About 4 years ago we went to a friends house about a week before Christmas and played the Wii for the first time. We all had a fantastic time. As soon as we got in the truck to go home, my then 5 and 6 year olds collectively said, "Can we get a Wii?" My husband and I looked at each other, knowing what the other was thinking, we can't afford it right now and the presents have all been bought, but that was a lot of fun. We talked to the boys and said with a heavy and torn heart, "No". We were about to go into a guilty feeling parents speech about how maybe next Christmas or for your birthdays, when they said "Is there any way we can make the money to buy one ourselves? Again my husband and I look at each other, communicating with our eyes in the way only good friends can, and asked what they had in mind. They boys began a discussion about all the ways they and they alone could save, collect and work to earn the money they would need to buy a Wii.
For 6 months my boys had shovelled driveways, went on weekly walking trips to collect bottles, and saved ANY money they had received from birthdays and weekend visits from grandparents. They had reached their goal. $500.00 had been made by my 2 little boys. We had never been so proud. They promptly purchased the Wii, and it still resides, in great condition, downstairs.
Shortly after this purchase, the boys, still excited about their earning potential, changed the label on the jar from "Wii" to "Vacation". The boys took on a flyer route and soon after had 2 routes. We do this with them. For an hour or so on Friday nights, my family works together to save money for a family vacation. I am beyond thrilled to say that I have booked our family trip for 2 weeks in Hawaii.
One of the best things my husband and I have done while raising our children is said No.
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