The other day, our son AJ broke his cell phone. It was an accident. He pulled a book out of his backpack and the phone flew out of it and onto the floor. The screen cracked and the phone died. Yes, of course we have insurance on it, but the deductible was a whopping one hundred bucks. Does he NEED a phone? Does ANY one of us really need a phone?
Yes, we got him a replacement. No, he doesn’t have a job to pay us back.
I’m cringing as I’m writing this because I see I’m digging myself into a hole. I’m fighting with myself, saying, “Okay, Stephanie, make up some chores for him to do so he can pay you back.”
But that’s not all. He also, in the very same week, broke his retainer. Yep. It was also an accident. He grinds his teeth. He ground right through his retainer. I guess the kid has some stress in his life. Maybe he was stressed about his phone breaking? I don’t know. But this cost us TWO hundred bucks. And nope. They don’t give you insurance on retainers at the orthodontist.
So, in the last week and a half, we’ve had to shell out three hundred bucks for the kid. Ugh. It hurts to write that. He’s 14. He NEEDS the retainer. Or else all the money we spent on the braces will have been for nothing. Does he need the phone? Eh? Yes and no. It’s not like he wasn’t responsible with it. It’s not like he abused his privileges with it.
It’s just that, dang. Teens cost money. Lots of it. And I’ve got two more coming up the ladder.
He asked for a candy bar at his brother’s basketball game Saturday. We said no. That’s one dollar saved toward the three hundred he owes us.
It’s a start.
He needs the candy bar! He’s a growing boy who is using all his energy playing basketball and studying. Seems to me he is burning the candle at both ends! (and he didn’t do either of these things on purpose) !!??S___T Happens!!!! 1-4-3