Friday, August 8, 2008

Forgive Me Bloggers For I Have Sinned(Again)

Yesterday was a really fun day. After work the girls and I went to the mall to do some school shopping. Both girls needed shoes and some other stuff. A lady at work had given me a coupon for JCPenney’s. I love coupons. I love coupons almost as much as I love shopping. The fun thing about a coupon that gives you actual dollars off, is that it doesn’t matter what you buy. I was able to take the sale prices PLUS get the 15 bucks off on the coupon. Isn’t that exciting and thrilling? Aren’t you just breathless with excitement? I aim to hold up my end of the bargain, and blog about the really serious issues.

Next we hit Finish Line to buy shoes for Melissa. She had already spotted a pair that she wanted and we were hoping they still had them. They did. Keri saw a pair that she wanted, but I am NOT spending 110 bucks on a pair of tennis shoes for an almost ten year old. That’s just crazy, and we all know that I am completely sane…..perfectly normal. Well, that’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it.

Next we headed to Aeropostale. (Am I spelling that correctly? That really sticks in my craw not to know) Normally, I hate shopping at the mall. As a general rule, I find the merchandise to be overpriced and I can’t afford overpriced merchandise. Melissa however, knew the Aero was having a sale and wanted to check it out. They had tops on sale 50% off. Once I figured out what the sale prices would be, I realized that I would spend about that amount for shirts at Kohl’s or some other store. We racked up. Even Keri got in on the action. I saved 87 dollars in Aeropostale. There is a big but(t) here. I completely embarrassed myself. I kept seeing this young girl arranging and sorting clothes. We needed a couple of dressing rooms, and this girl seemed completely oblivious to the customers around her. I KNOW she saw us standing by the dressing rooms, yet she didn’t ask if we needed any help. Finally I said, “Excuse me, could we get a couple of dressing rooms please?” She looked at me and said, “I don’t work here” Ooopss! My bad!

I mean, how was I supposed to know? She was a young girl, and usually young girls work in those stores. She appeared to be straightening and sorting the clothes. How was I supposed to know she didn’t work there? Being embarrassed has many levels ranging from a complete body blush to just mildly chagrined. I am putting this one at a level of “mildly chagrined”.

We ended up with 2 pairs of tennis shoes, 2 pairs of shorts, 3 pairs of underwear, and 9 shirts. Plus Keri bought a really big chunky necklace and bracelet from Claire’s. Melissa was telling me how this stuff is stylish now. I only smirked. I am sure I am not the only one who remembers this stuff being cool in the 80’s. Do you guys remember that? There some things I will be sad to see come back around.

We stopped off for an extremely healthy meal from Mickey D’s. When we got home, the girls decided to try on their clothes AGAIN. It was really sweet. The way our house is designed, there are bedrooms on either side of the living room, so the living room is centralized in the house. Keri would come out of her room and ask me what I thought, and then Melissa would come out and ask me what I thought. I can’t believe they actually take my opinion into consideration.

You how sometimes you hesitate to blog about something. You worry what your friends in blog land may think of you, or you may feel it to be something too personal to blog about. For me it’s an issue of what you fine people may think. I have decided in the interest of keeping it real, I will share.

Part of my unbelievable stress last week was money. This year has been a great deal harder on me than the last few years. One of my main struggles as a single parent is money. Emotionally, raising the girls by myself has become easy and fun mostly. As the beginning of the school year approached, I knew I wasn’t going to have the funds available to take them school shopping. That is the reason the other relatives have pitched in to help. Yet even with their help, I knew the girls were still going to need some things.

I did something I am not necessarily proud of, yet I feel as though I am probably not the only single parent to ever make this choice. I skipped out on a bill. I will eventually HAVE to pay the bill obviously….just not right now. My kids needed stuff and I won’t have them going without. You want to hear something else? I don’t regret it. AT ALL!!! Especially after they got home and started modeling all their clothes and telling me how excited they are for school to start. They are so happy! It melted my heart. When you grow up poor and being the kid that gets picked on for the clothes and shoes you wear, it does something to you. For one thing, it makes you hate school and I don’t want that for my girls. It also sears into your brain that you NEVER want your children to have to go through that. Mine won’t. I promise you that whatever it takes to get it done, I’ll do it. Now I just have to figure out how I’m going to pay that bill………………

I belatedly give myself The Cone of Safety, so you can’t judge or criticize me for revealing my heinous sin. If you leave me any nasty comments telling me how irresponsible I am……...well then you will just have to be excluded from my plans for world domination.

12 comments:

Unknown said...

I wanted to say thanks for stopping by my blog..I do hope to see you again...

As for embarassing retail moments, I took my kids shopping and kept seeing this "woman" staring at me...I got a little closer and realized it was a mirror!! I'm a dork...

Farrell said...

THAT's your terrible sin? PUHLEEASE. You are too hard on yourself. As long as skipping the bill for now doesn't mean that you'll get your house repo'd or the electricity shut off, I say do what you have to do.
As a single mom, I praise the lord for Grandma who buys all of Sophie's clothes without me asking, just because duh, it's fun to buy little girl clothes.

Susiewearsthepants said...

Farrell-Yeah I get help for the younger one, but I'm on my own with the older one, and she's a teenager, which means that everything is more expensive. Oh, I almost forgot. No my house won't get repo'd and I did pay the electric and water bills LOL

Dawn-That is so funny. I am giggling at my desk! I do believe we are kindred spirits

Fiona Picklebottom said...

Hey, I've been known to juggle a bill here and there myself. Particularly during back-to-school shopping time.

Mental P Mama said...

The last thing on this earth you are is irresponsible. And you made memories with your girls that no one can ever take away from you. Blessings to you.

Astarte said...

Pfft. We should all be so 'bad'. Who hasn't let a bill lag a time or two?! Screw it, it'll work itself out. I thought you were going to say you had been shoplifting or something!

Susiewearsthepants said...

Astarte-LOL, no shoplifting for me, jail is against my religion. I am so surprised that you guys are not more shocked by my wanton behavior. I was really unsure as to whether or not I wanted to reveal what I did. Apparently it's not as big of a deal as I made it out in my own head.

Fiona Picklebottom said...

In answer to the question you left in my comments: Of course. I'm out of hiding now. :)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog!! Always nice to find a fellow single mom!

I hear you about money! BOTH mine seem to have outgrown ALL their clothes overnight!!!!!!!

Karen Deborah said...

Only a very responsible person would feel chagrinned about a bit of bill juggling. you put your children first, bravo! Will pray for something to happen to help with the expenses....

Merrie said...

I worry enough about money to understand where you're coming from. I may be married, but he doesn't happen to work right now, so it's all me. I'm impressed that you're taking such good care on your own. Your girls are lucky to have you!

Thanks for hitting my blog -- I think I'll be reading yours daily now!

HW said...

Like my husband says it's not really skipping a bill it's
"tweaking some numbers," "moving some cash around," "adjusting the cash flow,"
I'd just say you're choosing to pay it on a date later than the company expected. Now they have something to look forward to -you know a surprise!!

No big deal.

My daughter loves Areo and they have some pretty good prices sometimes.