For the first time since the week before Thanksgiving, Mason returned to school full-time everyday this week (well, except for Monday, which was a holiday, but this week still counts!) and did not have any virtual classes! It has been so difficult managing a virtual schedule at home with the girls' homeschooling and my BSF class. I am hopeful we've seen the last of virtual schooling for Mason this year. But, if not, that's okay, too. He and I were both so glad for him to return this campus this week. That also means I have to get used to the carpooling gig again. This week was exhausting, but that's okay.
I don't remember why, but last January 2020 seemed like the very longest month ever. But this January feels like it's going by rather quickly. There's definitely nothing to write home about. For the most part, this was a "normal" week with school, homeschool, BSF, acro and dance.
Mason had his very last orthodontist appointment yesterday. But now we're being referred to an oral surgeon. His wisdom teeth need to come out sooner rather than later. I knew that was coming, but didn't realize it was coming this quickly. I guess we'll put that on the agenda for this summer.
This week we found out we've been scammed by the driving school we registered Mason with last summer for his written exam and drive time. The class costs several hundred dollars and is required for students to get a learner's license. The entire process for getting a driver's license is a racket. I just can't even. So Mason completed the classroom instruction and passed the exam in September. We've been waiting ever since then for him to be scheduled for his eight hours of required driving time. I called at the beginning of December to get an update and was told he was the fifth student on the list so it would be soon. I started calling again the first week in January, but all of the contact numbers I had were either disconnected or the voice mailboxes were full. He can't get his learner's license until he completes the eight hours of driving. And then he has to have his learner's license for six months before he can get his provisional license to legally drive alone. His birthday is July 13. Less than six months away. So we already know he will not be able to get his driver's license when he turns 16.
A couple of days ago I found out the driving school closed. They are not cooperating with the state agency who oversees them and have not provided refunds to families nor the certifications for the students who passed the test. It seems they scammed a lot of families. You have to have proof of certification before you can complete the eight hours of driving to get your learner's license. Because I don't have that proof of certification for Mason, we can't schedule him with another provider to get the driving hours. Unless the state is able to recover that paperwork from the driving school, Mason is going to have to take the 4-day class and the test all over again. We filed a claim with the driving school's bond holder for reimbursement of the monies we paid, but there's a very real possibility we will not receive reimbursement. I'm hoping we'll get our money back, but more than that I'm hoping we can get the certification so Mason won't have to take the class all over again. The state said the process can take months. It's just ridiculous. So, at this point, we're probably going to enroll him in another school and just start the whole process over again regardless. The longer we wait, the longer it will be before he can get his license. That's been so disappointing. But there's nothing we can do about it so I'm trying to move on and let it be, but it's extremely frustrating.
Oh, and you know what else? I also found out this week that one of our service providers has over-charged us for the past few years and owes us over $1,000. Yes. ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS. I had no idea we were being overcharged. I found out purely by accident. I called to ask a question about something, and when they pulled up my account, they immediately saw the overcharge. They credited our bill so that means I won't be paying that one for the next two years.
I'm telling you. I couldn't make this stuff up even if I tried.