Allowance
I am curious on how peole handle allowance with their children – if they do. James gets an allowance, he has for about a year; it was just increased on account of his rapid aging. It is not necessarily tied to his chores, although he certainly has chores, and he certainly wouldn’t get his allowance if he was a total slacker. But, he doesn’t get .25 for setting to table and another for clearing it, you understand.
Allowance was started because, quite frankly, of the whining. “I waant it. I waant it.” Soon, the answer changed from “no” to, “Do you have enough money? Would you like to save for it? Here’s how many weeks you would have to save.” And soon, the asking stopped.
Now, he uses his allowance for groceries.I am not sure whether to be uncomfortable or proud of this. You see, last week, he wanted premade smoothies, in a little jar, at $1 a piece. I told him I would buy the ingredients for smoothies, but if he wanted those, he would have to buy them himself. So he did, dipping into his savings considerably. Now, he wants Ghiradelli hot cocoa instead of that insipid Nestle’s I buy him (he tasted the good stuff visiting my mom in March and has been asking for it ever since). He has decided to use his allowance to buy the cocoa.
He doesn’t watch t.v. to have desires from commercials, he has plenty of toys, and we know he’s not lacking for books, but he knows what tastes good.
So, what say you, should I be embarrassed that my 6 year old is doing the grocery shopping or proud that he’s using his allowance fairly well?
I think its teaching him responsibility. I do my kids the same way. If they want something I won’t buy then they buy it themselves (as long as its something i’ll let them have). He’s learning to use money wisely and for things he wants.. I think thats a good thing!
When my daughter was a teenager, she kept wanting the “latest” in fashion and/or accessories. I told her I would buy her the basics but that I wouldn’t be buying her anything that would be out of style in a day. She went and got a part-time job, eventually 2 more part-time jobs, and wound up buying all her clothing. Years later when she was 21, she came to me and thanked me for helping make her so responsible. You need to draw the line somewhere with kids or they will never appreciate what it is like to have to “fend” for themselves in the real world.
I think you should be proud of how you are handling it. If it works…that is great. We do not do allowance and we watch lots of television here. M enjoys talking about the commercials she sees and giving me advice on what she thinks would help me. The latest one is some bulb that waters plants. Too funny since I have no living plants in our house. M does chores and such. She does not get off too easy.;) I never had allowance growing up either.
I think its pretty funny that he’s saving for the cocoa. You should tell his grandpa, it would probably be better received than maple syrup!! As for this parenting stuff, I don’t know… I follow YOUR lead, remember???
Hmmm, I would if I can get my kid to buy the groceries?!?!
hehe
I think by allowing him to make these decisions you are honouring his creativity and respecting him. He can decide if it was money well spent.
I think this is too cute.
If it were Baby Boy, I would probably offer to go halfsies with him, but I’ve been known to be a softee. It has also been said that he may be a little spoiled.
*SIGH*
I try to be tough, but why did God make our children so darn ADORABLE?