>> SHELETTA: A RECENT SURVEY SHOWED THAT IT COST AROUND $15,000 TO HAVE A BABY IN MINNESOTA.

AND THAT’S IF YOU HAVE AN UNEVENTFUL DELIVERY.

ADD IN A SCALPEL, EXTRA PAIN MEDS, AND A C-SECTION, HONEY, THAT PRICE COULD JUMP UP ANOTHER TEN Gs.

GEE WIZ!

THOSE LITTLE CRUMB-SNATCHERS START SNATCHING CRUMBS THE MOMENT THEY’RE BORN.

IT’S EXPENSIVE BEING A PARENT!

WE DON’T EVER GET A BREAK.

AND AS KIDS GET OLDER, THEY KEEP BREAKING THE BANK.

CASE IN POINT: MY SON BRANDON RECENTLY TURNED 13.

AND Y'ALL KNOW ME.

I WANTED TO DO IT UP BIG FOR THIS BIG MILESTONE.

I INVITED 20 OF HIS CLOSEST FRIENDS TO THE HOUSE FOR A BACKYARD BIRTHDAY PARTY.

WE ATE RAISING CANE’S CHICKEN FINGERS UNTIL WE STARTED CLUCKING.

AND MIK-MART ICE CREAM UNTIL WE WERE GOOD AND FROSTY.

THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE COST ME A GRIP.

BUT IT WAS WORTH IT TO SEE THE SMILE ON MY FAVORITE CHILD’S FACE.

I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BUY ME SOME TIME BEFORE I HAD TO BUY HIM ANYTHING ELSE.

NOT!

JUST A FEW DAYS LATER, HE WAS BACK TO PICKING MY POCKETBOOK AGAIN.

SO SINCE AUGUST IS BLACK BUSINESS MONTH, I WENT SHOPPING AT THE DREAM SHOPPE A BLACK-OWNED, WOMAN-OWNED SHOP ON NORTH FREMONT AVENUE IN MINNEAPOLIS LOOKING FOR A HANDBAG THAT HAD A MESSAGE.

FOR MY KIDS.

I FOUND THE PERFECT PURSE.

YES, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

HONEY!

"THIS BAG CARRIES BOUNDARIES."

THOUGH I DON’T THINK MY SON BRANDON APPRECIATED THE SENTIMENT AS MUCH AS I DID.

>> AH, AH, AH!