Oh, Tep, I hear that - my parents were (and are!) a shining example of "how not to be" around money. Have you or Tim received any "explanation of benefits" statements online from your insurance company?

I inherited none of my mother's financial skills. A depression child, she was incredibly frugal. My dad worked for the state as a civil engineer, so middle class, but not big bucks by any means, and mom didn't work for income. Still, they put 4 kids through Catholic schools, had 2 homes and 2 cars all my life. She canned fruits and vegetables, bought half cows and froze stuff. When dish soap was on sale she got a dozen, and so forth. Dad did have good health and retirement benefits so that wasn't an issue. We never really wanted for anything and they had a comfortable retirement.

That said, I inherited none of her sensible habits. At all.

Whoa, that lego Enterprise is awesome!

HMS Warspite is the one I was really wanted, but it isn't available right now, but the Enterprise is still pretty cool.

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Have you or Tim received any "explanation of benefits" statements online from your insurance company?

Yeah, pretty soon after the surgery, although right now I can't remember what the EOB said our portion is. I just really expected the hospital and/or surgeon to have billed us by now.

I had a physicians group send us to a collection agency before we even got a bill. Upon contacting them, they started sending bills, but the amounts kept changing. That was from a case where I went to an ER that was in-network but was seen by a doctor from a physicians group that was out-of-network. Gave me a real appreciation for how f*cked up medical billing is.

I'm considering whether or not to send ltc back to school in September. Her classroom would be half the size, and her school hasn't had any outbreaks with camp this summer. Am I a terrible person? If she doesn't go, she'll be home all year, and I just don't see myself being able to do it. Am I terrible?

You are not terrible. There has to be a way to have school be safe. If you review the policies and feel safe then it is best for everyone if she goes to school.

The new director sent a video of the new procedures, and it looked good. No parents in the building, smaller classrooms, no interaction amongst classrooms, etc.

I understand the hesitation, but if the school has addressed your concerns then I would go for it. She will benefit so much from having that structure again. Not all kids were made for homeschool. One of my sons was easy as can be, the other impossible. We learn differently.

You are not terrible, sj. I know you are being very cautious with your own household and will bring the same kind of risk assessment to deciding whether sending her to school is ok.