As the last school year came to an end, we found out that one of our kids would need surgery midway through summer. Until we received our surgery date, it was difficult to see what our summer would look like. Now we have a date, and our summer has turned into a mixture of spontaneous day trips to make the most before surgery vs prepping our house and work for post-op.
Surgery Prep
Prepping for surgery has kept me busy! It involves rearranging the house/bedroom situation, applying for Paid Family Leave, multiple pre-op appointments, etc. I am thankful the job I have offers the benefits, and my schedule is overall flexible, but it still makes for a stressful time. The unfortunate part is the hospital being 2 hours away from where we live. Our gas budget has definitely increased!
Our planning around these appointments needs to be spot on as well. My husband and I work with one car, which can be great for the general day-to-day. However, taking everyone where they need to be plus our daily tasks has been a juggle! My saving grace for planning has been my Family Wall account (not sponsored). The simplicity of the app helps me stay organized and keeps my husband informed about the plan of the day. Throughout this process, being organized is the only way for us to stay afloat.
With any surgery, it’s not just the physical prep but the mental prep as well. While my son may not talk about his nerves surrounding the surgery, it is still a major procedure. Throughout this process, we have made sure he has had a voice, and he has been a great advocate for himself. Truly, I could not be more proud of how he has handled everything.
This has been an adjustment for everyone in the house, and practicing mindfulness now will be key to recovery. I foresee the nerves hitting all of us more, though, as the surgery date approaches. I know realistically I will be able to remain calm and focused for my children, but there will definitely be some anxiety as I wait for him to get out of the OR.
Trying to Enjoy Summer
Impromptu adventures have been our summer vibes. Since we ended up waiting until mid-July to receive a surgery date, we didn’t dare plan many outings. Instead, we had a go bag ready with sunscreen, bathing suits, a change of clothes, and some towels. This has helped us be ready for any day that we had off, just to grab the kids and go! This has allowed us to go swimming, park trips, hiking adventures, you name it. I generally have a to-go bag packed every summer, but this year it has truly shown its worth.
The only trip that we have planned this summer is a camping trip the weekend before school starts. Until our son starts to recover from surgery, we won’t know if he will be able to go or not. In the meantime, we are keeping our fingers crossed for a quick recovery; otherwise, we will pivot where we need to.
Back to School is around the Corner
Every year, summer has gone by faster and faster, and this year is no different. I know that once my son has his surgery, my life will be juggling caring for him and getting everything ready for back to school. This year I will officially have all 4 of my children in school, and I don’t know if my mama heart can handle that (or let’s face it, my budget)!
To try and soften the load of back-to-school shopping, I have started to compile the list of supplies, backpacks, clothing, etc. that will be needed. This list will come in handy if I run into some sales. While we usually try to reuse items if they are in good shape, there will be a few things I won’t be able to this year. For example: all of my kids need new backpacks. My youngest’s is his first year; our two middle children have worn theirs out this year, and our oldest will need a rolling backpack. Next to clothing, this will be our biggest expense.
To not completely break the budget, I started picking up at my second job to help absorb the costs. Since my full-time job is salaried, I am unable to make any overtime. Having a second job has come in handy for moments like this. The back-to-school expenses add up quickly with four kids, and the added travel expenses this year definitely don’t help.
Problem Solving
With all of these additional expenses, my husband and I have really taken a look at our general bills and tried to see where we can cut back. One finding was our grocery budget. Trying to grocery shop with 4 kids, it is easy to have extras fly into the cart. To help with this, I have worked on creating a meal plan and grocery list template to help us stick to our budget.
With all of these additional expenses, my husband and I have really taken a look at our general bills and tried to see where we can cut back. One finding was our grocery budget. Trying to grocery shop with 4 kids, it is easy to have extras fly into the cart. To help with this, I have worked on creating a meal plan and grocery list template to help us stick to our budget.
I’ve enjoyed having something that keeps me on track. Of course, some weeks are better than others, but overall it has helped tremendously! I’ve enjoyed the simplicity of the template and how it keeps me on track for my financial and health-related goals. Click below to learn more about the planner and have the option to purchase if you think it is right for you!