Apparently, Money Grows on Parents

Yesterday we ventured out for the first time in several days - we have been laying WAY low for almost a week, trying to recover, and I seem to have misplaced about 5 days in there. If anyone has seen them, please return them to me… they were the days when I was super productive and got totally ready for the holidays? Yeah, those days.

But back to the story. We went to get the car cleaned, and feeling as woozy as I still did (do), I didn’t feel much like busting out the industrial vacuum to clean the floors of the car . Who KNOWS how that could’ve ended. So we had an excuse to have a quick detail done, and the kids and I went to sit inside the waiting area.

I dug out some change and bought them each a bottle of juice from the vending machine (nice mama, huh?), and we went to sit down at the table to drink our drinks. They were feeling pretty big. Rowen said, in that tone of just discovering one of the mysteries of the universe, “So, we traded our money to the machine and got what we wanted!”

I said, Yes, that is what it means to buy things. We trade our money for the things we want. And then I said, Where do we get the money from?

She said, “From the parents!”

Why didn’t I think of that?

She knows that coins and bills are money, and that you can spend them, and that we give them our change to put in their coin banks (we bought these awesome LearningCents Banks for each kid, and we’re working on explaining the concepts of saving and giving, although Rowen insists on putting all her coins in the Spend side still), BUT still no idea that money doesn’t grow on parents.

So I said, “Where does daddy go every day?”

“To his Red Hat Work”

“And he trades his time for money, to make money for our family.”

<pause while she digests this part>

Then I said, “Where does mama work?”

“On your computer.”

“That’s right, and did you know that when mama works on her computer, she makes money, too?”

<pausing for more digestion>

“How do you make money through the COMPUTER?”

Dang. This money thing is complicated. How do we explain that we never actually SEE most of our money, but we just see it on the computer as numbers? Crazy. What a system we live in.

But I love it when I get to be part of the process my kids are going through in learning about the world and how it works. It was one of those priceless, everyday moments that you gather up sometimes unexpectedly, and I wouldn’t have missed this for the world. It was SO worth a $20.00 car detail and a couple of bucks for juice.

Comments

[Megan]

So do you think you'll homeschool?

Just askin'

I didn't, and (sometimes) wish I did. Being married to a public school teacher tho, sort of precluded that.

[OR Carol]

Such a "priceless" story HeHeHe! I read it twice just to enjoy it more. I love how children's mindes work. I guess that's why I'm a teacher. LUV U

[Gina Baynes]

Okay, so when I was little and always sad when my dad had to leave for work, he would tell me that he had to go to work to make money. When I was about 7, he took me to his work (an air compressor company) for a visit. As we were walking through the factory towards his office, I stopped, pointed and said, "Is that where you paint the pennies?" My dad followed my finger to a can of copper colored paint that was sitting on a table, thought for a moment, and then busted out laughing. He then, very carefully, tried to explain to me that he didn't actually "make" money. I am 37, and he is 60, and to this day, when he leaves for his job, he says, "Well... I'm off to paint the pennies!"

[Monique (Monsu)]

Great story, Jessica, loved it! Don't worry, they will grow out of this magical world of theirs in their own time..... I'm sure they think making money on the computer is the best thing ever!! Did they ask yet why Jared can't stay home with you and make HIS money on the computer???

[latz]

Such a sweet perspective. I recall when my now 11 year old DD was little she wanted to be an engineer just like mom. And before I had a chance to beam with pride she added, " so I can sit and spin in the big chair and my feet will touch the ground."

[Julie L.]

what a wonderful story Jess! My 6-year old is just learning about "cents" in kindergarten, and it is fun as they make the connections!

[Kathleen]

Such a sweet story and so well told.

Just had to come by and say hi after going to your old site for a PSE how-to that I'd forgotten. HI! :)

XOXOXO

[anna]

thanks for sharing with us :) such a cute story.