The school year hasn’t even begun yet but the teachers are starting to send out emails and reminders about upcoming events. The HS band is going on a trip to Chicago – naturally both skids want to go. Actually, both skids expect to go. There has never been any hint of doubt that they would. *cough*entitled*cough* Being the only financially responsible parent in this three-some, I started scanning the budget for future months looking for places to squeeze in the monthly payments for this trip. $150 in October, November, December, and an unknown amount in February to be determined by how successful the band’s fundraising efforts are. Oh, an multiply that by two skids. If this isn’t bad enough, we have to start thinking about Homecoming, too. SD17 is a busty, round thing who has to go to a special store to find dresses because otherwise she looks like a hooker about to fall out of the top. Not her fault, but she’s a tad persnickety about her dresses which means that we almost never find one at a reasonable price. And of course BM doesn’t give a sh*t about price because, welp, she’s going to split it down the middle anyway! Then there’s hair…nails…shoes…jewelry…a tux for SS16…flowers… and it’s only Homecoming for pete’s sake! Not like it’s prom yet. But I digress…

So thinking about this makes me wanna hurl. We’ve got an evening planned to get together with BM to discuss birthday party plans (SS16 wants a big sweet sixteen bash like big sister had…of course we had to rent a pavilion *eyeroll). Anyway, since we’ll be in the same room together I figured I would use the opportunity to mention the Chicago trip and Homecoming. Namely, that if the skids don’t chip in a little for the cost of the trip, we simply won’t be able to afford “our half” because, well, our bills need paid first.

Before anyone balks at us asking the skids to chip in, we already did this with their Disney trip with the band a couple years ago. They paid about 1/3 of the cost (probably a little less, actually). I don’t see why this trip should be any different. It’s an expensive trip and they both want to go – so double expensive. Since asking them to skip this trip is absolutely out of the question (insert sarcastic eyeroll) we have to come up with a solution that doesn’t bankrupt our household.

The conversation hasn’t even happened yet and I’m already getting the angry, nervous shakes. I’m bracing myself for the inevitable BS. For BM to say “TFB. You can pay me back or make it work.” For DH to heave a sigh of frustration and lament how life is so unfair that he has to work so hard and barely be able to afford things. For DH to get angry at me for even suggesting that the skids pay for part of the trip when “they’re just kids” and then get even angrier when I get mad at him for being a spineless pushover.

I’m probably getting myself worked up over nothing. It doesn’t do any good to worry about something that hasn’t even happened yet, although history tells me that sh*t is about to hit the fan. Please send good vibes to keep my backbone strong and my tongue in check, because I’m about ready to lose it.