When i thought they were playing with leaves...
until they mentioned money.
Since today is Friday, we often let the kids play outside for long with friends after school.
I was indoors when I overheard my son and his friends aged 7 to 4, talking about “my money.”
It started with them calling "leaves", money and one of them said "do you have real money?"
The 7-year-old said, “every time I am given money, I give it to my mother. We never see it again. I don’t even know what she did with it.
When I grow up, I’ll keep my money to myself. I can’t trust anyone with it.”
The 6-year-old quickly said, it is the same thing with me. Once I give my mother money to keep, I just forget about it.
If I ask for it, she starts counting: "Are you not eating in this house? The new slippers I bought you, where did they come from?"
All my money you have been eating, have you returned it"
They all burst into laughter.
I can’t wait to be a grown up so I don’t have to explain my actions to anyone.”
Then my son said:
“Well, I prefer to give my money to my mother. She saves it for me. Whenever I need something extra from my provision, she uses it to get it for me and even adds more money to it.
I want to do the same thing when I grow up.”
For once, they made me think of my own mother. She will take the money and buy you something without telling you it was yours.
Then the day you asked for it, she will say
“Money that finished long ago. Go and study and don’t disturb me o.” When i used to give my mother money, i did not ask for it back.
Sometimes I cried and other times, i learned to keep my gift money to myself, that is how I started saving.
Which is the reason I don’t spend my child’s money because repetitive acts like that break trust. Once it’s gone, they start hiding money, hiding gifts, and giving only half the story about what is theirs.
Well, he is yet to know that sometimes, i replace the money though. The trust must be sustained... 😂
Sometimes, the playground becomes a discussion ground.
A parent could be the story there, so do good. Little eyes are watching and learning, you never know when you get to be a topic
Miracle leaf - image captured with my phone
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