My husband and I now have three teenagers, and my goodness. Each day costs, roughly, $1,000,000. Crew signups (two kids row); play tickets; broadway musical (!); trips to see friends (who live far away now); meals (I guess they need to EAT?!); and so much more.

In my memory, I asked for, and was given, less. But I bet in my parents’ memory (well, my dad’s, my mom is sadly pretty far gone with Alzheimers) (she chipped her tooth yesterday and there is NO WAY for me to figure out what happened/how) I was spoiled rotten. Maybe all parents think their children are spoiled. I don’t think they are spoiled, my three, I just really struggle to say no. I want to say yes all the time, to all things, so they will know how loved they are.

Which is really horrible, right? Money = love in my book, and so I don’t want to say no, but also cannot always say yes, but — always say yes to love. I have used money as punishment (if you don’t do X or Y or Z you will lose your allowance!) and as bribe (I’ll give you $ if you do X or Y or Z) and as so many stand ins for me over the years …

Goodness, I started this to talk about how hard money is these days, but I have quickly uncovered how hard I make money — represent many, many things that money is not.

Anyway. We’re fine. Kids have a lot. Figuring life out continues to be a huge struggle!