Where's My Incentive?

I apologize in advance for this post - I just need to express a few opinions. I've been reading up on the mortgage part of the bailout that was passed last week. All I have to say is - ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?!?

Everything about this irks me. Here is just one paragraph that stood out..."To provide an extra incentive for borrowers to keep paying on time, the initiative will provide a monthly balance reduction payment that goes straight towards reducing the principal balance of the mortgage loan. As long as a borrower stays current on his or her loan, he or she can get up to $1,000 each year for five years."

Again, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!? So essentially, the government is bribing people with money to make their own mortgage payments on time. On what planet does this make sense? Shouldn't that just be a given? It's called PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

I have lived in my house for almost five years. I have made each payment on time - sometimes even early just for kicks. My incentive? SELF-RESPECT, PEACE OF MIND, AND A GOOD CREDIT SCORE. Do borrowers really need an "extra incentive" to pay their mortgage on time? After their interest rate and principle have already been lowered? I don't even give "extra incentives" to my six-year-old for doing his homework. He knows it's part of being a first-grader. I expect that by the time he is an adult, he knows that paying his bills on time is just part of being a responsible person. If you need an "extra incentive" to pay your mortgage on time, you have no business owning a house. It comes with the territory.

What happened to living within your means? My mortgage is about 70% of what the bank said we qualified for at the time. Before we bought a house, we sat down and did a budget and bought a house for what we could afford - not what the bank told us we should spend. Granted, it's not extravagant. The boys bathroom has pink laminate countertops. I'm pretty sure all of our faucets are original to the house (that was built in 1987). We're slowly replacing the floors and other things. That's fine with me. We're not asking anyone to pay for it. It's our house, and we'll take responsibility of paying for it ourselves.

Now, I know there are people with situations such as medical bills, disability and other unforseen circumstances. I'm not talking about them. I'm talking about the people who just don't know how to stop spending, don't know how to make a budget, and expect their "starter" house to be 4000 square feet with granite countertops and a 60" flatscreen above the custom-made fireplace. WHY AM I PAYING FOR YOUR DAMN MORTGAGE?

Sorry. I'll get off my high horse now. My next post will be lighthearted and have some pictures of my super-cute boys.

Ewe...Kisses From Mom

Kevin recently informed me that he will no longer be kissing me goodbye when I drop him off to school. In Kindergarten it was okay. He would even run up to me and hug me when I volunteered in his class. Now in first grade, he is older and cooler. Kissing your mom in front of everyone diminishes your status. I say goodbye to him for seven hours, and all I get are "props" or "knuckles" or whatever you want to call it. Boo.

Why do they have to grow up so dang fast? When he was little, I would get kisses all of the time. Multiple kisses. He held my hand everywhere we went. (That, too, is off limits in front of his friends). He would snuggle for hours. He still snuggles, and I cherish every minute of it because I know that will also one day be gone. Stop growing!

The other night, Kevin came up to me out of the blue and gave me a big ol' smackaroo right on the cheek. I was in shock. A kiss with no begging, bribing or forcing? I wanted to let him know how much I appreciated this grand gesture, and this is how the conversation went.

Me: "Thank you so much for that! Whenever you give me a kiss..."

Kevin: "...you'll give me a dollar?"

Me: "Um, no! I was going to say that whenever you give me a kiss it makes me the happiest mom in the world."

Kevin: "Oh.....but will you give me a dollar?"

Me: "NO!"

Happy mom moment officially over. But it did provide a good laugh.

Little does Kevin know that after he has fallen asleep for the night, I tuck him in bed one last time and kiss his cheeks and face all over to make up for the lost ones during the day.

I love you, Kevin! Mmmwahh.