Parenting Cents

G just won’t give up on her Nintendo DS goal.  We haven’t tried to talk her out of it much lately.  We have mentioned to her that we don’t think it’s necessary, that we don’t believe it’s worth the money, and that we think she could spend her money more wisely.  But, as I’ve said before, it’s her money.  She’s worked for it, she’s earned it, and she can spend it however she wants (with our oversight, of course.  No machetes or penny stocks.).

Today, G brought home two Scholastic book order forms in her school folder.  In the past, she has always managed to find several things she wanted to buy through the book order.  She has bought a door alarm for her bedroom door, a pair of spy glasses, and has actually picked out some books as well.  I don’t have any problem with these book orders.  I think they’re a neat deal.  I do, however, prefer the books over the toys that are offered.

As I opened her folder today and pulled out the book orders, though, she immediately told me, “I don’t want to buy anything out of those because I want to get a Nintendo DS.”  She just won’t let go of that goal!  She has been saving her “spending” money for what seems like a very long time with this goal in mind.  After working, saving, and waiting this long, she doesn’t want to do anything to slow down her progress.

Something tells me that once she finally buys that game system – and I’m sure now that she will – that we’ll never find it in the bottom of the toy box with those other, cheaper things that she “really wanted” from her book orders in the past.