HB and I were talking last night. We had chicken breast and green beans for supper and for some reason it knocked his tooth a little loose. As he was showing me his tooth I noticed that up in the gum area there was a bit of green bean and chicken. I asked him to please expose the area and brush better up there. He looked at me a little puzzled and asked, “Why mommy? Is my tooth hanging on by a “begtable”? (vegtable)
We laughed ourselves silly. Guess you had to be there.

When is a good time to start teaching your kids about money? This was an interesting topic in one of our MOPS groups. It got me to thinking about how I have taught my children about money.
From the time their little fingers could grasp a penny I would ask them to put it in our milk jug. HG as she grew older asked why we would care about the pennies. I asked her to gather all of the pennies she could find in the house. Also I paid her allowance in pennies. At the end of the week we took that penny jar and that insignificant penny turned into $8.47. She only received $5.00 a week for her responsibilities and extra work. By picking up pennies in the street, yard, house and car she discovered the power of a penny. In her mind’s eye she started understanding that even the smallest change, when saved can turn into much more.
When it came time for her to learn about interest and how it worked we opened up an account for her with all of the money she had saved over the years. I showed her that if she was patient and spent only what she needed to spend that her money could grow. The first month when all of five cents was applied interest, her eyes grew in wonder to think that they would actually give her money to do what she had already been doing at home, which was saving it.
Then came the true test. Inevitably there was something that she wanted. We explained that she would have to save for it. She did that. She then did not want to put anything into savings. She also did not want to tithe because it would reach her to her goal. We bought her a bank from our local Christian Book Store that was like an ATM. It gave her the understanding of what was to be saved, what could be spent and what was God’s. When she finally reached her goal she discovered that enough time had passed that the glory of the toy she wanted was gone. She no longer wanted it but wanted something that was less expensive because she realized that she did not want to part with such a large and hard working amount. She has been content with her toy and happy that she had more money to spend where she really wanted to spend it, which was when we went to Europe.
A lot of people have asked when I started giving allowance. I started at 5 years old. That for me was old enough for them to turn in a time card. They know their responsibilities. At the end of every night they must mark down what they have done for that day. The most they can earn in a week is $5.00. Now don’t get me wrong. There are some responsibilities that are just part of being a family. Keeping their room clean and bed made is not in the allowance department. Doing things that are outside of themselves are what get their money. I don’t ever want them to expect to be paid when helping someone else out, but there is that fine line that also wants them to understand that working hard does yield them pay. Such as what it is when they get their first “real” job.
Now with our son he is a bit of a tough nut to crack with understanding money. He is different than his sister. As soon as his allowance is issued he wants to go and spend it. It is like he missed the discussion on self-control. We are still working on him, but with time I think he will understand that.
I feel it is important to make them a part of knowing a budget for grocery shopping so that they can understand the importance of a budget and staying within it.
My hope for both of my children is that they won’t fall into the pit falls that I stumbled on when I became an adult. I hope they understand that tithing, budgeting and saving has a higher calling than giving in to the whim of the moment.

I don’t know why but it has been difficult for me to adjust to the kids going to school this year. May be it is because I am working now as well. I do not know. I feel as if I have no time to do anything but run from one activity to the next activity.
HG is now in volleyball and trying out for handbells. I think I may lose my mind. She will have to be at school at 7:30 in the morning if she makes handbells. School does not start until 8:15, but if she wants to do it then I will support the positive she choses in her life. I may lose my mind but I will support it.
HB is just along for the ride. He just comes and goes in the craziness.
Thus starts another season of my life…another phase…another chapter. Tween child. I think I need prayer in a big way.

Explain this to me….Labor Day…No work…yet cleaning the house. How is that right?