Does your college student have a summer job? Mine does, but it wasn’t easy. With 40M+ Americans out of work, the competition for summer work – or any work at all – hasn’t been this fierce since the Great Depression. So there is zero shame in not getting a summer job, or having one fall […]
Dollar Origami Bible Lesson for Distanced Grade School Students
We all know about the coronavirus disruptions and accommodations that have been made for schoolkids and teachers. Many of us are impacted directly or we’ve certainly heard about it from others. But what about Sunday school? Does that take a hiatus or is there a way to adjust and move forward fruitfully? Nora and I […]
Road to Independence: My Teen Bought His First Car
I told you before about how Grey was revving hard to get his own wheels. Well, he’s now the proud owner of a new used car. Here’s how it went down. Back to Craigslist After nearly being burnt on the Craigslist stove, Grey went right back to it, with hot mitts on this time. I […]
Was a Car Breakdown a Trial or a Blessing?
Her phone’s google maps kept telling her to turn right, but Pippa ignored it. She knew Calvert Street was a major north-bound artery, and it was generally taking her in the right direction: home. Pippa was home for Christmas break after her first semester of college, and was on the way back from visiting an […]
From the Inner City to White Collar Success in Baltimore
Late last year, we went to a reception at the National Electronics Museum for students in Northrop Grumman’s High School Involvement Partnership Program (HIP). Nora works as a counselor in a Baltimore school that participates in the program, and has been to this reception before. It was my first time. If you don’t know, Northrop […]
Buying a First Car Without Succumbing to First Scam
Grey is a junior in high school. He recently earned his full driver’s license, and he wants his own car. So he spends evenings and weekends scanning Craigslist for just the right ride – one that balances cost and cool. The other day, he texted me this photo and ad: What’s not to like? A […]
How Our College First-Year is Balancing Costs And Income
Last time, I related how a college mom wanted to give her son $120 a month, and the strong responses it elicited. This time, as promised, I’m featuring the personal experience of our daughter Pippa, who is in her first year of college. Cut the Cord? Ever since Pippa left for college in August, her […]
A Mom Wants to Give Her College Son $120 a Month. There Was a Strong Response.
Want to start a firestorm? Drop this incendiary into the Facebook parent group for Pippa’s college: We want to give our son money each month to use for entertainment or eating off campus, etc. I guess something similar to a monthly stipend. I was thinking about $120/month since most of his meals will be on […]
Our First College Tuition Bill – Decisions on 529 Withdrawals and Payment & Refund Plans
It happened. We received our first college tuition bill. You might remember that Pippa is going to College of Wooster in the fall. New student orientation begins on August 18! We aren’t newbies when it comes to paying for school tuition, but college takes it to a new level. This despite Pippa earning an awesome […]
How a Small-Time Bet Went Right, Then Wrong
Sort of last minute, our long-time friend and neighbor Hannah invited us over for Saturday dinner. Heck yeah! Grey was at a friend’s house. I thought he would be dropped off in time, but when 6 pm rolled around, no sign of him. He had recently gotten a phone for his 16th birthday, so I […]