For the Love of Money

An actual conversation:

TheGenius: Mama, you never brought me the Tip the Tractor game

Me: When did I say I was buying the Tip the Tractor game?

TheGenius: Well, I asked you to buy it.

Me: You have a million toys that you don't play with.

TheGenius: I don't have a million toys.

Silence

TheGenius: So are you going to buy the Tip the Tractor game?

Me: Save your money and buy it yourself.

I seriously think my son believes money grows on trees. Sometimes in an effort to "expose" and "provide" our children with things (material) that we didn't have growing up, we are unwittingly creating a generation of children who will not appreciate working hard to get the things you want because they know Mama or Daddy will get them whatever their little hearts desire.

I'm trying to squash that nonsense in my household. I told my son he has to EARN his money by helping out around the house. Yes, he reminded me that he was only four and I assured him he wouldn't be four forever. So, there is no time like the present to start learning valuable life lessons. Including the lesson that EVERYTHING costs money. He's been more mindful of asking for things- until after he finds out how much it costs. He still really doesn't have a concept of what's expensive and what's affordable. But he's learning.

I bought him a piggy bank and he saved his birthday money plus the dollar I gave him for helping me clean out my car (all he did was take HIS stuff out of my car). He has a total of $13.32. The Tip the Tractor game costs $15.99 plus tax and shipping (only available through Amazon.com). So, he is well on his way!

Even though I can more than afford to purchase the game for him, I think this is an opportunity for him to learn a valuable lesson not to mention he's so proud of all the "monies" in his bank and he's getting to use his counting and addition skills! There I go trying to sneak in something educational again. :-)

Side Note: He is BEYOND obsessed with Disney Pixar's Cars movie and it's characters. Didn't that movie come out two (or three) years ago?!