Orthodontists and such

Okay, first, I love our orthodontist, he is great.  The staff is great, the office is nice, without being too nice.  But as I sat there yesterday while Grant was getting his braces "adjusted", (when we were coming up it was called tightening), I realized just how much money this guy is making.  Tons and tons of money.  Lots of money.  Tons of money.

Braces cost between four and five thousand dollars per child.  Insurance picks up some, in our case, about fifteen hundred.  You have to shell out the rest, and there are payment plans and all that.  As I sat in the office yesterday, at least twenty kids were there being adjusted or whatever, and I was only there an hour.  Do the math, that is a lot of money.  Our family alone will send this guy to Bermuda on a regular basis.  Tatum and Cooper are not even in braces yet.  Yikes.

Not that I want to stick my hands into disgusting mouths all day long, but jeez louise.  Seriously, they need to tell us when we are in high school to make better career choices.  Dentists, orthos, pediatricians.  Those are the only tables they need to put up at career day.  Although, I think mechanics make  a great living and so do plumbers.  Why is it that to make good money you have to stick your hands in places no one else wants to?  That must be it, to make a great, steady living, you have to stick your hands in disgusting places.  That is what should be preached on career day.  Get dirty and make money.  Put your hand in a dirty place, make a good living.

If I sit here long enough, and try to figure out how much each child will cost us in the long run, I will get totally depressed.  That being said, I know in my heart that God will provide and we will all come out on the other side of my children's childhood alive and clutching the few dollars we have left.  My Aunt says she hopes to spend all her money before she dies and at the current rate it should be a dead heat to the end.  

I truly don't mind spending money on our kids, that's my job.  I just have to ponder these things from time to time.  It does make you think.

What do you think, besides college, is your current biggest expense for your child?  Let me know.

God bless you and yours.