Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Bring back some change
Last night, I took Lastborn to the local roller rink for a school sponsored skating night. Luckily, a neighbor was also there with her son, so we were able to chat and Lastborn had company as well.
Understand that both of my boys are far more interested in the junk food available at the rink than they are at the skating, and Lastborn has not yet gotten himself off "the wall." So he was really there for the food.
He skated for about an hour and then came to me asking for some food. I want to raise my children to be independent. So, I handed him a twenty and told him not to spend it all. I was not prepared for his interpretation of that command. I expected that given a 20, he would think to buy everything on the menu in single serving sizes. The "don't spend it all" was meant to control his greed a bit. Instead, he went to the counter with pure economics in mind.
A minute later I looked over to see how he was doing and saw Lastborn, carrying a full pizza with the biggest smile on his face. I happen to know the woman working at the counter, and she knows Lastborn, so she was equally amused with his choice of purchases.
As he rolled back to our table with his beaming smile, he declared, "It was only $12!"
"Yes, but you will not be eating an entire pizza by yourself. " I replied.
My neighbor saved him by suggesting that we bring it home and Lastborn jumped on the idea, acting as if it was his own. Then he rolled back to the counter to pick up his cup of soda.
In the end, we shared the pizza with others at the table and all was well.
He had fun roller skating with his friend. He's growing up and at least he understands the economies of scale and will understand how to save money while shopping.
Understand that both of my boys are far more interested in the junk food available at the rink than they are at the skating, and Lastborn has not yet gotten himself off "the wall." So he was really there for the food.
He skated for about an hour and then came to me asking for some food. I want to raise my children to be independent. So, I handed him a twenty and told him not to spend it all. I was not prepared for his interpretation of that command. I expected that given a 20, he would think to buy everything on the menu in single serving sizes. The "don't spend it all" was meant to control his greed a bit. Instead, he went to the counter with pure economics in mind.
A minute later I looked over to see how he was doing and saw Lastborn, carrying a full pizza with the biggest smile on his face. I happen to know the woman working at the counter, and she knows Lastborn, so she was equally amused with his choice of purchases.
As he rolled back to our table with his beaming smile, he declared, "It was only $12!"
"Yes, but you will not be eating an entire pizza by yourself. " I replied.
My neighbor saved him by suggesting that we bring it home and Lastborn jumped on the idea, acting as if it was his own. Then he rolled back to the counter to pick up his cup of soda.
In the end, we shared the pizza with others at the table and all was well.
He had fun roller skating with his friend. He's growing up and at least he understands the economies of scale and will understand how to save money while shopping.
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