I have a 9 year old son, whom I believe is going through a tween stage (if there is such a thing). Well as any good parent, I am trying to teach him responsibility. Today he has frustrated me in that a few days ago we had a discussion about his lunch money. He told me that he did not need any lunch money, which I thought was very strange. We even did the calculations based on the amount I had given him and did the deductions and even he agreed that he should be out. He even made the statement "they would tell me if I need lunch money." Fast forward a few days (today) and he tells me that he needs lunch money. No problem, but then the conversation goes in a terrible direction!
I asked if he had money for tomorrow and he says no. That means his lunch account was completely empty. The next question was, did you have lunch money for today? His answer is no and his friend was nice enough to give him some of her chicken. What! I ask why, he tells me that the cafeteria personnel asked him did he want a cheese sandwich and he said no. This means he left the lunch line empty handed because it was not what he "wanted" and further more he forgot to tell me he needed money 2 days prior.
All this as we on a Target run to get some needed supplies with a bonus of those oh so popular silly bandz that he has been asking to buy for the past 2 days (want). I finally give in and let him use his own money to buy them. My frustration is this:
For 2 days you have known that you needed money for a necessity.
You decide to spend money on a toy and not replenish your account (WTH)
You take upon yourself to not eat because you don't want what they are serving because YOU forgot to let your parent know about a need.
My fundamental teaching:
Take the money you were going to use for a "want" and use for a "need."
Surprisingly he was very understanding and agreed. That's my boy!
"Training and Explaining" is the key to raising children.
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