Toward Freedom - Day 3 - Gabi winter break trip to GR

Not so free this week since Gabi is on spring break. But took a day trip to GR with Gabi! Haven't gotten out much with COVID and fissure, and since most of our driving has been to Detroit area for Gabi school. It was a good day!! Brought Gabi's lunch as always and she had her iPad and books but actually just read the whole time! Went to the Downtown Market, got ice cream, went into Moose Jaw (me while Gab ate her ice cream outside :)); went to Riverside Park. Gabi stayed in the car reading her book while I explored the frozen Grand River with ducks on it. I didn't make Gabi walk all the way back to the unfrozen part but had her go to the boat launch part. Then we went to Lost and Found. And then came home! A little wrangling over treats at Speedway but we negotiated it out. Emailed Gabi's therapist today too - need to focus so much on learning how to better communicate with her about food, self-esteem, etc.

Toward Freedom - Day 2 - Defrost Freezer. Start car title search.

The fridge has been swimming in water for weeks. There are like 13 inches of snow out there. Seems like a good day to defrost. Last night also finished mid-month net worth check. First time over $400,000 if you count estimated house equity. Supposed to also start car title search today, so... ... ...

Toward Freedom - Day 1 - Cleaned out Rogue

Okay Day 1 was actually yesterday. Day 1 = Gabi "fall break" shopping fail (eventually redeemed at ULTA). Climbing into trunk of Nissan Rogue to finish cleaning it out. Blizzard at night (no Gabi :() Shopping Fail - Plan was to get G to help clean out old car and pay her $20 and then go to Claire's/the mall and look around and get some things. She misunderstood and thought we were going to have a "shopping spree with Mommy" in which I would buy her whatever she wanted, a la her grandmas. And the shopping trip she had w her grandma and cousin in TX. Her face fell when she learned she would need to use her own money. She got angry, threw all the manipulation at me. She didn't want Claire's she wanted makeup. So we went to Macy's and that was too expensive. We went into HandM (For me) and I sent her to kids' section; when I went to get her she was sitting glumly staring at the $20 (very much like a gesture I have seen her dad make). She kept saying $20 was hardly any moeny; she wanted me to spend at least $50 on her and said "we never go shopping together"... I stood firm though I felt frustrated and hurt. I told her I felt like I always come up w/ something I think will be fun and it gets ruined by too much wanting and fighting. We eventually went into Ulta instead, where I thought her money could go further. And it did. She found a buy one get 1/2 off special and was able to get 3 eyeshadow palettes and some makeup wipes. She also got a free makeup bag at checkout which was really nice. The total was $26.42 or so. She paid with her $20, a few $1 bills she had and butt load of quarters and change! She didn't want me to put any on my card. Luckiy the cashier was patient and the line wasn't too long. I was proud that I stuck to my guns but was able to help her - realize that things are cheaper at different places and $20 CAN go far.