STILL WORKING, EMERGENCY BANK BALANCE INTACT!

I have to say that for me, putting up with him indoors working for weeks on end at the dining room table, the creeping around in the background hoping not to be caught on camera whilst virtual meetings are attended as this virus attacks the world pales into comparison when I think of what could happen to our bank balance should one of our offspring find themselves out of work. Don’t get me wrong, they both have good jobs and working conditions and enjoy good independent lifestyles. For now. However, at any given point that could go out of the window and then what? Does the bank of Mum and Dad have to open its doors for temporary funding? Temporary being the operative word I might add. Do we have the means to do that for our next generation? Should we do that for them? I bring this discussion up as it is a hard decision to say no to your own but it is equally as hard to open those cheque books (debit cards to the new gen) when you have carefully watched your pennies over the years and retirement is looming and interest rates are of the ‘under the mattress’ magnitude. In other words, non-existent.

The dilemma was put to the test not too long ago but well before the VIRUS attacked. 5 days before Christmas when one offspring turned up at site only to find the receivers waiting at the gate. The employer had gone bankrupt! No warning, no by-your-leave, no spare dollars in the kitty. All gone.

How do you say no to slumped shoulders, no to despondent hands in pockets, no to bright, watery eyes as he tries not to beg and keep his pride? You don’t. You pull it all together and stand strong and say “we’ll help where we can”. And you do. You do what you can with what you have. Because he’s yours. Because you know it will come back in spades. And it did.

We managed; we were fortunate to be able to do that when so many can’t.

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