(no subject)
I took the kids to the mall today. It really made me glad that I've decided to just give money to or not exchange gifts with anyone over the age of 10 this Christmas other than parents. It was a good trip but it was enough time spent shopping for me. At 13 and 16, Chris and Lori would rather pick out their own things. We're going to be doing a lot of traveling this Christmas so it takes away the hassle of shipping things back and forth plus makes Christmas more about spending time and doing fun things together. I'm still not sure about how much traveling we're planning on doing. We'll be flying to Northern California, driving to Ventura and spending a few days there, driving back to Northern California and staying there through Christmas, flying to Vegas for 3 days to go to a wedding, flying back to California for a few days, and finally flying back to Houston. I get tired just thinking about it.
We went to the mall for 2 things: a paring knife to cut chestnuts and a jacket for Lori. Finding those 2 things and eating took us 2 and a half hours. Actually, Lori and I went for the knife and jacket. Chris came to practice driving and to talk me into taking him out to eat. The knife I found easily enough but the jacket was difficult. We were looking for one with no fur, leather, down or wool. It sounded easy enough but I guess that fur is in style this year and most of them had some on the hoods. We found one that worked at the 4th store we went to but I was unwilling to spend $275 on a coat for a 13 year old. I've never spent even close to that much on one for myself. We finally found one for under $60 that worked. Lori wanted to keep looking but Chris and I vetoed her.
It seems weird to me that they both wanted to hang out with me at the mall. I thought that by the time they were teenagers, they'd be embarrassed to be seen with their mom in public. I was even wearing my cruddy sweatpants. They both stayed with me the whole trip. I tell myself that it's because they like me but it's more likely them competing for my attention. Lori was having a hard time talking with Chris and I while walking. She finally realized that it was because Chris was walking on my right side and would ease me close to an object on my left side every time that Lori would try to walk on that side. They both spent a lot of energy trying to be the one walking on my right side after she figured that out. I tried to get some space by hugging Chris and loudly talking about how nice it was that he loves his mom. That didn't phase him.
I'm afraid that Lori has inherited the overspending gene. She can save for short periods of time if she wants to but rarely does. She asked me if you could pay your Visa off with your Mastercard and your Mastercard with your Visa. I told her that it would work for awhile but she'd have to pay eventually and that it would put her in a bad financial situation. I try to teach them about managing money but I probably spoil them more than I should. It scares me when I see people who have negative net worths in the six figures or are only able to retire because of money given to them by other family members.
We went to the mall for 2 things: a paring knife to cut chestnuts and a jacket for Lori. Finding those 2 things and eating took us 2 and a half hours. Actually, Lori and I went for the knife and jacket. Chris came to practice driving and to talk me into taking him out to eat. The knife I found easily enough but the jacket was difficult. We were looking for one with no fur, leather, down or wool. It sounded easy enough but I guess that fur is in style this year and most of them had some on the hoods. We found one that worked at the 4th store we went to but I was unwilling to spend $275 on a coat for a 13 year old. I've never spent even close to that much on one for myself. We finally found one for under $60 that worked. Lori wanted to keep looking but Chris and I vetoed her.
It seems weird to me that they both wanted to hang out with me at the mall. I thought that by the time they were teenagers, they'd be embarrassed to be seen with their mom in public. I was even wearing my cruddy sweatpants. They both stayed with me the whole trip. I tell myself that it's because they like me but it's more likely them competing for my attention. Lori was having a hard time talking with Chris and I while walking. She finally realized that it was because Chris was walking on my right side and would ease me close to an object on my left side every time that Lori would try to walk on that side. They both spent a lot of energy trying to be the one walking on my right side after she figured that out. I tried to get some space by hugging Chris and loudly talking about how nice it was that he loves his mom. That didn't phase him.
I'm afraid that Lori has inherited the overspending gene. She can save for short periods of time if she wants to but rarely does. She asked me if you could pay your Visa off with your Mastercard and your Mastercard with your Visa. I told her that it would work for awhile but she'd have to pay eventually and that it would put her in a bad financial situation. I try to teach them about managing money but I probably spoil them more than I should. It scares me when I see people who have negative net worths in the six figures or are only able to retire because of money given to them by other family members.