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Please don't remind me that I'm poor; I'm having too much fun pretending I'm simply "living green" like everyone else these days.


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Saturday, November 15, 2008

It's finished.



The design in the blocks.



Customer didn't want any quilting on the applique except for on the flower pots. I did a stitch in the ditch around everything then the lines on the pots.



Line dancing on the border and on the color squares of the blocks.



This is how it looks from the back.




Another view from the back.




My daughter never stops baffling me!
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One day she is moaning and groaning because she doesn't seem to "get it" about managing her money. She's worried that there won't be enough in her paycheck to pay all the bills. A couple of bills are about to go to collections. Would I pay them for her?
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I know that I've taught my daughter how to manage her finances. For heavens sake, she grew up in a very frugal household. At the same time she's asking for financial help; I know she is not "doing without" anything. Hmm.... how to explain better? Many young people will depend on the parents to help pay bills while at the same time they are enjoying eating out regularly or buying expensive clothes or simply not trying to cut down expenses. Know what I mean?
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This time I put my foot down and tell my daughter NO! You created the bills, you pay them. It's time to sink or swim financially. My savings account is NOT your extra income and I absolutely mean it this time. I am determined to let her make her own way financially. No matter what the outcome. If you want to stretch your budget then find ways to cut down expenses! If you want more advice about how to cut expenses I will be happy to explain.
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The very next day she is calling me (much earlier than she normally wakes) to excitedly tell me..... "Mom, I got it!!" Got what babygirl? Mom, I understand what you've been explaining to me about cutting expenses! Ok babygirl, tell me what you understand. Here is some of what she told me....
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Ellisa woke up early and was hungry. I gave her a bottle but there wasn't any baby food to give her. (She's been buying baby food in those tiny little containers.) So, I opened a can of peas and put some in the personal food processor you gave me. Mom! Do you know I can make my own baby food! I don't have to buy it. Ellisa can eat what we eat if I process it for her. Mom, do you know how much money I can save by not buying baby food anymore? Yes Babygirl, I know how much you can save like this. I made your food when you were a baby. Why do you think I gave you a food processor at a baby shower?
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I think maybe she's finally "got it". Only time will tell. Hmmm.... I wonder how long it will be before she wakes up one morning and say to herself..... Oh my gosh, I've become my mother!







4 comments:

Penny said...

Oh congratulations!! What a wonderful feeling. And you're right, they simply don't "get" it until they get it. And stepping in to help them only keeps reality from sinking in.

My older girl wanted to go to law school at a very expensive college. I begged her to go to a cheaper one. She simply would not listen. She fairly blew off her grades the first year (meaning she would have a harder time getting a job to pay off the horrible student loans). In the middle of her second year (half way through) she called begging for money - she couldn't pay her rent. I knew that if I didn't come up with the money she'd probably have to quit school and end up with...prepare yourself... over $100,000.00 worth of student loans and no degree.

I told her I just couldn't come up with an extra $900.00 a month to pay her rent (in Boston). She was stunned, crying, I was crying. I don't think I slept for two years without waking up in a cold sweat.

She found the money, finished her degree, starved in horrible jobs for three years then started getting traction. She now makes so much money it is obscene. She has thanked me so many times for what I did. She is now a confident, dynamic woman and she will tell anyone that will listen that the experience completely changed her opinion of herself. She says she knows she can survive and do anything. I am so grateful that she learned that lesson before she had children to care for.

jhwolf said...

Love the quilt, as usual! But the best of this post is "Hmmm.... I wonder how long it will be before she wakes up one morning and say to herself..... Oh my gosh, I've become my mother!"

Love it!

Judy in MO

Cathy said...

Good for you for standing firm! It's sooooooooo hard to do sometimes!

Bethany said...

Sigh. It's the other way around for me. My parents wanted to borrow money from me! When I asked what they were doing with their money and how they are using it I was shocked. The fact that they were letting my sister mooch off of them isn't helping.

My parents make far more money than I could ever hope to earn. Instead of bailing them out I gave them a reality check on handling their finances. They have enough money, they just needed to work with what they have.

My parents aren't happy with me, but it didn't feel right to lend them some money.

It's hard though. I love my parents and I know the paychecks my dad gets aren't coming like they used too. The money is there. They needed to work with each paycheck to make sure it lasts until the next one gets there.