All About Your Child

This happened on the 2nd week of school.

Keatkeat: “Mommy, today my friend want to take money from my wallet.”

Me: “Tell me the whole story.”

Keatkeat: “A friend said this friend lost his wallet and got no food to eat. Then before I put my wallet in my pocket after I buy food, he just take my wallet away and want to take the money. I said “Cannot! Don’t Take My Money! My Mommy will scold.” And I take it back from him. Later I don’t know why he got food to eat.”

Me: “Why did you feel that I will scold you?”

Keatkeat: “Because you always teach me that money is important. Cannot waste money. He take my money away is wasting my money.”

Me: “But don’t you think he is very pitiful? He has nothing to eat because he has no money?”

Keatkeat: “Yes. So you think I should give him the money?”

Me: “When you have a friend who lost his wallet or have no money to eat, it is best that he should approach the teachers or an adult. They will know better how to help him. You did a Great Job Keat!”

Keatkeat: “Orh.” (meaning “ok”)

*** I forsee his post may strike opposition from some parents in thinking that I am not teaching my boy to be compassionate.

But to me, my 6 year old is still unable to differentiate a liar from a honest chap. Even adults have problem with this, true? And being children, their kindness are easily taken advantage of. I am not saying that THIS friend is lying, I am just protecting my boy from being caught in a situation like this:-

Imagine this: If KK had given him the money or promise to lend it to him. If this boy is really dishonest, and refused to return the money; on top of that, if he comes again to my boy the next day for money again (furthermore, notice? He did not ask. He just took Keatkeat’s wallet as if it was his.); Keatkeat or the boy would think that this is perfectly alright, because it has become a routine.

My two boys do ‘donate‘ to blind people who sell tissue papers or handicapped on the road. In some sense, I think being compassionate is an in-born thing in all children.

Seriously, for this incident, I am VERY PROUD of Keatkeat. I love and approve the way he handled the situation. Good Job, Keat!

Yesterday at my in-laws’ place, I had a mini chat with my 2nd SIL.

SIL: “Have you decided how much pocket money you want to give Keatkeat?”

Me: “$1.50. But I wonder if its enough. Because a plate of Char Siew Rice (roasted pork rice) already costs $1.20.”

SIL: “So you are going to make bento for him everyday?”

Me: “Nahhh… I’m a lazy mommy. *giggle* I don’t intend to do that. I will probably give him a heavy lunch. Since their snack time is only 3hours from his lunch. Don’t think he will be that hungry. Maybe he might buy a fishball or two.”

SIL: “Beware. He might spend his money at the bookshop. Buying erasers and stationeries.”

Me: “I allow him to do that.”

SIL: eyes widened “Huh? You are the first mommy among all the mommies I know which allow this.”

Me: “I think all kids are the same. The more the parents forbid, the more they will do. The more they will ‘hide’. The more they will ‘lie’. So I just let him be. He will get sick of it sooner or later….” *Smile*

Indeed, the way I think as a Mommy is very different from most parents. Some of my parenting tactics are considered FORBIDDEN. *giggle* Oh well, I’m just different. I’m ALIEN MOMMY! *Grin*

For this pocket money matter, its an extremely simple rule. Once its given, it belongs to the receiver. As simple as that. What the receiver wants to do with it, he bears the responsibility.

If he chooses to spend the entire $1.50 on stationeries and found out that his tummy rumbles during lesson after break time. Do you think he will do it again tomorrow? What a kid can handle least, is hunger.

Some say, “Don’t you want to cultivate his habits of saving?” I laugh at this question all the time!

HE is one money magnet! With his great mathematical-brain, he decides how much he sells his toys on eBay, so that he knows how much he can get back after dividing the sale amount with his bro, and hence how much he can *Kaching* into this piggy bank.

In fact, he is a miser! *giggle* Calculative! Yup that’s him!

So am I afraid that he will not want to save up? NO!  *giggle*