Paying for your Mistake
Child, Handling Misbehaviour, MoneyTalk for Kids, Parenting March 24th, 2009For the first time, we decided to allow the kids to have half the amount collected from the ‘Hong Baos’ during Chinese New Year.
Yes, they had bought themselves a present each using that amount. But today, I’m not going to blog about that.
Ever since the decision was made, I insisted that each of them keep record of the movement of their money using a ‘budget book’. A simple book for them to look back at how much was spend and on what.
If ever, there comes a time when they don’t have enough for what they want at a shop, they can look back and realise that they had spent on things that were not so ‘needed‘ or not so ‘desired‘ or ‘could have been avoided‘; like what I want to blog for today’s post.
Keatkeat broke this in the shop earlier today, when we were getting stuff for Binbin’s birthday goodies bag.
As usual, his ‘itchy-flimsy‘ hands were meddling with it and it fell. The lady at the counter was trying to fix the wheel back, but failed. Allan and I told Keatkeat, “Keat, you have to pay for this now, because you broke it. We will pay for it first, but you’ll have to return the money to us from your piggy bank when we are home.” My 5 year old had no choice but to agree.
And so it was recorded.
*Sigh* Guess what? Keatkeat did not pay for HIS mistake only, he paid for OURS too.
‘Cos the wheel was NOT BROKEN!!! It merely slipped off! Both of us didn’t take over the Sharpener to have a closer look at it ourselves, we looked at the cashier who tried very hard to put back the wheel for about 30 seconds and we ASSUMED that it was really broken. *slap slap*
Anyhow, we never had such a big and fanciful sharpener before. Keatkeat loved it anyway, kept sharpening all his pencils even though they were still prickly sharp. His only complain was “If only it was Blue Colour.” *faint*
*Additional notes added on 25 march 7.09pm :
Me: “Keat, would you want to go back to the shop and change for a blue one?”
KK: “Don’t have blue! Only Pink and Green! I don’t like Green and even more don’t like Pink!”
(he had crystal-clear memory of what was on the shelf)
March 25th, 2009 at 1:57 am
Well, you *could* try taking it back and exchanging it for a blue one? :)
giddy tigresss last blog post..A new beginning with our Little Miracles
March 25th, 2009 at 2:25 am
giddy tigress,
*giggle*
if I were to take it back, I’ll ask for my money back! *laugh*
March 25th, 2009 at 4:00 am
HA! I think there’s a lesson in there for him, yet. You’re a good mom and teacher.
March 25th, 2009 at 6:58 am
I think that is a very good lesson. Even though it ended up not being broken, he hopefully realized that you must not touch or if you touch and you break it you have to pay for it…so many in the future he might ask mommy or daddy if it is ok for him to touch. You are also teaching him very good lesson about managing money. I wish I had taught my children that….that is a very valuable lesson to teach you child…you are a good mommy….
SmalltownRNs last blog post..Man’s best friend……
March 25th, 2009 at 7:29 am
I love your method of book keeping. I will follow suit when Jaimie is older. Excellent idea! i was very bad with my money… yes, i am those “where did my money go” type. My ex-financial planner did suggest that i do a book keeping but i had no discipline at all to do so. if i had the discipline to do so, i wont be squandering my $$ away. so must train jaimie from young.. heehee…
Angies last blog post..Getting Excited!
March 25th, 2009 at 8:12 am
Oh my Goodness!LOL!Poor thing!
Beware for the prickly sharpened pencils!!!you don’t want any of them to get hurt with it! ;)
xoxoxo
Sandras last blog post..Bad Mouthing Portugal take 1000!!!LOL!
March 25th, 2009 at 9:10 am
the sharpener car is so cute. U r really good in educating them to spend the money wisely.
March 25th, 2009 at 9:30 am
the lady at the counter is lazy lah … to try hard to fix it. :D
lings last blog post..Dad’s Review
March 25th, 2009 at 9:59 am
I like the way u handled though ultimately it was not broken…
I burst out laughing reading the line ” If only it was Blue colour “
March 25th, 2009 at 10:15 am
giddy tigress,
Ok, I’ll go ask Keatkeat when he is back from school later….;)
March 25th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Yeah….why is not in blue color :D I mean pink mostly for girls.
Juliana RWs last blog post..Update Jason at school
March 25th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
I like your teaching. maybe I should do that too with my 2 girls. My eldest only record her earnings but not spending. Thanks for giving such great idea.
March 25th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
it’s a good thing to train them to use their money wisely at a young age…thumbs up for that, angeline!
yeah, if only it’s blue in colour *wink wink* hehehe…
March 25th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
i think the pink sharpener is sooo cute. If he really doesn’t want it, he can give to Jing-er as birthday present (but i doubt so..lol). I will like it if I’m a young gal. =)
March 25th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Nice sharpener… ;) I also think blue looks nicer…
March 25th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Hey! Since it was not broken, he shouldn’t have to pay for it, YOU have to! (for not noticing it) Hahaha.
March 25th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Dude, it was not broken, why should he pay for it. Bad…
Anyways, nice sharpener….
Blends last blog post..Sibling Jealousy
March 26th, 2009 at 12:43 am
*ROLROTF*
Okey, why the pink one fell off if Keat-keat don’t like pink in the first place? The pink must have attracted him somehow!!!!!
March 26th, 2009 at 1:01 am
mumsgather,
if he hadn’t meddle with it in the first place, none of this would have happened.
March 26th, 2009 at 1:02 am
Blend,
if he had been careful with what he touches, none of this would have happened.
March 26th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
That’s a great way to teach them how to manage their own money. N I thot my girl’s too young for that (she’s gonna be 6). I think I’ll start her soon. Thx for the tip!
When I saw KK using the pink sharpener (b4 reading), I was wondering y u got him a pink one. hahaha Nvm, can pass to mei mei in the future. *wink wink*
slavemoms last blog post..New Gadget
March 26th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
SO cute !! He must have like the shaperner so much that he accidentally slip it off the shelf :):)
March 31st, 2009 at 5:21 am
lol its a shame pink is always associated with girls isnt it! he seems to enjoy it anyway!