Think Big
Part of our parental understanding of Logan's allowance is that sometimes we reward extra hard work with extra cash. We don't promise it. We just spring it on him.When Daddy began digging out the pit last week, Logan was eager to help. He was actually a real contributing helper too. He wasn't simply there with kid-sized tools to be preoccupied. He wasn't getting in the way. He was making a dent in the process.
I told him when we went in, I was going to give him an extra dollar for his allowance bucket. He asked me why and I explained that it was because helping lug dirt out of the pit was above and beyond his normal chores so we'd give him a little extra allowance this week.
"A dollar?" he asked. I nodded. "What about 10 dollars?" he countered.
"Ahh, no. How about two dollars?" I countered, thinking to myself this was patio assistance really was a big task for a four year old.
"Hmm," Logan said as he pondered the offer. "What about $11?"
We settled on two dollars.
The big day came and he was eager to start. As soon as Bruce got home that Friday night, Logan was begging to get started on the patio - the materials having arrived earlier in the day. The moment he woke up the next morning it was the first thing he asked - was it time?
He helped load wheelbarrows by putting handfuls of gravel in while we loaded them up. He helped empty the gravel into the pit by scooping out the remaining bits of stone clinging to the tipped over barrow. He used his small hand rake to spread the fill around. He entertained his sister. He tried to use the manual tamper to flatten the mass of grey. He carried Daddy's rubber mallet around when the men were putting the corner frame pieces in place.
He was earning his extra income.
I handed him a dollar first - his regular allowance. I handed him $3 next. "This is for today and for the help I know you're going to be the rest of the week as Daddy's working on the patio" I told him.
"How much do I have now?" he said, referring to the money he kept in the 'allowance bucket' until he had saved up enough to buy something. I told him he had $7.
He thought some. "I can buy a super hero with that right? They cost $5."
He's right. "But," I add, "If you wait a little longer and go shopping when you have $10 then you can get the three pack of super heroes." I gave him a few other examples of things he'd picked out at that price point.
He took that in and seemed to weigh his options. Bug mom for a trip to the store today or wait. "What about $11?" he asked. I thought he was counteroffering again. Trying to get more money from me. I told him I had no more money to give him today he'd have to earn his allowance and get paid of Friday.
He shook his head. "No, I mean what if I wait one more week. What can I buy for $11?"
I didn't have an answer for him. I had no idea. I told him as much. He grinned instead of arguing or pressing further. "What if I had a MILLION dollars! How can I get that?" he asked.
posted by Sandy at
11:11 PM
