seemed really interested in Computer Forensics. I registered online and asked him when he will register. He said that he's decided to get another job instead of going back to school because we need money right now. He's been talking about this second job thing for months and has done nothing. I'm not holding out much hope for it happening anytime soon. If things are going to change I just need to take the plunge and do it myself.
Some good news, I sold a book on Amazon for $50.00! That's the most I've sold one for in a long time. I'll update my book totals another time. I feel so disenheartened with the $20 challenge thing right now. I had to close out my account to pay a big tax bill and am down to tucking stray dollars into my piggy bank at home. I won't give up, though.
Not too good around here right now
July 19th, 2006 at 09:50 pm
July 19th, 2006 at 09:53 pm 1153346029
No sympathy for your daughter, I was working 30+ hours a week since 16, lol! Id suggest minimizing the damage, at least. She wants clothes? Fine. Heres $100...you better get enough for the whole school year! See how far that gets you at Hollister!
AE is a much better bargain, and the clothes are just as nice, imo.
July 19th, 2006 at 10:01 pm 1153346479
July 19th, 2006 at 10:14 pm 1153347299
From what I hear, it's not like the girl has no clothes (except everything is probably over 3 months old and "so out-of-fashion by now!" -- see? I have a 16 year old at home, too!) or as if she had physically outgrown the ones she has...if she really wants new clothes THAT badly, she should be willing to work for them...if she's not willing to work for them, then she doesn't really NEED them, does she??
July 19th, 2006 at 10:18 pm 1153347538
Just pick up all the clothes and dump it into the laundry basket and send it away to the laundry room Her room will be clearer and she has to do something once she has no more clothes to wear, right?
July 20th, 2006 at 03:35 am 1153366533
Hopefully DH and you can talk this through so that if the tough call has to be made, you are on the same team.
Good luck KarenSue
July 20th, 2006 at 03:47 am 1153367227
She is 17 and has a long way to go as far as maturity. I just need to stick with this and not give in. I want to send into this world a well rounded, realistic individual and not one that feels entitled to everything just because she wants it. {{Sigh}}
July 20th, 2006 at 01:51 pm 1153403498
July 25th, 2006 at 10:41 am 1153824072
I really hate how they have changed the laws. In WA state a child under 12 cannot pick berries. This is horrible because so many of the children in this county are growing up without a work ethic. Mine was drilled into me, rain or shine I was in those fields working all summer, every summer until I turned 16. My kids, I'd have them out there in a heart beat if the law allowed. They are good workers once you get them started, but it is the getting them started that is so darn hard!
Hang in there and don't give into your daughter. She doesn't deserve money for school clothes until she can prove to you that she can take care of the clothes she has. Which means washed, dried, and hung up in the closet or put away in the dresser.
July 10th, 2007 at 06:49 am 1184050143