A Teaching Moment

Jackson is in a Toy Story phase these days.  He received Buzz Lightyear for his birthday and Woody for Christmas and owns all 3 of the movies, which we have watched approximately 1,349 times.  I shouldn't have been surprised when shortly after Christmas (and the seemingly never-ending supply of gifts that the entire month brings when you're a December baby) he began requesting the addition of Jessie & Bullseye to his collection. 

I was conflicted.

On the one hand, he certainly didn't need more stuff. And I certainly didn't want to send the message that you get everything you want.

On the other hand, he had birthday money from his great-grandparents.  If his birthday was any other time of the year, I wouldn't have hesitated to allow him to spend it on a special toy from his Nana & Papa Diers.

I decided to sit on it and see what happened.  If he forgot about it in a few days then the problem solved itself.  If not, then we'd cross that bridge later.

Well, he didn't forget.  In fact, he asked about it every single day for at least a week.  And we laughed every time as he referred to Bullseye as "Booze Eye".

In my perfect world I wanted this to be a teaching moment about saving and spending money.  I wanted him to understand that you have to work for the things you want.  That he could spend his money on a new toy, but that meant it wouldn't be there in the future for other things he may want.  I wanted him to go through the motions of handing his money to a cashier and getting change.

Then I remembered he's barely three.  And probably wouldn't understand any of it.

I also discovered that the combo of Jessie & Bullseye was nowhere to be found in stores so I would be ordering it online.  Meaning the whole teaching moment of paying the chashier was impossible anyway.  Even if I made him pay for it, he would essentially just be reimbursing me.

It seems silly now, but I seriously labored over this decision.  I don't want Jack to be spoiled and fear we are already heading down that path, however unintentional it may be.  Yet requiring my three-year old to give me $40 for a toy doesn't exactly feel right either.

In the end, we ordered Jessie & Bullseye.  And oh my gosh he loves them.  He asked to check the mailbox every day in anticipation of their arrival.  His Toy Story gang is easily his most played with toy these days.

I did make him pay for it.  Or, I went through the motions of having him pull $20 out of his piggy bank in exchange for Jessie & Bullseye. 

I then explained the difference between spending and saving money.  Who knows how much of this little lesson he actually comprehended, but I felt better for at least trying.

Oh, and as far as the $20 bill...

I snuck it back in his piggy bank when he wasn't looking.