A case of mommy brain
You'd think that I wouldn't be losing it with only one child, but I think I am. This morning I pulled up to the bank drive-thru teller to deposit some checks. Easy, right? Wrong.
First, you must know that I rarely ever go to the bank. My husband runs that jurisdiction of our home quite nicely. I just give him the checks with my name on them and that's that. However, Jesse asked me this morning if I could run to the bank for him today. Being the "good wife" that I am, I promptly said I would oblige. Besides, he had everything filled out for me and said all I had to do was drive up to the window and drop the checks off. I mean, how hard could that be? Surely my mommy brain could handle that, couldn't it?
So, I bravely drive up to the bank prepared to drop off the checks and quickly get on with my morning shopping. That's when my case of mommy brain started to act up. Right off the bat, I couldn't figure out how to run the little put-your-money-in-the-container-thingymajig. Don't ask me why I didn't notice the big button that said "Push Here" after putting your money in the container. I guess I just assumed that it would swoosh up the tube if I set the container on the ledge. So, I sit there for the longest time trying to figure out why it's not working when I finally realize that's what the big "Push Here - Send Carrier" button is for. Of course, all the while, the bank teller lady is standing there watching me out the window.
After the container finally makes it to her, she asks me if I want a balance on my transaction. Oh yes, at least I know the answer to this question - Jesse always likes me to get a balance. So I confidently say, "Yes, please." Then she completely catches me off-guard and asks me for the last four digits of my social (social security number). Like a complete idiot, my mind goes blank. I sit there speechless my mind racing through every number I can think of. All I can come up with is my cell phone number, my home phone number, my husband's number, no number remotely close to my social security number. I'm sure she is really wondering about my sanity at this point but all I could finally say was, "Um, I'm not sure. I can't remember. Just forget about the balance."
Now I feel anything but confident. I start wondering if she is even going to cash my checks. She probably thinks I'm some check-stealing thief. I'm still wracking my brain to try and remember my SSN. It's usually always on the tip of my tongue and it is completely gone at this point. I try to call my husband and then I remember that my cell phone has been refusing to work the last two days. Why does modern technology never work when you really need it?
Finally, finally, I think I remember my number and right then the lady comes back over the speaker and asks, "Were you able to remember your number?" Gratefully, it was the right one and I breathe a sigh of relief as Kathrynne and I head out of the parking lot. So much for my "brave feat" of swinging by the bank. I think I'll continue to leave that jurisdiction up to my husband!
However, before you think I'm just a dumb housewife (which I'm sure that story sounded like!) after my idiotic experience at the bank, I then proceeded to go grocery shopping and buy over $100 worth of groceries for less than $30. Maybe I can't handle banks, but I do know how to do grocery stores. :)
First, you must know that I rarely ever go to the bank. My husband runs that jurisdiction of our home quite nicely. I just give him the checks with my name on them and that's that. However, Jesse asked me this morning if I could run to the bank for him today. Being the "good wife" that I am, I promptly said I would oblige. Besides, he had everything filled out for me and said all I had to do was drive up to the window and drop the checks off. I mean, how hard could that be? Surely my mommy brain could handle that, couldn't it?
So, I bravely drive up to the bank prepared to drop off the checks and quickly get on with my morning shopping. That's when my case of mommy brain started to act up. Right off the bat, I couldn't figure out how to run the little put-your-money-in-the-container-thingymajig. Don't ask me why I didn't notice the big button that said "Push Here" after putting your money in the container. I guess I just assumed that it would swoosh up the tube if I set the container on the ledge. So, I sit there for the longest time trying to figure out why it's not working when I finally realize that's what the big "Push Here - Send Carrier" button is for. Of course, all the while, the bank teller lady is standing there watching me out the window.
After the container finally makes it to her, she asks me if I want a balance on my transaction. Oh yes, at least I know the answer to this question - Jesse always likes me to get a balance. So I confidently say, "Yes, please." Then she completely catches me off-guard and asks me for the last four digits of my social (social security number). Like a complete idiot, my mind goes blank. I sit there speechless my mind racing through every number I can think of. All I can come up with is my cell phone number, my home phone number, my husband's number, no number remotely close to my social security number. I'm sure she is really wondering about my sanity at this point but all I could finally say was, "Um, I'm not sure. I can't remember. Just forget about the balance."
Now I feel anything but confident. I start wondering if she is even going to cash my checks. She probably thinks I'm some check-stealing thief. I'm still wracking my brain to try and remember my SSN. It's usually always on the tip of my tongue and it is completely gone at this point. I try to call my husband and then I remember that my cell phone has been refusing to work the last two days. Why does modern technology never work when you really need it?
Finally, finally, I think I remember my number and right then the lady comes back over the speaker and asks, "Were you able to remember your number?" Gratefully, it was the right one and I breathe a sigh of relief as Kathrynne and I head out of the parking lot. So much for my "brave feat" of swinging by the bank. I think I'll continue to leave that jurisdiction up to my husband!
However, before you think I'm just a dumb housewife (which I'm sure that story sounded like!) after my idiotic experience at the bank, I then proceeded to go grocery shopping and buy over $100 worth of groceries for less than $30. Maybe I can't handle banks, but I do know how to do grocery stores. :)
posted by Crystal Paine at 2:56 PM
19 Comments:
Hahah...Don't feel bad. Its not even a case of "mommy brain" so much as a 'brain fart.' We all have them from time to time...even those of us who dow the banking ourselves. ;)
Oh, and btw, good job on the groceries...I'd be really interested to see what you bought, and a before/after receipt!I've been challenging myself with coupons, and so far, my best is $120 of groceries for $62.35 :)
When I had my first child, I always said that I thought one must lose about 1/4 of their brain power with each child. That was 16 years and 5 children ago . . . so I'm working with a deficit! ;o)
Honestly, I always write my home phone number down on a slip of paper when I make a phone call in case I have to leave a message. I don't know what it is about that number (I never have problems with our cell phone numbers), but I never know when I'm going to just forget it! When I do it in front of people (and I don't have my cheat sheet) I always just laugh and say I never call myself!
Awesome job on the grocery shopping btw! You're right -- you DO know groceries! :o)
That happens to me all of the time and I don't even have kids!
Whenever I order a pizza or something like that I have my info in front of me because when they ask, I forget...I mean how often do I call my own house? Not much!
LOL, you didn't grow up in a military home, I see. Any time we do ANYTHING -- pick up a prescription, stop by the finance office, turn in some paperwork, visit the dentist, whatever -- we have to give the last 4. I'm still used to giving my dad's last 4 of his social, so now when I'm asked for the last 4, I have to stop and think really hard before I finally remember my husband's... so don't feel too badly. I use it on a daily basis, and I still can't remember it half the time. I usually end up taking out my ID card, and looking up the social there, lol. :~)
I hope the bank teller gave you a lollipop for Kathrynne. : ) That was always my favorite part of going to the bank with my mom when I was little.
LOL, Crystal . . . this post made me laugh because it sounds like something I would do!! :D I've had trouble remembering how to work those containers with the push buttons, and I've also had my mind go totally blank when asked for important info. like my SS number. So, it is not just you! :) I just wish I was as awesome of a grocery shopper as you, though!!
wow! Do you shop at a discount grocer or was that all from couponing? Awesome job!
That was so funny, Crystal! I read it to my mom and sister and they both chuckled with me. But don't think you're alone in this. Oh, no. I may not have "mommy brain" but I did have a "blond moment" at work last week. At least that's what I call it for lack of a better term. No offense to the blondes in the blogging audience. :)
I had dismissed two of my patients within an hour of each other. Usually when this happens I can expect to be sent at least one or more patients to take their places since there are now open beds in my area. Sure enough before I could even finish completing my dismissal charting, I glanced up at the census board and saw in big green letters, "HOLD FOR WAXING" in the space of one of my rooms. Dismayed that they were already planning to send me another patient after I barely had discharged two I remarked to a nearby fellow nurse, "What?! I'm getting another patient already? I just sent two home! Look up there. It says, 'HOLD FOR WAXING!'" To which the puzzled and amused nurse replied, "Yeah, it says 'hold for waxing.' They are going to wax the floors in that room."
GULP! I had mistakenly and hurridly assumed that this room was on hold for a patient with the last name of "Waxing." At that point, all I could do was laugh at myself and my obvious error. *sigh* What could I say? It was just, "one of those days."
Thanks for the humor. Now I know what I have to look forward to if God ever blesses me in being a mom. :) And I agree that bank errands are best left to the men in most cases. While I was at the bank not long ago, my dad caught an oversight that would have cost me lots of money. I'm glad he was there with me and paid special attention to the paper work.
This was great ~ I needed a good laugh and you are not an idiot by any means. These "mommy brain cramps" happen to the best of us ~ sometimes more than we care to admit. ;D
Congrats on the awesome grocery shop ~ that is very impressive indeed. Share your tips when you get a chance. I love savvy shopping ideas.
Thx for sharing.
Great Job on the couponing! I am so excited for you!!!! I have been shopping the same way and know that feeling of just have saved your family a ton of money by being a wise, strategic shopper!
I wish I would have known about this sort of shopping when I was newly married--I could have saved so much.
I love it now though...
Would love to see some of your other couponing adventures ...do you have those posted in a certain section?
Crystal,
Where do you come across so many coupons? I would love to be able to cut my grocery bill that much.
Necole
Oh my, how funny. I'm nearly 30, and I just went through the bank drive through for the very first time in my life a few weeks ago. Since I was doing banking for the business I work for, no SS# was needed. I had to fiddle with the money holder thingy before I got it figured out though. :D
I used to think I was bad when I was thinking for not only myself, but our children as well. After all, I had an excuse right? Now fast-forward 25 years and I'm afraid I have taken this art to a new level. Brain "freezes" have become total shutdowns. Take my friend, for instance, who last week totaled her car running a red light...why? uhhh..don't know...just didn't connect for that split second that red means stop. (Thankfully no one was hurt!!) Or, yours truly, whose long time friend was flying in from out of state for her 50th birthday party last month and I missed it! Why? I still can't figure that one out...I just got the date all mixed up and totally MISSED her party. :-( Scary, isn't it! On a lighter note ;-) great job on your thrifty shopping trip! Blessings, Diane
Sorry about your brain freeze at the bank. My question is about the grocery store...how did you do that?! Did you save that much money with coupons?! I'm gonna have to read more of you archives. I take care of a family of six...we spend hundreds and hundreds on food. I need to pay better attention to your methods.
I can relate to your "Brain-freeze" as I am sure we all can!
What I am really interested in is your "couponing". I'm in Canada and I pour over the sales flyers we get each weekend and the paper and maybe we get a coupon a week!?!
When I was a little girl shopping with mommy I remember the coupons were clipped to the aisles in the stores but sadly no more.
Where do you find all your coupons???
Jenn
I can totally relate to mommy brain. When my oldest son was 1-1/2 and I was pregnant with my second child we stopped by McDonalds drive-thru for lunch, well I paid for our food and started driving off and leaving $18 behind with the girl at the window. She was hanging out the drive-thru window yelling at me and waving my money in the air. LOL!
I too would be interested in knowing how you save so much on groceries. I have never done the coupon thing because the things I buy I never seem to find coupons for. We budget $140 a week for groceries. This feeds myself, my husband, a 8 year, a 6 year old and a 2 year old.
Can I comment on the comments? You have a lot of ladies here asking how you get so many coupons, and how you get so much for so little. Like Leslie, we have a family of six and spend over $140 each week!!! It is one area of my family life where I feel a lot of pressure -- we are a pastor's family living on God's money. All you frugal ladies out there, how does a big family living in the city (no garden or place for one)do grocieries (including food, diapers, cleaning stuff, etc) for less than $100 a week? OR LESS? (much less!) Does anyone know of any links to this kind of information? Crystal, please start another post on groceries! We need help!
Ha. Well, you could always colour your hair blonde and blame it on that instead of Kathrynne. :)
Btw, consider yourself blessed in the shopping dept to live in the States!! You could NEVER do that in Australia. There just isn't such a thing as coupon shopping...you can never get grocery items for free or mere cents. You can buy things on sale or they have the rare cash-back offer...but that's it.
To Sally,
You might consider checking out the book "Miserly Moms" from your local library or maybe getting it from e-bay. The writer of this book is a wonderful Christian lady with lots of ideas and practice for cutting costs in groceries and other areas as well.
Crystal I am amazed and proud of your shopping success.
Gratefulhart
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