I love Lenore Skenazy. I've read her book Free Range Kids and subscribe to her blog, http://www.freerangekids.com/. It is wonderful to find like minded parents. In case you haven't heard of Free Range Kids, the basics are to teach your children life skills and give them more freedom and responsibility as they develop those skills. To me that idea has naturally flowed with my goal to teach my children to grow up to be responsible members of society.
But several comments I've read from other like minded parents have me scratching my head and contemplating. One particular statement sticks in my mind, 'I went to get my child from his friends where he told me he was going. He wasn't there and I didn't worry. I just looked in the next logical place.' Okay, first of all, part of teaching your children responsibility is that he would have let you know if he moved on to a new location. But my bigger problem with this is the statement I didn't worry.
Really, you didn't worry at all? You didn't have a single moment of 'OMG where is my child?' Well, I will say, good for you. I'm not that good. I have to fully admit to being a worrier. I worry a lot. I worry when I get in the car on a rainy day and drive into town. I worry when my kid is frying things in the kitchen. I worry when my youngest runs off at Wal-Mart and none of the other four people I am with remember the last time they saw him. I worry when my teen daughter gets behind the wheel. I worry when my kids ride the horse. Do you get the picture? I worry.
And I'm sure that I am not alone. I would bet alot of self proclaimed parents of Free Range Kids worry. As a matter of fact I've never read Lenore say don't worry about your child. So here's the difference. I do worry. I don't panic. I don't assume because my child is missing he has been abducted. That just doesn't happen often. But because I have taught him to be polite and where he is supposed to be I worry that some emergency has taken him off. Or that he started riding his bike home and had a bike accident or been hit by a car. This does happen occasionally. But I won't panic. I will just look in the next logical place. And when I find him healthy and alive I will proceed to put the fear of Mom into him and ground him to kingdom come. Then a few days later when that has expired I will trust he has learned his lesson and let him go out again.
When my daughter is old enough to drive the car by herself I will worry when she is late. I will not panic. I will try to call her (but she had better not answer her phone while she is driving!) I will imagine her in every possible type of car accident. I will imagine her unconscious in the hospital because what other reason could she possibly have to be late and not let me know? And when she shows up and her cell phone battery is dead and she had to drop off an extra friend I will be relieved. And then I will put the fear of Mom into her and take away her car keys for the same amount of eternity it felt like while I worried. And then when that has expired I will hand her back the keys, remind her of the lesson she has learned, and send her out into the world again.
So for me the key to being a parent of Free Range Kids isn't not worrying. That would be impossible. The idea is to not panic and not over react; to allow them the freedom they have earned by being the responsible, well mannered children I have taught them to be. And when they act like irresponsible children (or should I just say children) I will remind them that freedom is a privilege and you must continue to earn it with your responsible behavior. And in the interim I will worry. I will worry when they are out of my site. I will worry when I can see them. I will worry when they climb over the second story deck railing to play along the outside. I will worry if they are happy in life, if they are fitting in in their new schools, if they have a boyfriend/girlfriend and is that person kind to them. I will worry, but it will not eat me alive. I will worry, but I will not panic. I will worry, but I will not let that worry stop my children from doing the things kids should do. I will worry, but I will not interfere in their lives unless they need more guidance to be and become responsible members of society.
I am many things in life: wife, mother, sister, daughter, accountant, dog trainer, friend, coworker. And yet not one of these things explains me. Maybe if you mush them all together, stir it up a bit, and throw in some attitude you'll come closer to figuring me out. And if you do, let me know because I usually don't understand either.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Friday, May 17, 2013
Mom Pride
I am so Mom Proud of my oldest son. He's 13.
Last night I was getting things together because I am leaving for the weekend. All the boys will be home alone while my daughter and I are off for a weekend of dog agility. And as all over zealous mom's do I was worrying about what they would cook and if everyone had enough clean clothes to wear.
Hubby had food under control. He's a grown man who has known about this weekend for months. His mom taught him to be self sufficient. Thank you, MIL! And really 3 of my 4 boys can cook and the 4th can make cereal and microwave stuff. My kitchen is usually stocked. So I let it go. They will eat pizza and burgers all weekend. Man bonding and all that.
Next I was gathering clothes to make sure everyone had enough clothes for the weekend and Monday. Monday is the last day of school and after a weekend of travel I do not want to come home and wash clothes. So I set the younger two boys off to lay out clothes and bring me whatever they were missing. Finally, I asked my oldest if he needed anything and he gave me that look.
If you've ever had a teenage son you know the look. The one that says, 'Really, mom, did you really just say that?' And then he replied, "I can do my own laundry," in that tone reserved for people who ask stupid questions.
Yep, my baby is growing up and I'm so proud. I have taught him to be self sufficient. Plus I didn't have to wash his clothes. Yippee.
Last night I was getting things together because I am leaving for the weekend. All the boys will be home alone while my daughter and I are off for a weekend of dog agility. And as all over zealous mom's do I was worrying about what they would cook and if everyone had enough clean clothes to wear.
Hubby had food under control. He's a grown man who has known about this weekend for months. His mom taught him to be self sufficient. Thank you, MIL! And really 3 of my 4 boys can cook and the 4th can make cereal and microwave stuff. My kitchen is usually stocked. So I let it go. They will eat pizza and burgers all weekend. Man bonding and all that.
Next I was gathering clothes to make sure everyone had enough clothes for the weekend and Monday. Monday is the last day of school and after a weekend of travel I do not want to come home and wash clothes. So I set the younger two boys off to lay out clothes and bring me whatever they were missing. Finally, I asked my oldest if he needed anything and he gave me that look.
If you've ever had a teenage son you know the look. The one that says, 'Really, mom, did you really just say that?' And then he replied, "I can do my own laundry," in that tone reserved for people who ask stupid questions.
Yep, my baby is growing up and I'm so proud. I have taught him to be self sufficient. Plus I didn't have to wash his clothes. Yippee.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Homemade Playset
My youngest son is about to turn seven. Buying most seven year old boys a gift is not a challenge. But I was really struggling with this one. He never knows what he wants and changes his mind daily. He is a very typical boy who loves things with motors, flashing lights, and things that blow up. Since school gets out in a few days I wanted him to have something that would encourage him to play outdoors. It is an understatement to say he is an active child. Parents of active children look at me and say, "Is he always that busy?" The answer is yes, always.
Not sure what to get, I posted on Facebook for ideas. My fabulous SIL suggested a fort. Now we already have a "tree house" out in the woods. But this was a great suggestion. Putting something closer to the house would encourage him to use it more often. At the same time my son said, "I want a real swing." After figuring out he meant a swing he could sit on that was not a tire swing (we put that up recently), I spent some time thinking and planning. A tree house fort seemed a good solution.
Knowing this was not a one person job I asked my handy husband if he would have time to help out and if he thought we would have time to accomplish it. This was Thursday. My son's birthday was the next Wednesday and we were going to have a house full of company over the weekend. Sure he says, he has Tuesday off and we can get it done in one day. We went to the store, priced lumber, looked at kids playsets (so I could steal their designs), and made a plan.
On Friday hubby came home and said he had to work the next Tuesday. The tree house fort was out of the question. I couldn't do it by myself. It's physically impossible to hold beams over ones head and bolt them in at the same time; at least for me. Maybe someone smarter can figure it out.
Over the weekend I looked out onto my second story deck and saw my son on the OUTSIDE of the railing. He had climbed up on the rail, over it, and was walking back and forth along the rail. After a major freak out I knew I had to give that monkey some place to climb. But come Monday morning I had no better ideas.
So I wandered around the yard thinking and came up with this:
There is a swing in the center, a tire suspended in the trees to climb on, a rope ladder (left) that takes you up the tree to a PVC tube you can drop golf balls through. I also found the steering wheel from the playset at our old house and mounted that to the tree.
Most of the things I pulled from the scrap piles around the house. With the scraps, 4 hours and $32 in hardware and ropes I have a great place for my son to play.
Everything is painted with left over grey hammered spray paint to help it blend in with the trees. I did not use pressure treated wood because all of the wood is scrap. Put plain wood painted and maintained will last longer than my son will have interest in this.
The rope ladder goes to a PVC tube where golf balls can be dropped in to come out the other side. I watched this video on ladder lashing http://www.itstactical.com/skillcom/knots/lashings/easily-create-your-own-rope-ladder-with-a-ladder-lashing/, and used 2x2s I had left over from another project. They are cut 15" long. I used heavy duty eye hooks screwed into the tree and tent stakes that I had lying around to tack it to the ground.
An old piece of PVC found in the shed was the perfect length to go across and come out the other side. I think it had been used for a rain barrel, but it is perfect for a "plinko" game. I didn't have to cut or adjust it at all. I used the pieces that make the roll for barbed wire to strap both ends to the tree. And in between we put a support piece of wood. At the entrance we have a few nails to hold it up. After it was installed I painted it with the same gray hammered paint that is good for metal or plastic. Adding this is one thing I screwed up originally. I didn't send a ball down the tube to be sure it was clear and it wasn't. So I had to take it down again and run water through it to clear out the mud. Here is the entrance hidden in the trees:
and here is the exit over the steering wheel, but the angle drops the ball next to the other side of the tree:
The swing header is made of 2 2x4s glued together and attached to the tree with lag screws. Eye bolts were put through the 2x4s with washers and double nuts on the top. Connecting links with screw thread were put through the eye hooks and rope was tied to it.
The seat of the swing is made from scrap log cabin siding sanded and coated with polyurethane. Holes were drilled in both ends and I followed these instructions for tying the swing: http://www.animatedknots.com/swing/. I haven't finished cutting the end of the rope because I want to adjust it to my son's height once he sees it.
The steering wheel came from the playset at our other house and we used a lag screw to attach it to the tree. An old tire and rope added an extra place for my son to climb. It moves a bit when you get on it, but he should be able to go through it and get up on top with no problem.
Overall this was a simple project, but there were no specific instructions so I would rate it an intermediate DIY project. The rope I bought was too stretchy and I had to readjust several times after I put weight on it. I bought this rope because I thought the red and yellow would be appealing to my son, but in the future I would buy a different type.
And last thing to note, my son hasn't seen this yet. I put it up on Monday and did some tweaking to it this morning, Tuesday. He came and went from school and hasn't noticed it. I did take the swing down to make it a little less obvious. His birthday is Wednesday and the plan is to blind fold him and walk him out there. I really don't think he is going to notice it before then.
Not sure what to get, I posted on Facebook for ideas. My fabulous SIL suggested a fort. Now we already have a "tree house" out in the woods. But this was a great suggestion. Putting something closer to the house would encourage him to use it more often. At the same time my son said, "I want a real swing." After figuring out he meant a swing he could sit on that was not a tire swing (we put that up recently), I spent some time thinking and planning. A tree house fort seemed a good solution.
Knowing this was not a one person job I asked my handy husband if he would have time to help out and if he thought we would have time to accomplish it. This was Thursday. My son's birthday was the next Wednesday and we were going to have a house full of company over the weekend. Sure he says, he has Tuesday off and we can get it done in one day. We went to the store, priced lumber, looked at kids playsets (so I could steal their designs), and made a plan.
On Friday hubby came home and said he had to work the next Tuesday. The tree house fort was out of the question. I couldn't do it by myself. It's physically impossible to hold beams over ones head and bolt them in at the same time; at least for me. Maybe someone smarter can figure it out.
Over the weekend I looked out onto my second story deck and saw my son on the OUTSIDE of the railing. He had climbed up on the rail, over it, and was walking back and forth along the rail. After a major freak out I knew I had to give that monkey some place to climb. But come Monday morning I had no better ideas.
So I wandered around the yard thinking and came up with this:
There is a swing in the center, a tire suspended in the trees to climb on, a rope ladder (left) that takes you up the tree to a PVC tube you can drop golf balls through. I also found the steering wheel from the playset at our old house and mounted that to the tree.
Most of the things I pulled from the scrap piles around the house. With the scraps, 4 hours and $32 in hardware and ropes I have a great place for my son to play.
Everything is painted with left over grey hammered spray paint to help it blend in with the trees. I did not use pressure treated wood because all of the wood is scrap. Put plain wood painted and maintained will last longer than my son will have interest in this.
The rope ladder goes to a PVC tube where golf balls can be dropped in to come out the other side. I watched this video on ladder lashing http://www.itstactical.com/skillcom/knots/lashings/easily-create-your-own-rope-ladder-with-a-ladder-lashing/, and used 2x2s I had left over from another project. They are cut 15" long. I used heavy duty eye hooks screwed into the tree and tent stakes that I had lying around to tack it to the ground.
An old piece of PVC found in the shed was the perfect length to go across and come out the other side. I think it had been used for a rain barrel, but it is perfect for a "plinko" game. I didn't have to cut or adjust it at all. I used the pieces that make the roll for barbed wire to strap both ends to the tree. And in between we put a support piece of wood. At the entrance we have a few nails to hold it up. After it was installed I painted it with the same gray hammered paint that is good for metal or plastic. Adding this is one thing I screwed up originally. I didn't send a ball down the tube to be sure it was clear and it wasn't. So I had to take it down again and run water through it to clear out the mud. Here is the entrance hidden in the trees:
and here is the exit over the steering wheel, but the angle drops the ball next to the other side of the tree:
The swing header is made of 2 2x4s glued together and attached to the tree with lag screws. Eye bolts were put through the 2x4s with washers and double nuts on the top. Connecting links with screw thread were put through the eye hooks and rope was tied to it.
The seat of the swing is made from scrap log cabin siding sanded and coated with polyurethane. Holes were drilled in both ends and I followed these instructions for tying the swing: http://www.animatedknots.com/swing/. I haven't finished cutting the end of the rope because I want to adjust it to my son's height once he sees it.
The steering wheel came from the playset at our other house and we used a lag screw to attach it to the tree. An old tire and rope added an extra place for my son to climb. It moves a bit when you get on it, but he should be able to go through it and get up on top with no problem.
Overall this was a simple project, but there were no specific instructions so I would rate it an intermediate DIY project. The rope I bought was too stretchy and I had to readjust several times after I put weight on it. I bought this rope because I thought the red and yellow would be appealing to my son, but in the future I would buy a different type.
And last thing to note, my son hasn't seen this yet. I put it up on Monday and did some tweaking to it this morning, Tuesday. He came and went from school and hasn't noticed it. I did take the swing down to make it a little less obvious. His birthday is Wednesday and the plan is to blind fold him and walk him out there. I really don't think he is going to notice it before then.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Facebook Ah-Musings
Yesterday I was sick of cleaning house so I posted this:
ADD cleaning stinks. Figuratively and literally. If I could just finish one room and say, look there I did something. Or even if I could add the H and have ADHD then I would still only have part of every room done, but I would be still be zooming around the house (probably tinkering with something and not cleaning, but zooming nonetheless).
My wonderful and fabulous SIL (seriously she's amazing and I have yet to figure out how she is possibly related to my husband) responded with her tried and tested method for staying in one room and finishing it that includes using piles and staying in the room you are cleaning. It's a great plan, but I wasn't following yesterday. You can read Facebook if you want to see her entire plan or go to her blog http://www.dementiawoman.blogspot.com/ to read many other amusing things in her life.
However, this prompted a few reply comments from me on how my day was going. Staying in one room was impossible for me and posting to Facebook much more amusing:
Piles are a must and I have taught my kids this method too. But I'm terrible at the "don't leave the room" part. For example I cleaned the kitchen counters. Next I wanted to do the floors and the room would be done. (Dishes were done earlier in the day while I made breakfast. But then I realized I needed to go find the dust pan as it wasn't in the pantry where it belongs. I found it next to the cat box and realized that smelled so bad I wanted to do it immediately. This led to taking out the laundry room trash because it's what I put the litter in. On the way back in I realized I didn't finish a spray painting project from yesterday. It's almost done, and then I could get that put away. But if I spray it later I will need to wait for it to dry. Sooooo I finish spray painting and put the paints away. When I did that I realized I needed to change the laundry and fold the towels. Once I finished that I decided I needed to get back to the kitchen floor. Armed with the dust pan this time I head to the kitchen and realize I should move the table and chairs and do the whole floor at once. That seems exhausting so I sat down and added the above status to Facebook. Kicking myself in the ass I then realized I shouldn't move the tables and chairs until I vacuum the space I am going to put them in or I won't be able to do that until the floor is dry. So I vacuum, move tables and clean floors. Amazingly on task for a few minutes. My kitchen and dining room are clean. Half the living room is vacuumed and the other half is picked up waiting to be vacuumed. But I remembered I had a phone call to make and got out the computer to get the number. And now I am adding comments to Facebook. Now if only I could find my phone....
After that I took a break to share my thoughts on the suggestion that I need to pay someone to clean my house:
So random things that go through my mind...paying someone to clean is definitely the best option. Anyone else could clean my house better. However, this may prove problematic. Here's how I imagine it going, "Thanks for cleaning my house. It looks fantastic."
"Here is your payment."
Housekeeper: "Uhm, ma'am you can't pay me in dog hair. That isn't a valid form of currency."
Me: "Oh really. Gosh, it's so nice and fluffy. It would make good pillows. And well, I really don't have an abundance of anything else except ticks. And well, they bite."
And then I had one more housecleaning tip for the day:
And my other random thought: Whoever invented bagless vacuums should be shot. It used to go like this: Unzip vacuum and remove bag. Throw in trash. Never see or touch dirt you just vacuumed. Put new bag in. You're ready to go. How it goes now: Push damn button that doesn't really unlatch anything. Yank it around for a bit and finally wrestle canister off of vacuum. Next hold canister over trash can and push other damn button to release dirt. Then shake f*ing canister because it won't open. Bang it around for a bit and finally get it open to allow dirt to fall out all over the trash can, your hands, and the floor you just freaking cleaned! Clean up this mess while rubbing dirt across your forehead. Then take 8 other parts of your vacuum to pull out filter and take outside to shake. Thus allowing the wind to blow MORE dirt in your eye. Wipe off face. Apply eye drops to clear dust out of eyes. Feel eye drops and dirt run down your face. Wash face. Discover you haven't even started on the bathroom which is filthy. Sit down in front of computer and post useless crap on Facebook and Pinterest.
My SIL's response: Yeah, that had to be invented by people who subsist on apples and worry about landfills but never really have had to clean up after four kids, three dogs, a cat, a husband who refuses to hold a "clean" desk job, his filthy friends, and their accident-prone-always-dropping-stuff self. They indeed need to be shot. ...and vacuumed up
Yup, I agree. Amen.
ADD cleaning stinks. Figuratively and literally. If I could just finish one room and say, look there I did something. Or even if I could add the H and have ADHD then I would still only have part of every room done, but I would be still be zooming around the house (probably tinkering with something and not cleaning, but zooming nonetheless).
My wonderful and fabulous SIL (seriously she's amazing and I have yet to figure out how she is possibly related to my husband) responded with her tried and tested method for staying in one room and finishing it that includes using piles and staying in the room you are cleaning. It's a great plan, but I wasn't following yesterday. You can read Facebook if you want to see her entire plan or go to her blog http://www.dementiawoman.blogspot.com/ to read many other amusing things in her life.
However, this prompted a few reply comments from me on how my day was going. Staying in one room was impossible for me and posting to Facebook much more amusing:
Piles are a must and I have taught my kids this method too. But I'm terrible at the "don't leave the room" part. For example I cleaned the kitchen counters. Next I wanted to do the floors and the room would be done. (Dishes were done earlier in the day while I made breakfast. But then I realized I needed to go find the dust pan as it wasn't in the pantry where it belongs. I found it next to the cat box and realized that smelled so bad I wanted to do it immediately. This led to taking out the laundry room trash because it's what I put the litter in. On the way back in I realized I didn't finish a spray painting project from yesterday. It's almost done, and then I could get that put away. But if I spray it later I will need to wait for it to dry. Sooooo I finish spray painting and put the paints away. When I did that I realized I needed to change the laundry and fold the towels. Once I finished that I decided I needed to get back to the kitchen floor. Armed with the dust pan this time I head to the kitchen and realize I should move the table and chairs and do the whole floor at once. That seems exhausting so I sat down and added the above status to Facebook. Kicking myself in the ass I then realized I shouldn't move the tables and chairs until I vacuum the space I am going to put them in or I won't be able to do that until the floor is dry. So I vacuum, move tables and clean floors. Amazingly on task for a few minutes. My kitchen and dining room are clean. Half the living room is vacuumed and the other half is picked up waiting to be vacuumed. But I remembered I had a phone call to make and got out the computer to get the number. And now I am adding comments to Facebook. Now if only I could find my phone....
After that I took a break to share my thoughts on the suggestion that I need to pay someone to clean my house:
So random things that go through my mind...paying someone to clean is definitely the best option. Anyone else could clean my house better. However, this may prove problematic. Here's how I imagine it going, "Thanks for cleaning my house. It looks fantastic."
"Here is your payment."
Housekeeper: "Uhm, ma'am you can't pay me in dog hair. That isn't a valid form of currency."
Me: "Oh really. Gosh, it's so nice and fluffy. It would make good pillows. And well, I really don't have an abundance of anything else except ticks. And well, they bite."
And then I had one more housecleaning tip for the day:
And my other random thought: Whoever invented bagless vacuums should be shot. It used to go like this: Unzip vacuum and remove bag. Throw in trash. Never see or touch dirt you just vacuumed. Put new bag in. You're ready to go. How it goes now: Push damn button that doesn't really unlatch anything. Yank it around for a bit and finally wrestle canister off of vacuum. Next hold canister over trash can and push other damn button to release dirt. Then shake f*ing canister because it won't open. Bang it around for a bit and finally get it open to allow dirt to fall out all over the trash can, your hands, and the floor you just freaking cleaned! Clean up this mess while rubbing dirt across your forehead. Then take 8 other parts of your vacuum to pull out filter and take outside to shake. Thus allowing the wind to blow MORE dirt in your eye. Wipe off face. Apply eye drops to clear dust out of eyes. Feel eye drops and dirt run down your face. Wash face. Discover you haven't even started on the bathroom which is filthy. Sit down in front of computer and post useless crap on Facebook and Pinterest.
My SIL's response: Yeah, that had to be invented by people who subsist on apples and worry about landfills but never really have had to clean up after four kids, three dogs, a cat, a husband who refuses to hold a "clean" desk job, his filthy friends, and their accident-prone-always-dropping-stuff self. They indeed need to be shot. ...and vacuumed up
Yup, I agree. Amen.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Driver's Permit Complications
So we have had quite the saga in trying to get my daughter a driver's permit. First, I couldn't find her social security card. So after school one day we went to get a replacement and found out they close at 3. School gets out at 3:10. So a couple weeks later I pick her up early and go to get a card. She needs an ID. Seriously, how is she supposed to have ID? Apparently a passport card won't work, but a school ID does. How does that make any sense? Soooo anyway, we apply for the replacement which will take 2-3 weeks in the mail.
But here you don't need your social security card to take the written exam just your birth certificate, so we went over to do that and she passed. However, they did extra scrutinize her birth certificate because it doesn't have a seal, just a stamp on the back. What can I say it's from Montana. That was last Friday. We couldn't get the actual permit but she has the paper stating she passed the exam.
Today, a week later, her social security card came in the mail. So we went to the licensing office (a different place than the testing office) to get her permit. My husband takes her in and I went to run an errand. Pretty soon he calls and tells me he needs a piece of mail with an address on it for him or her. Are you kidding? I specifically asked that question and was told for minors that wasn't needed. But oh wait it is needed for us because we didn't live her all of last year and, therefore, don't have a personal property payment history. *sigh*
So I point out that she just got her social security card and it has her address on it. Oh yeah, they just handed that to the woman with the card still attached. Finally, I get back to the licensing office and she still doesn't have a permit. We have all the paperwork, but when they put her information into their computer it comes back unverified. WTF? How is that possible when we just got the freaking card?
And now we come full circle. We have to go back to the social security office and "fix" the problem. Of course they are closed today and are only open until 3 on Monday.
But here you don't need your social security card to take the written exam just your birth certificate, so we went over to do that and she passed. However, they did extra scrutinize her birth certificate because it doesn't have a seal, just a stamp on the back. What can I say it's from Montana. That was last Friday. We couldn't get the actual permit but she has the paper stating she passed the exam.
Today, a week later, her social security card came in the mail. So we went to the licensing office (a different place than the testing office) to get her permit. My husband takes her in and I went to run an errand. Pretty soon he calls and tells me he needs a piece of mail with an address on it for him or her. Are you kidding? I specifically asked that question and was told for minors that wasn't needed. But oh wait it is needed for us because we didn't live her all of last year and, therefore, don't have a personal property payment history. *sigh*
So I point out that she just got her social security card and it has her address on it. Oh yeah, they just handed that to the woman with the card still attached. Finally, I get back to the licensing office and she still doesn't have a permit. We have all the paperwork, but when they put her information into their computer it comes back unverified. WTF? How is that possible when we just got the freaking card?
And now we come full circle. We have to go back to the social security office and "fix" the problem. Of course they are closed today and are only open until 3 on Monday.
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