Yesterday, I gave away the store. Yes, I admit it and so should you. The kids come first. If the new boyfriend doesn't get along with the kids, the boyfriend will usually be out the door relatively soon. The boyfriend says a slightly unkind word to your little darling and your bared fangs and 3 inch nails suddenly appear on scene. Another lovely visual. The girlfriend tries to correct the little angel and I believe the words, "You're outta here" may be heard emanating through the aforementioned blood dripping fangs. If you are a really patient sort, you might hold out till the second attempted correction, then break out the snarls and pick axe. Of course, I am presuming your child is not so wretchedly spoiled that anything she says is said while she is flat on the floor, arms and legs flailing, screaming "You don't love me. You never have. Mom has always loved me more." And, of course, Mom has given her whatever she wants, whenever she wants, leading to the tantrum we are all now visualizing with horror and a lot of familiarity.

I think the point is made. We try to give our kids what they need and a lot of what they want. By doing that, we leave enough for ourselves but not much more. The eight to fiver won't allow it. So the idea of having extra money to hold out till the dream job starts paying gets a little more distant on the horizon. Wait, the sun has set. It's dark. There is no horizon. Hey, who's that on the floor screaming?

The current job makes just enough to do what we MUST do, maybe a little less. If a little less, then we slowly get in to, (O God, here it comes) debt. We inch ourselves into yards and yards of debt. But look on the bright side. The banks are happy. You feeling better yet? Maybe tomorrow. There's always tomorrow. Until there isn't.

Manana.