As those dolls sat quietly in worship, we sang hymns and read the Scriptures. All the while, Amelia took notes, but not on the sermon. Instead, she gazed longingly down the pew and across the aisle at Josephina and Felicity. That's when my Samantha doll--who had thus far lived virtually unnoticed in the glass-paned hall cabinet--became a constant topic of conversation.
Didn't I ever change her clothes? Brush her hair? Take her out to play with? As I wiped the satsuma-sticky fingerprints from the glass for the umpteenth time, I couldn't help but think, "Sure. Before I had three living dolls to dress each day!"
I received my one and only American Girl doll for my Sweet Sixteen birthday. Turning sixteen wasn't the big deal. But receiving the doll sure was. I had waited a lifetime of years until that "big" birthday, probably the only one where I received a gift costing $100, such an extravagance for my family who never spent that much on gifts. Back then, a party meant mama's homemade chocolate cake with the boiled pink marshmallow icing, a quart of ice cream from K&B, one or two friends, and whatever family was within driving distance.
Back then, Pleasant Company only produced the historical dolls. Kit. Molly. Felicity. Samantha. I loved them all and knew my daughter would, too, even if the company had changed hands and gone off into what I considered a more narcissistic versus an educational direction with their "Just Like Me" line. So, for Amelia's fifth birthday, I picked out the newer period doll, a brunette Jewish girl, as a gift from Oma and Opa.
Just like that, Rebecca was part of the family. Overnight she had become a fixture at the breakfast table, a captive audience on the sofa when we read books (to her, of course), and emotional support on the trip to the doctor's office for the annual checkup. That's when this mom put her foot down--no, she could not come in the germ infested place. Yes, she really must stay in the van. Period.
Wasn't she beautiful? (Yes.)
Could we read another chapter in her book? (Yes.)
Didn't I want to change her clothes for the tenth time this morning? (Uh....not really, but yes.)
Could she wear some of Samantha's clothes? (Sure. She can wear the outfits Grandmama made long ago.)
And then came the biggie: "When can I get some more American Girl stuff?"
This was a problem.
Birthdays come but once a year, Christmas gifts are always bought months in advance, and my children don't start earning an allowance until they start Kindergarten. What's worse, for some reason, money doesn't grow on trees at this hay farm. All this I made quite clear to the frowny face that stood watching me put on my morning make up.
Then, I had an idea. That toy kitchen she really didn't play with much anymore? I'd been wanting to get rid of it. Why, she could sell it on Craigslist.
"And use the money to buy American Girl doll stuff!?" she screamed. "Yes! Yes! Oh, thank you, Mommy!"
She ran from the bathroom and began yelling down the stairs, "Oh, Emerson! I'm going to get more American Girl doll stuff for Rebecca!"
That Sunday evening, out the door went the kitchen and in her "expense account" went $150. As expected, it wasn't long before the boys decided they, too, would be willing to sell an unused toy to earn a little money. What about that Lego table that they no longer used? Everybody built on the dining room table or floor anyway, and it was just taking up space.
The boys smartly decided to sit on their money and wait to buy some new Angry Birds game for the I-pad when it came out in mid-December. But Amelia's money was burning a hole in her pocket. The next few weeks were a whirlwind of this five year old girl having a crash course in how to use her money wisely.
If you have X dollars but want A, B, C, D, and E, what can you do? I watched, a little proud, as Amelia would choose something, shake her head, then put it back. Since it was now her money and not Mommy's cash, she was suddenly unsure if this was what she really wanted. After two trips to the store, Little Miss Indecisive still hadn't bought a thing. The doll kitchen at Target she was so sure about? No. Too expensive. The frilly dresses? Nope.
Finally, she settled on an Our Generation pink stable (A.K.A. "pony house") from Target, a velvety purple Christmas dress with a white fuzzy muff, and a black cloth-covered foal she named "Diamond" from Wal-mart.
Just like that, she was broke again. This mother was never more thankful to see an empty pocketbook.
Since then, Amelia has asked me a few times if I'm sure she has no more money left. Yes, I'm always sure. She sighs, but there is no more fretting over toys when we go to the store. She now routinely asks me how much items cost and whether that's a lot or "a little money." And she's already looking forward to next August when she can start earning her allowance to save for what she wants.
Selling their no-longer-used toys on Craigslist and then guiding them to make wise decisions with "their" money has been a great lesson for all three of my children, but it's also been good for their parents as well.
Like most parents who grew up with much less than children typically have today, husband and I want to give our children everything their little hearts desire, but we know that's neither good for them nor is it financially possible. The I-pad the boys want? Sorry. They'll still have to continue using dad's when he comes in from work. This little exercise, though, has allowed us to talk about giving (or selling) to others those things we no longer use, earning money because everything is expensive in this world, and being wise stewards of what money God gives us.
And the best thing? This mother didn't even have to use her preachy voice when explaining these truths. They lived it. They learned it. And just yesterday, I caught them giving each other financial advice in the back of the van. Now that's what I call success.
No comments:
Post a Comment