Tightening the Belt
Dear Frankie,
My parents’ business took a dive during COVID. The other day, I heard them tell my siblings that sales hadn’t picked up as fast as expected, and they needed to cut costs at home. They said that until things got better, they would only buy the essentials at the grocery store, downgrade the cable service, and stop sending the shirts to the dry cleaners.
My sibs said they were aware of the strain on the finances and had already talked about ways they could help. My brother said he would increase his after-school hours at the hardware store and contribute his earnings for household expenses. My sister said getting more babysitting jobs was a slam dunk, and she could also contribute.
I can’t tell you how proud my parents were of my siblings. When they were all hugging and crying and saying how grateful they were for having one another, I sat there feeling like a financial weight. Can you think of anything I could do to lend a paw?
Raymond
Dear Raymond,
There are many ways you can contribute. Have you ever looked at the prices of those sweet potato roll-ups, toys, and dog cookies at the pet store?
Those places are like Whole Foods for dogs. A total rip-off if you ask me. If you ask your parents to stop shopping for you at the pet store, that alone should save them a bundle. You can also suggest they stop your grooming services. I would request, however, that someone in the family learn how to cut your nails.
Another way you can help is to realize that these are stressful times for your parents, and if they snap at you or seem distracted and don’t pay as much attention to you as they have in the past, it’s not about you, and you shouldn’t pout or take it personally.
As the humans say, “This won’t last forever and in the meantime pull up your socks.”
Best, Frankie
© 2022 Geneva Woodruff
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