SAHM paying off debts slowly

slm6002

Ok so neighbour has just opened his back door and found my parcels outside his door.  They are very soggy from the rain but thankfully all ok inside.  I have also printed off the map for the forest orienteering which i will laminate later and found my folder with previous years activities information in.  There are a few more bits to get sorted when the kids are in bed.
We've just enjoyed a lovely warming cheesy mash with sweetcorn, beans and for me grilled mushrooms.  Bit of a see what's in the cupboard but was really scrummy and comforting.  Might even let the kids have some ice cream in a minute although that would undo the warm feeling we all have inside lol.

slm6002

I really don't know why I look on fb as it only makes me sad/angry when OH posts.  Would unfriend him but cant bring myself to do that yet.  Been avoiding it most of the time instead.  If I don't see or hear from him I can get on ok because its just like he is still at work and not home yet (as that was how its always been), but as soon as I see or hear from him, even if its just a random post not directed at me its like i'm back to the beginning again.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hi slm, I have just read the latter parts of your diary and you are doing really well but its hard isn't it. I'm newly divorced too and separated early 2018 so still very much finding my feet. Facebook is tricky - I did defriend my ex as I just find it easier to cope. Sounds like you've done amazing with the home schooling. I was working full time at home and home schooling became impossible so kids plonked in front of the tv situation for a few weeks. Sadly job didn't turn out and now I am playing catch up with home schooling. So i'll be keep an interesting eye on what you come up with for the summer holidays as I'm in the same boat. Need some cheapish ways to keep the kids busy. 

slm6002

Thank you clarissa for coming by and saying hello.  I would love to get to the point that OH and I are friends again, but cant be at the moment as he is so angry with me for some unknown reason.  How old are your children.  I have a 9,12 and 14 year old.  I have been very lucky that my working from home really hasn't involved much at all other than the odd occasional bit which I can do at any point in the day.  The school the older 2 go to are terrible.  DS who you may have seen has dyslexia (through my family blood line as you can probably tell) and is therefore in the lower English group.  It's his first year in high school and up until the lockdown he hadn't picked up a reading book in his lesson.  In fact his English lessons had been made up of watching dvds and not a lot else.  When I said you need to be learning to write and work towards writing essays, he asked me what an essay was!  He is not thick, infact is many areas he is very bright but when it comes to English he is very behind and the school are not helping.  Its like they know they wont pass so aren't going to bother teaching them Anyway since lockdown the head of department has been issuing the home learning and I have been working with him and he is starting to improve although will need constant reminding before it goes in.  Oh and his teacher has left so we have yet another new teacher.
Anyway summer holidays I love organising for.  If your children are younger (although my kids still enjoy it) we do the A-Z summer.  Each day we eat, or do activities beginning with certain letters of the alphabet.  Normally we can manage to manipulate some activities to match the letter for the day lol.  Most of our days out are free or very low cost.  Not sure if we will do this this year, but we may.  Another yearly event is the end of school/ start of summer party.  Not really that exciting but I put up the bunting and invite my dad round for party food.   Kids love it.  In fact DS did ask if we will still have it even though we haven't been at school.
Before lockdown I actually signed myself up to 2 mini craft sessions at the local museum that we go to.  One is to make wax wraps and the other is to make our own deodorant and lip balm.  I am hoping these still go ahead.  I am sure I could do these at home but I liked the idea that everything was provided and it was their room being made a mess of, not my kitchen lol.  I will have to wait and see.  
Well today is the first day I will leave the house.  Yesterday was day 78 without leaving.  I am off to my dads very big garden to have a bbq.  I may spend the afternoon huddled up under gazebo  as the weather still looks like torrential rain outside, but looking forward to seeing him.  He has made the kids a treasure hunt which I know the kids will really enjoy.  On the way I will go to a cash point to withdraw some money as I haven't been able to, and to a post box to post all of my cards.  I also intend on stopping to get petrol.  As I've not been out I do wonder what I will be face with.  I will make sure I have my gloves and hand sanitiser ready.   I hope everyone has a lovely day

Honeysucklelou2

Hope you have a great time at the bbq.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hi slm, thanks for some good ideas for activities. The party and alphabet will work well. Really feel for you on getting the right support for your child with dyslexia. My kids are both turning 4 and 8 shortly so a current school nursery & yr 3. Although my eldest doesn't have any learning needs that I am aware of English he really struggles and is reluctant so it is quite a battle to do basic reading, writing etc and he too isn't incapable it's just not his thing. We keep going though and doing bits and pieces. The two though have supported each other brilliantly emotionally through lockdown and right now that's more important. I'm finding the older one is now helping the younger one to learn. So we are getting there but being separate family brings extra stresses. I've had a nightmare with work;started new job in January and was in probation over lock down. It's been very difficult and sadly didn't pass probation so now not working. It's a bit difficult at the moment but it will improve. Keep strong. 

slm6002

Thank you Honeysuckle it was lovely to get out in the real world again and to see my dad.  It was very cold and windy and started to rain, but was the food was very yummy and we sat under the gazebo and umbrellas.  We did have to admit defeat when the rain really started but by then the kids had had a lot of fun running around, riding their bikes and swinging on the tree swing.  They also enjoyed the treasure hunt around the garden that dad made up for them.  I have many fond memories of growing up there (my nan and grandad used to live there so we spent our childhood years in their garden).  Anyway we came home via the petrol station and had some hot chocolate under our blankets to warm up.
Clarissa I'm sorry your job didn't work out.  I am guessing there are lots of people struggling at the moment, but keep going I'm sure you will find something and hopefully soon.  A-Z summer would be just right for your aged children.  We used to do a letter per day apart from the weekends.  Also if you haven't already, join the local library.  They do a great summer reading scheme where the children get a mini prize each week or stickers to collect and if you read 6 books then you get a medal and a certificate at the end of the 6 weeks.  Might be enough to encourage your son?  My DS never really took to it, but always managed the 6 books just about, although often found non fiction books more interesting.  On the first day when we go to register and on the last day when we finish our 6 books I give them a little packet of book worms - gummy worm sweets or they might be snakes if I cant find worms lol.  The libraries often have other activities through the holidays too like arts and crafts or lego.

slm6002

Well all 3 children are still asleep.  I reckon the bike riding and running around dads huge garden helped them to have a good nights sleep.  I will be going to wake them very shortly as they all have some school work to be getting on with.  House never got its tidy up so that is one of the tasks that must be done today.  Yesterday was pay day so I transferred money to all of my pots, so we are now all sorted money wise for the month.  I just now need to stop impulse buying on amazon lol.  The are hopefully going to deliver my hose pipe I ordered.  Not sure I need the hose pipe today on this really grey day, but hopefully the sun will appear one day soon

slm6002

Good morning to you all.  I had a post deleted before posting 3 times yesterday so gave up.  Hopefully today it will behave.  
Yesterday my boss visited and handed me some work to do.  I got to it and was able to get her to collect it later in the day.  It was quite nice having something to do, although I wouldn't want it every day - well not for such a quick turn around.  We were lucky the children's school work wasn't too taxing yesterday so I could work without interruption. 
Anyway yesterday I also started looking at mortgages.  I was under the impression that all of my income would be counted, but then I have read in other places that universal credits are not always looked at.  If this is the case I am very unsure I will get a mortgage.  I might give my current mortgage people another call today as I don't remember what they said - I rang them right after I found out OH was leaving so my head wasn't taking in information quite right.  I really don't want to have to keep OH on the mortgage for longer than necessary. He is apparently coming round this evening to drop some trainers off for youngest from Nana as he finally went to visit her yesterday.  I will stay out of the way as I was just about getting back to normal after seeing him last time.  Hopefully my food delivery will arrive at the same time so I can be busy doing other things.  It still looks like he hasn't sent his paperwork back so I will have to tell him to check his post again.
Going to see what I can find in the freezer for dinner so we don't get to 5pm and then realise there is nothing to eat.  Need to get on top of this more and start meal planning again.  Ok off to do some work and supervise home schooling

slm6002

Pork chops out of the freezer ready for later.  Also I have spoken to my mortgage provider.  I now have a meeting with someone on 30th June to discuss all of the options available to me.  It turns out my universal credit income will not count towards total income, but the payments from OH for child support will do as long as I have proof he needs to pay it from CSA people.  So glad I have that in progress although need OH to get that sorted really.  Not sure I can wait until 30th June to work this out so may look at other companies.  Without the UC my income is around 13k, but with them it is nearer 25.5k.  Quite a difference when looking at it.  I can afford to pay the new amounts but I guess it is not just about that.