Spring Allergies: The Only Thing I Can’t Reconcile

In accounting, reconciliation brings peace - numbers align, accounts settle, and everything balances out. But in my personal life, one line item continues to throw my ledgers off: pollen.

Spring usually signals a lighter workload in accounting. After the chaotic close of year-end and the first-quarter crunch, there’s a sigh of relief, until I step outside. That sigh is quickly followed by a cough. Or, in my son’s case, multiple sneezes!

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been bouncing between the pediatrician and allergist more than I’ve been reconciling bank accounts. My son, who plays soccer with all the energy of a year-end close, has been benched not by a rival team, but by Georgia’s infamous yellow haze.

Unlike a spreadsheet, pollen doesn’t come with filters, formulas, or clear variances from year to year. It just piles on, unpredictably. I didn’t budget for this season’s allergy injections or the unplanned pharmacy runs. So now, I’m drafting a new plan - one with nightly antihistamines, neti pots, humidifiers, and a line item for sanity.

Spring is supposed to bring balance, but this year, it brought imbalance to our noses, throats, and calendar. And while I may never fully reconcile the pollen count, I’m working on a streamlined solution to survive this unreconcilable season - with minimal visits to the doctor and maximum relief for my favorite goalie and defense.

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