Renovations and Repayments.

AlexLK

misscousinitt wrote: »

A Frayed Not is right - catch up in the NY.

I am lucky that the money from our rental is our OPs at the moment - if we didn't have that there wouldn't be anything being OPed.

Don't beat yourself up about it.

Glad you had a good week away - how nice to get some sun...

MCI

Nothing is being OPed here at the moment. Financially things are difficult and we've spent a lot of money on cars. I know everyone on here thinks it's an extravagance, so I won't go into details other than to say one thing turned into another and the bills have mounted up to thousands. I think all this happening at once has made me quite ill.

hiddenshadow wrote: »

That's a brilliant step.

I hope things improve for you soon.

Thanks, HS.

Have been keeping the spreadsheet updated.

smallholdingsister wrote: »

Hi Alex. What happened about teacher training?

I've applied.... :eek: and have an interview lined up... :eek: :eek: :eek:

AlexLK

Well, I've forced myself to respond to all those who have taken time to respond to me on here. Strangely, it's helped a lot. I suppose it's made me think a little and confront some things I'd been trying not to think about (living in the present and not the past, mostly).

Hoping to make this week a little more positive than last and have started going to bed at reasonable times over the past few days. Last week got quite bad. This week is set to be busy and we need to get everything bought and wrapped up for our son's birthday. I cannot believe he is going to be 6 and honestly not sure whether to smile or cry. Yes, it's a little pathetic but whilst it is fantastic to see him growing I terribly miss that year before he went to school. My school work is keeping me busy and sane at the moment, I'm starting to learn not to bring things home with me and that pupils will only do what they put their minds to do. Them not practising is not my fault or problem. My wife told me that so long as they are safe and well, their circumstances are not my problem and it's not my place to be spending money on them and allowing them not to pay me for services rendered. Implementing some stricter boundaries is what I needed to do and I am no longer feeling personally guilty for them not having the right instruments / books etc. etc. Though not sure whether it's a good thing or a bad thing that I've started to apply some of the boundaries I have with tenants to teaching but it has at least stopped me spending personal money on them and making losses in what should be a profit making activity.

SingleSue

I'm with you on the disbelief of offspring getting older....going on uni open days has really brought it home to me that youngest will be flying the nest next year and I am finding it very difficult to get my head around it.

I fear that I will be a crumbling mess the day we drop him off for his first day of university and that he will be a very embarrassed young man indeed :rotfl:

A_Frayed_Knot

Sounds like your sorting yourself out. That's such a lovely idea for your sons birthday, with his love of horses, he will be delighted and excited, does he know about it, or is it a surprise?

As I said, I do think quite a few have hit :wall:but not to worry, there is always time to play catch up, no point in worrying, as someone said to me quite recently (in a different context, really but I apply it to most things, now) "There's no point in worrying, it's not going to change the outcome" and she's right :T has saved me a lot of worrying since I heard this.

Excellent work re the spreadsheet, and keeping it up to date. Oh and the job application and job interview, Well Done:T wish yo well and luck with the interview.
:rotfl:And good to read, your going to deal with the £10 short in your savings :beer: :dance::dance:


It's the little things that make people happy

maman

AlexLK wrote: »

I've applied.... :eek: and have an interview lined up... :eek: :eek: :eek:

Good luck with the interview and do keep us posted.:)

AlexLK wrote: »

My school work is keeping me busy and sane at the moment, I'm starting to learn not to bring things home with me and that pupils will only do what they put their minds to do. Them not practising is not my fault or problem. My wife told me that so long as they are safe and well, their circumstances are not my problem and it's not my place to be spending money on them and allowing them not to pay me for services rendered. Implementing some stricter boundaries is what I needed to do and I am no longer feeling personally guilty for them not having the right instruments / books etc. etc. Though not sure whether it's a good thing or a bad thing that I've started to apply some of the boundaries I have with tenants to teaching but it has at least stopped me spending personal money on them and making losses in what should be a profit making activity.

It's a good thing IMO. Just like people in, for example, the medical profession you have to keep a professional distance and remember they're not your children. Good preparation for if you go into teaching.

kelpie35

I've applied.... and have an interview lined up...

Hope all goes well with the interview.

From reading some of your posts I think this would be an excellent job for you.

Take care

EatingTheElephant

Good luck with the interview.

I would have loved a birthday party like that when I was your sons age, how wonderful.

misscousinitt

Great news about the job interview!

Keep us up to date.

MCI

AlexLK

SingleSue wrote: »

I'm with you on the disbelief of offspring getting older....going on uni open days has really brought it home to me that youngest will be flying the nest next year and I am finding it very difficult to get my head around it.

I fear that I will be a crumbling mess the day we drop him off for his first day of university and that he will be a very embarrassed young man indeed :rotfl:

Certainly must be exciting but also a difficult time as a parent.

Good luck with it all.

A_Frayed_Knot wrote: »

Sounds like your sorting yourself out. That's such a lovely idea for your sons birthday, with his love of horses, he will be delighted and excited, does he know about it, or is it a surprise?

As I said, I do think quite a few have hit :wall:but not to worry, there is always time to play catch up, no point in worrying, as someone said to me quite recently (in a different context, really but I apply it to most things, now) "There's no point in worrying, it's not going to change the outcome" and she's right :T has saved me a lot of worrying since I heard this.

Excellent work re the spreadsheet, and keeping it up to date. Oh and the job application and job interview, Well Done:T wish yo well and luck with the interview.
:rotfl:And good to read, your going to deal with the £10 short in your savings :beer: :dance::dance:


It's the little things that make people happy

Thank you, AFK. ... Going to leave the £10 just little longer to purposely annoy you every time you read any of my posts.

I think I'll spend the rest of my days sorting myself out, AFK. :rotfl:

Son's party is a surprise. My in-laws bought him a lovely grooming kit quite a while ago now for his birthday, so that fits really well with his party. I do now have one present sorted; a nice French 1/4 size violin. His first 'proper' violin as far as I am concerned. Yes, the month really has gone from bad to worse financially speaking now! We will buy probably two more things, only criteria being that they are inexpensive and useful.

Not sure anything will stop my concern for the future and regret for the past. However, I do know I cannot let those concerns carry on ruling my life.

maman wrote: »

Good luck with the interview and do keep us posted.:)

It's a good thing IMO. Just like people in, for example, the medical profession you have to keep a professional distance and remember they're not your children. Good preparation for if you go into teaching.

Thank you, maman.

It seems to be working well so far. It likely seems a little cold but whilst I would always try to help my (parents') tenants, ultimately I keep strict boundaries and won't let them take the ****. My wife made me realise that in some ways a landlord / tenant relationship is not so far removed from a parent / teacher one. I didn't have those boundaries; as a result some parents were taking advantage and I was making myself ill being concerned about pupils. Funnily enough your comments a while back about not spending your own money on pupils made me think about it too.

AlexLK

kelpie35 wrote: »

I've applied.... and have an interview lined up...

Hope all goes well with the interview.

From reading some of your posts I think this would be an excellent job for you.

Take care

EatingTheElephant wrote: »

Good luck with the interview.

I would have loved a birthday party like that when I was your sons age, how wonderful.

misscousinitt wrote: »

Great news about the job interview!

Keep us up to date.

MCI

Thank you all.

I hope I've found the right profession for me, Kelpie. Even if it isn't, I'll be glad I've given it a go. This is, of course, if they'll have me.

I do try to be thoughtful and design a party around my son's interests. Wife has started on the annual birthday art and craft project for his party. Tonight was stamping a horse motif onto invitations, envelopes and paper cups as well as starting to make a quilt with the same horse motif.