Braces: Do the payments ever end? Yes!

Anytime you pay off a bill, it’s a good feeling.

In this economy, it’s a really good feeling.

Last week, we had one of those moments.

Our 16 year-old, Matthew, has braces (not on his knees like Forrest Gump, but on his teeth like millions of other teenagers).

This is his second go around with braces and last week I got to call the Orthodontist’s office and make the last payment over the phone.

He initially had braces in the fourth grade. They called it pre-orthodontia then.

They put braces on so they could make more room in his mouth. He had too many teeth.

They removed four teeth back then and he wore them for a couple of years.

At the beginning of high school, he was back in braces — after removing four more teeth.

The crowding had mostly been taken care of and this time was more for teeth straightening.

He’s a junior now and still has them on. He should get them off in the next four of five months.

But after four years of payments during two different segments, we are done.

It’s a hurdle I was glad to jump over.

Now, to find somewhere else to spend that money each month.

Shouldn’t be a problem.

• An editor by day, Scott Mayes is also dad to Matthew, Micah and Nathan. He’s a high school parent, a youth football dad and changes diapers. He’s experienced many things as a parent, but is absolutely clueless about raising daughters.

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