"Do You Want the Good or Bad News?"

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-12-2010
"Do You Want the Good or Bad News?"
4
Mon, 01-25-2010 - 9:39pm

That is what DH says when he comes home. Awesome. I seriously was thinking that he got laid off or something.

He currently works a 4 days work week (long days) which means every Friday off & every 5th Thursday off as well. (This works really, really well for our split parenting with his kids).
Where he works is building a new upgrader (converting raw bitumen into usable oil product) - they anticipate being done Dec this year; he is a team lead :) Awesome career job.

Bad news: Found out today that as of July 19 until late Oct they are blacked out for holidays, and also that he will start working 12on/2off so no more Fridays off. But that's extra money, just sucks in the fall for parenting time. But the really bad news is that there are no more Thursdays off, immediately. If we don't have the kids 40% of the time, our CS payment goes up; if he's at work we can't have his kids those weeks so that's a HUGE concern.

Good news: The company is paying out those Thursdys off, most likely on the Feb 15th paycheque. To the tune of 100 hours @ double time. :)

So things are looking seriously up...we can catch up on one seriously overdue CC & then negotiate lower payments, maybe pay my parents back...and I can pay for my kids soccer lol that's what I'm most happy about :)

Melissa
~ Mom to 5 ~
~ Melissa ~ ‎"We need to find the courage to say NO to the things and people that are not serving us, if we want to rediscover ourselves and live our lives with authenticity." - Barbara de Angelis
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-04-2004
Mon, 01-25-2010 - 10:14pm

YAY!! So glad things worked themselves out. I remembered last year when my then 11 yr old dd asked if she could do a duo/trio dance competition team (2 or 3 girls) which means splitting the fee with only 1 or 2 other girls plus costumes and semi-private dance lessons (essentially). I told her no. A lot of girls are in multiple duo/trio and even solos. One parent, who I assumed is like a millionaire (not that it's any of my business) said "no more" because she had to pay a boatload of money and it's not necessary for kids this age.

I think some after school activities are great for kids as long as they're not "over scheduled" like you talk about. It's reasonable to do one or 2 activities, especially if they can learn to be on a team and learn about sportsmanship or just make friends. Both my girls take dance classes. The 12 yr old is on a dance team, but it's a large group, so the fees are reasonable. They're going to National Championships at Disneyland next July. My 7 yr old plays golf with my husband and takes a kids class on Saturdays. DH takes him. Also, the 10 yr old and 7 yr old are both in choir at church. We long for days without activities when they can stay home and play with their toys.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2003
Tue, 01-26-2010 - 8:38am

Glad things are looking up financially, even if DH does have to work 12 on 2 off (is that even legal??? Its seems like HUGE amounts for work, especially for the whole summer!!!!)


I hope you figure out the child support thing. Good luck!


Bex -


"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift -thats why its called the present."


Bex -

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-12-2010
Tue, 01-26-2010 - 9:51am

Yep 12 & 2 (here) is legal. In fact 24 & 4 is legal, that's the most. I knew guys (when I was younger) that worked 24 & 4 from the time they were 18 to about 21/22, and they had their vehicles paid in cash, all the ATVs snowmobiles boats etc & then sizable down payments on houses...all bcs they worked hard for a few years!

I just want my kids to do something ~ I'm not a fan of hockey that requires 4 days a week etc, but outdoor soccer is 2 evenings/wk for 1 hr, for the older one, and 1 hr on Sat mornings for the 3 yo (and that kid has sooooooooo much energy)...so I think it's a good balance.
AND, apparently based on our neighbourhood growing (more community league $) & projected enrollment they actually LOWERED the fees this year, so it's still $40 for 3 yo and $110 (instead of $150) for the 8 yo!

So glad I have mostly boys...and my only girl is my step-daughter so we split the fees on her stuff...& we talked Bio Mom into gymnastics instead of dance just because of all the fees!

It's my birthday today...and seriously the amount of stress that has left my body overnight is the best present I could ask for! (Well technically it's the only present I'm getting; told DH not to spend aa single penny on cards or flowers or gifts lol).

Melissa
~ Mom to 5 ~
~ Melissa ~ ‎"We need to find the courage to say NO to the things and people that are not serving us, if we want to rediscover ourselves and live our lives with authenticity." - Barbara de Angelis
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2008
Tue, 01-26-2010 - 1:08pm

I know you'll miss him, but the money is great.

Norma


"Patience is the best remedy for every trouble"- Plautus