It’s the last week of school! I’m looking forward to not having to comb through Will’s backpack every night for 8,322 pieces of paper. Or monitor homework. Or worry about what’s being served each day in the school cafeteria.
Recently we arrived home after the day and Will said, “Mom! You forgot to give me a dollar to shop at the school store!”
“I didn’t forget anything,” I retorted. “If you want to buy something with your own money, then you have to remember to bring your money.”
He looked irritated.
“In fact,” I suggested helpfully, “why don’t you go into your room right now, get a dollar out of your wallet, put it in your backpack, and then you are ready for the next time the school store is open.”
“I can’t. I’m busy.”
“What are you busy doing?” I asked.
“I’m busy watching TV.”
Nice! This was a no win situation! I was a bad mom for not reminding him to bring his money, a bad mom for not raising someone him to be independent enough to take care of his monetary needs, and a bad mom for letting him watch so much TV he can’t move off the couch to help himself!
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