ldsister

We have a piano, so it's more the instruction I'm wondering about. How would the instruction kit work for someone who doesn't play the piano to teach a 4-year-old to play?

Thanks! Are you familiar with this product? Would it be suitable for someone who doesn't play the piano to teach their preschooler to play the piano?

Thanks for your thoughts. I agree that cutting back is the FIRST place you go. Since the money saved is untaxed and untithed, a penny saved is actually worth about 1.33 cents earned. There comes a point, however, where the financial returns of economizing have reached peak efficiency and what needs to happen next is increased income. I believe we're at the point. As far as FLEX, it's been such a great investment for us. It's untaxed, it does have some rollover, and we always use every drnop of it. We're quite grateful for the program and only wish the Federal government allowed us to do more. I agree that my kids will be fine without piano lessons, and if fine is the best I can do, then I'll settle for it. But if I can do better with a few weekly donations, why not do it? (The child for whom I'd like these lessons is four, so it's not reasonable to expect him to earn the money for the lessons.)

I want to be very clear here. I have never suggested or considered asking the church for help. *Someone else* suggested that, and I immediately explained that that was not appropriate for this situation.

Thank you! I'm surprised that people would find a mom wanting to find a way to let her kid take music lessons to be not supporting the family. Especially when the "cost to the family" is that baby and preschooler spend 90 minutes with Grandma a few times a week. People suggest "trading skills," but having been a wahm, let me tell you, that REALLY takes away from family.

Mmmm . . . that's part of what I'm feeling. *I* would never tell him not to do something like that. I'd let it be his choice. If he wanted to sell plasma to buy a video game or a concert ticket, I'd say, "Well, you pass out when you get blood drawn, but you're a competent adult, so I trust you're going to do your research and manage your business." Is the lack of the reverse mutual respect?

It's not make or break. It *would* let me buy some of the things I want.

Because of our personal situation (family nearby, proximity of the blood bank, the flexibility that it would allow, and the fact that it's not subject to self-employment tax, it's a much better alternative than any part-time job I would be likely to find in this area.

I hope you guys can work it out, but please realize that the depth of her humiliation, pain, betrayal, and revulsion is probably incomprehensible to you. You will probably never fully understand what you put her through, and it will take time for her to feel safe with you again, if she ever does. And you need to accept that some wounds become bearable not because they heal but because they scar over. That may be something you have to live with for the rest of your life. Be patient, keep trying, and accept her decision, whatever it is.

Yeah. I think they've improved the process so it's not quite as physically demanding.

I think you're right. In our case, the plasma center is in a perfectly safe part of town. (We don't really have a bad place), and the sellers are mostly college students and single mothers. Hubs' objection makes me sad because I'd really like to have the things I'd buy with it, but, eh. Suck it up, Buttercup.

You do have my empathy and sympathy. I wish this was something people warned unmarried ladies about in advance. It can feel terribly isolating and sad and imprisoning to realize that your best friend and eternal companion is going to grump and snarl at you for something you have very little control over (lack of sexual desire). But do schedule a time to give him what he needs. You will both get frustrated if he tries to "perform" by "pleasing" you, because it's unlikely to happen. It will feel less invasive and violating if the event involves you touching him more than him touching you. Simply establish that this is something you will do at this time and place for the sake of your marriage, get it done, and get some sleep.

No, I mean week.

I believe you can donate 3 times a week, and it pays 15/15/20. Like you, I don't think it would be that bad.

I'm glad we're on the same page. For a moment, I was questioning my entire understanding of the church welfare program.

Thank you all for your insights. I don't agree with his objections, and it's frustrating and discouraging to have to forego an easy 50 dollars a week for no good reason, but I won't cause contention in my marriage.

Regardless of what you decide, he does need to understand that waking up the mother of a baby when she's finally getting some sleep is never okay.

It's a very appropriate analogy. Sometimes I think sex is romanticized and fetishized to such an extent that we don't look at it as something you do to take care of your relationship. It's a little like yardwork. It's not that you OWE it to your yard to mow and fertilize it, and no one has the right to make you feel guilty for not mowing and fertilizing your yard, but you do have to do those things if you want a healthy yard. Same with sex. It may not always be fun, but it is necessary.

I'm not at all offended. I must have communicated poorly. When I referred to "medical care," I was referring to optional procedures for adults. We have insurance and fund our FLEX plan every year. When physical therapy was suggested for muscle and head pain I get every couple of weeks, my husband wanted me to use our insurance and FLEX money for the treatments. I told him I would if the money was unused by the end of the year. That week, our son's appendix burst and all the FLEX money went toward that. I believe I was prompted with that feeling in my gut not to squander our medical savings on an unnecessary procedure for myself when we would need it for something so much more important in just a few days. My husband would STILL like me to go get the treatments, but like you, I don't do warm fuzzies. If I don't see the money in the bank, I don't spend it on unnecessary things. As far as necessary treatments or treatments for the children, those are all received immediately and paid for immediately and in full. Now that I've clarified that our needs are entirely met and that the money from plasma would go toward wants, what do you think? Is it reasonable to do so?

I must not have communicated clearly. All those emergencies were paid for immediately, in full, with cash. Paying for them left us without funds for luxuries like sports, music lessons, or our planned anniversary getaway. The only way the Bishop's storehouse would play into this situation would be if we took that food and then spent our grocery money on sports, music lessons, and anniversary vacations. I might be misunderstanding the purpose of the Bishop's storehouse, but wouldn't that be an inappropriate use of it?

I absolutely believe that the Lord prompted the move, but does that mean that selling plasma to pay Little League fees is going against his will? If so, how?

I misunderstood. When you referred to "taking advantage of the systems the Lord has put in place," and I asked if I should just go do it, I thought you were referring to the existence of a plasma center. LOL. My bad!

Thank you! I agree! How can I work this considering my husband's objections?

That sounds fascinating! I'll look that talk up. What was the conclusion?