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In a message dated 8/14/03 8:59:52 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
wendyluvslee@... writes:

> First time poster here...but I would also love to hear more about
> this. How much do they get (if you don't mind my asking)? Did you
> advise them ahead of time how to spend it or just let them learn the
> hard way. Do you have any rules about what they can't buy?
>
> New here,
> Wendy, with ds Forrest(8), ds Cole(5), and ds Hudson(5 mo. today)
>
>

Welcome Wendy,

Whenever I give the twins (who have 12 days left of being 11) money to
purchase anything, food or otherwise, I only remind them that the amount they have
is the amount they have, no more. If they choose to spend a little and save the
rest, cool. If they choose to use every cent, cool.

Kree recently bought a new knife at the knife shop in our local mall. She had
$20. She looked at several knives and decided to buy the smaller of the two
she liked the most. It was only $3 less than the bigger one. I asked why she
chose the small one, when the large one was not much more and she had enough
money for either one. She told me, that $3 was going to buy ice cream for her,
her sister and their cousin, when we got home from the mall. So she completely
chose how to spend every cent. She weighed what was important to her and she
made her decision based on her own wants and needs.

The knife shop owner was suprised at the process. She took her time and you
could see her wheels turning the entire time. He asked why I let her not only
make up her mind without my input, but why I "allowed" her to buy a knife.
Instead of answering him, I questioned him back. "Did you see her thought process
(which I knew he had since I watched him watch her)? Do you think she takes
ownership of this knife without serious contemplation? Why should I not "allow"
her to spend her money on what she wants?"

The shop owner chuckled, and said, "Well I think you are on to something
here, mom." So Kree walked away with her knife and a large grin, the shop owner
met a family where the kid had as much right to make decisions as an adult and I
walked away happy for them both.

Rhonda


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In a message dated 8/14/2003 1:24:27 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
rjhill241@... writes:


> Wendy, with ds Forrest(8), ds Cole(5), and ds Hudson(5 mo. today)
>

Happy Birthday, Hudson. I'm glad you were born!

~Kelly


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