She’s 10yo and still losing teeth and that was a time recommended to US to wait.

But we also have this child number two expecting Invisalign in her mouth.

Honestly, after seeing the effects + benefits that Nathaniel has had, I will do my best to see that my other two get aligners.

Sure, we’re blogging our first experience with Invisalign and Nathaniel’s were complimentary because I’m a member of the MAB, but I can say there is enough benefits to make it worth getting these for ALL OUR KIDS out of our own pocket.

The shocker was: generally it about the same price as traditional braces (for us) and we could make the same monthly payments. **Nathaniel’s were a little pricier because HE had to have the brackets applied to his teeth. 

For about the same cost I can’t find a reason to NOT say “YES” when my daughters ask if they are going to get Invisalign too.

Disclosure:

While I am paid for my time, my opinion is my own and is never for sale.

You Got that?? MY OPINION IS MY OWN.**

I’m a member of the Mom’s Advisory Board, and my son received complimentary Invisalign treatment.

I know that regardless of our warnings and the statistics, the truth is our kids will want to learn the drinking truth for themselves.

I don’t believe that a “magic” age comes along when kids suddenly become ready for the responsibility that being able to drink entails.

They can just do it legally.

I know lots of people who are legal drinking age that are stupid drinkers.

*I* was a stupid drinker.

(I only drink GOOD vodka now!)

Partly because I grew up with that attitude of “we said don’t drink, so don’t drink”.

My parents will read this and it might be the first time they know that I drank beer in middle school.  And in high school.  And many times rode with drivers I shouldn’t have.

So, yeah.

I will buy my kids beer when it’s time.  I will teach them to respect the fun it can be but the DANGER it can be too.

The same way I taught them not to touch the stove when they were little.

Kitchen knives when they were older.

Why wouldn’t I be the one to teach them this precious lesson that could save their life, the life of a friend, a stranger?

Not every kids chooses to drink, but when statistics show that two of five teens drank last month…well, you do the math.

Soberlinke is a way to reinforce lessons you’ve tried to teach, the FIRST home breathalyzer for teens to check-in with parents.

To be very honest, if you are too controlling with your teen, you might find this ineffective.

But if you are using this TOGETHER, for the sake of safety, you may find it to be all the difference in the world.

I want my kids to know: I WILL COME GET YOU (OR PAY FOR A CAB)

No lecture. No punishment. No threats.

Maybe ugly pajamas, no promises.

This post was sponsored by Soberlinke, but the opinions are ALL my own!

When I moved to GA the summer of 2009, I had Tmobile and was very happy.

Unfortunately, our house was built REALLY close to cell phone tower, so the signal literally goes OVER my house.

LIKE THIS

When we moved into this house over two years ago we ran into this bad signal issue.

I went to Tmobile and instead of saying how we could get a better signal, they just released us from our contract because they couldn’t provide us service.

Fast forward two years, my medical aide Jackie moves in.

She had Tmobile service.

I couldn’t reach her…when that was the purpose of her moving in FOR THE FIRST PLACE!

Her teenage daughter called for a ride from work and had to call me because she couldn’t reach her mom.

Jackie had to switch service (we had to go with At&T to get a Microcell because we STILL couldn’t get decent service).

We went to the Tmobile store to explain the situation and they were very understanding. We just needed to pay them $200 to cancel the contract.

WHAT?!

This wasn’t the agreement two years ago, this wasn’t what Jackie was told when she agreed to Tmobile service six months ago and it sure wasn’t what she TOLD TWO MONTHS AGO:  if she had connection problems she could stop the cell service.

We were told they had changed policy.

Jackie went up the chain of command asking to *gasp* ACTUALLY SPEAK TO PEOPLE.

She finally spoke to a person named MELVIN BROWN, who told us there was nothing he could do. THEN HE HUNG UP.

Mid-sentence. Without warning.

HE.HUNG.UP.ON.HER.

After much tweeting and this

They did nothing.  They STILL did nothing.

So if you see me annoying @Tmobile and expecting better of their treatment of customers than to be hung up on and be expected to pay for a non-service,  please bear with me.

Ok, not really, but still very cool!

We started with out here and now I get to finish the Blog Hop. Very circular. Envy can staaaaaaaaart NOW.

Invisalign is proud to sponsor the Invisalign Teen Blog Hop Sweepstakes, hosted by the Invisalign Teen Mom Advisory Board (MAB) bloggers.

The Blog Hop has taken place from April 11, 2001 thru April 30, 2011, across 5 MAB blogger sites.

During the Blog Hop, each of the bloggers has posted the answer to one of the top questions asked about Invisalign.

To participate, visit each blogger’s site to review the question, and then go to the next blogger’s site to collect the answer. Enter the sweepstakes by completing an official entry form for a chance to win the Grand Prize of Invisalign or Invisalign Teen treatment or two runner-up prizes of a $100 American Express Gift Card. Winners will be randomly selected on or before April 30, 2011 from all valid entries received.

QUESTION #1 – Anissa @ Free Anissa : – What is Invisalign and how does it work?

QUESTION #2 -  Elizabeth @ Busy Mom – Is Invisalign covered by insurance?

QUESTION #3 -  Linda @ Welcome to Linneyville – How do I know if I or my teen is a candidate for Invisalign?

QUESTION #4 – Amanda @ Parenting by Dummies – What types of cases can Invisalign treat? Will Invisalign work for me?

QUESTION #5 - Sugar @ Sugar in the Raw - How much does Invisalign cost?

FINAL ANSWER -  Anissa @ Free Anissa

Final Answer : How much does Invisalign cost?

While I’d like to tell you unicorn snot and fairy sneezes will get you braces, we all know that orthodontic treatment is an investment of time and finances.

Invisalign can cost a range from $3500-$8000 depending on the patient’s needs. Nathaniel’s treatment (which is free as a member of MAB) is higher than average because of major bite problem he has.  But it was a huge relief for him, and me, to be told that tooth extraction wasn’t mandatory.

We have found the flexibility with Invisalign trays has been incredible for Nathaniel. Being able to take the trays out during camping weekends and our recent cruise was a priceless gift for a teenage boy who wanted to eat each time we passed a snack tray.

What many people haven’t realized is that if you have insurance that covers most general orthodontic treatments they probably cover Invisalign braces. You definitely want to check out Linds’s blog for more details about insurance.

How to Enter:

1. Visit all 5 participating blogs, and read the 6 posts listed above, to collect answers to the 5 Questions About Invisalign.
2. Insert the 5 answers into the entry form located here:    (http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/484893/invisalign-blog-hop)

OR

1. Send a stamped 3” x 5” postcard with the 5 answers and your name, address, and contact phone number to:  INVISALIGN TEEN MAB BLOG HOP SWEEPSTAKES, PO Box 1093 Chino Hills, CA  91709.

Optional Additional Entries:

1. Tweet: “I just entered to win FREE #Invisalign treatment at Name of Blog (insert blog link to Blog Hop post)!” – then insert a link to your tweet in the entry form.

2. Take the Invisalign Teen Self Assessment - then insert the answer you received from the assessment on the entry form.
For official rules, visit: Invisalign

I’m a member of the Mom’s Advisory Board, and my son received complimentary Invisalign treatment.