We went to the local pizza place last night for pies and pints. Pies for everyone, pints for mom and dad. After dinner, Graham asked to go play in the arcade area with the other kids. Sure, no problem.
Moments later, Graham comes running back up to the table. “Mom, Dad! Can I have some money?”
“No, Graham, we don’t have any,” we responded. Seemingly satisfied with our answer, he ran back to the arcade room to watch the lights buzz and romp with other children.
Five seconds later…”Mom, Dad! Can I have some money?”
Clearly, he doesn’t have a concept for how this money thing works. Eating pizza and drinking beer is not how one makes money, it is how one loses money. “No, Graham, we still don’t have any money.”
“Yes, you do,” Graham replied as he yanked on our credit card that was sitting with the check. “No, Graham,” I said. “That’s a credit card. It’s not real money. You have to go to the bank to get real money. Kind of like when we go to the hardware store to get batteries for your toys.”
This rationale seemed to work for him. He processed this tidbit of information for a second, then responded. “Grandma has money.”
Interesting turn of events, I thought. “Yes, she does Graham. But Grandma isn’t here.”
“Grandma can come for pizza. That would be OK,” Graham answered. I bet it would be OK with you, I thought. He’s already working the system. This kid is too smart for my own good.
This interaction, although brief is fraught with good lessons:
1. Give a kid money to throw in a fountain or put in an arcade game once, and you’ll be doling out cash for the rest of your life. First for trivial things like wishes in the fountain, carousel rides and Elmo books. Later, it’ll be date nights, spring break and beer funds.
2. Grandparents are your friends! I always want Graham to know that if he really needs something that I will do everything in my power to get it for him. But, if he wants something, we may or may not provide said goods. Grandma, however, is the perfect person to ask. She will always have fourteen cents to throw in a fountain and a quarter for a video game. And, I bet, she’ll always be up for pizza.
3. Drinking beer while your child is watching the teasers on arcade games is a perfectly reasonable way to spend a Monday evening.
I’ll be sure to thank each of Graham’s grandparents for all of the loving ways they spoil him. It’s fantastic to have so many wonderful role models for my children, even if my husband and I falter at it occasionally!
Grandparents rock!
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