The easiest kind of relationship is with ten thousand people. The hardest is with one.
Joan Baez
One day I watched Luanne, 25, at a community event as one person after another gushed about how wonderful Vanessa, her mother, was. While she was very proud of her mother, Luanne wished that her mother had been more accessible when Luanne and her brother were growing up. Even now, Luanne and her family had planned a long weekend to visit her mom but it was obvious that there would be very little time to actually spend with her. Vanessa had the whole weekend filled with parties and events and, in-between, she would probably be spending a lot of time on the phone.
Being available to everyone else and minimizing time with those we say mean the most to us is an easy trap to fall into. I experienced that myself when my own sons were young and one of them complained that I was always on the phone. He was right. It was actually easier to ignore my own kids and be available by phone for work. I justified it by telling myself I was working with parents of young children with special needs and they were dealing with so much that the least I could do was to always be available to them.
At first I wanted to dismiss his complaint and explain how important these calls were, but I didn’t. I reminded myself that typically these were not life-and-death calls and that I was fortunate to have two wonderful, healthy sons. I began intentionally limiting my availability to others during our family time. Who’s important to you? How are you making time for them?
Money Saving Tip
When you’re traveling and renting a car, check to see if there is a shuttle service or public transportation that will get you to a car rental place away from the airport. Taxes and fees on airport-based rentals can add a considerable amount to your bill.
What made you smile today?
What made you proud of your money choices today?
