A six year old's wisdom.

[Calamity Jane]

My oldest monster went grocery shopping with me tonight. It's really the only time that we have to sit and chat, just the two of us. Considering the 45 minute drive each way to the store, we get a lot of talking in.

Anyway, tonight, I asked her how her day was at school, and she was full of the usual stories. Then she said:

"Ya know mommy, days are like pickles. Some are sweet and some are sour. You just have to eat the sour ones really fast so you only remember the sweet ones."

She's so smart.

 

[april-wine]

hehe

 

[cymbidia]

My six year old little guy asked me this past weekend where babies come from. I explained in detail, using appropriate language tailored to his level of understanding. I pride myself on not evading these kinds of questions, you know. I talked about penises versus vaginas, and explained umbilical cords, birth canals and vaginas.

At the end of my rather lengthy explanation, one he listened to with interest, asking questions at appropriate palces, he was silent for along while. I waited, letting him process it all. Then he brightened and smile up to me.

"Well," he said with an air of finally being privy to some of life's big mysteries, "THAT'S why boys and girls have different bathrooms at school!"

 

[sheath]

Your little girl's quote is now on my bulletin board. I'm sure I will use her words of wisdom on those pickle days!

S.

 

[Calamity Jane]

LOL

Not too many months ago, the oldest came into the office and asked me, quite seriously, why things fall. So, I'm trying to explain gravity in terms a 5 year old could understand.

After a few minutes, she looks at me. Smiles indulgently and says,

"What goes up, must come down."

 

[cymbidia]

Kids are so smart.
They amaze me, constantly.

 

[freakygirl]

My daughter was telling me something tonight.

I knew something was bothering her so I pushed her to tell me.

She said "Mommy, Casey says our daddy and *K* are poor. I know it's true because they only have dimes to buy milk. All their money fits into one pocket. Casey gets all of his clothing from Goodwill and they are buying mine there now too. We always eat oatmeal for breakfast.. unless it's Xmas.. then we get cold cereal because it's a special day."

I almost cried.. she is growing up and noticing things to quickly. Here at home.. she only gets new clothing and usually name brand stuff (because in my opinion they last longer). If we want/need something.. we go and buy it.

I think her comment about "All their money fits into one pocket" was referring to the fact that we have 2 check books.. and several jars of change laying around and they don't.

I know they live payday to payday.. and I know that is very common. But how do you explain it to a 7 year old?

 

[Killswitch]

I know they live payday to payday.. and I know that is very common. But how do you explain it to a 7 year old?

You dont have to explain anything to your seven year old FG.

She knows everything she needs to know right now.

 

[Calamity Jane]

I don't know. When my oldest and I had a similar conversation, I took the opportunity to tell her that money/things/clothes/toys aren't all that's important.

I also explained that the amount of cash a person carries or where they buy their clothes isn't an indicator of happiness or economic status. I buy mine and the kids clothes at resale shops even when money isn't an issue because they grow too fast to justify the prices of new clothes and I spend too much time working outside to justify 'new'.

 

[freakygirl]

I don't know. When my oldest and I had a similar conversation, I took the opportunity to tell her that money/things/clothes/toys aren't all that's important.

I also explained that the amount of cash a person carries or where they buy their clothes isn't an indicator of happiness or economic status. I buy mine and the kids clothes at resale shops even when money isn't an issue because they grow too fast to justify the prices of new clothes and I spend too much time working outside to justify 'new'.

My problem is.. what she says is the truth. I've never lied to my children. I'm hoping I can avoid answering her questions.

She knows money/things/clothes/toys aren't all that is important.. I've bought second hand stuff also. But with this child.. she wears out clothing long before she grows out of them. Buying good quality clothing has proved to be better for her. She can get 2 or more years out of a pair of jeans.. I don't mind paying $10 for them.

 

[#1tankcomander]

I don't know. When my oldest and I had a similar conversation, I took the opportunity to tell her that money/things/clothes/toys aren't all that's important.

I also explained that the amount of cash a person carries or where they buy their clothes isn't an indicator of happiness or economic status. I buy mine and the kids clothes at resale shops even when money isn't an issue because they grow too fast to justify the prices of new clothes and I spend too much time working outside to justify 'new'.

Besides "Goodwill" usually has name brand cloths with price tags still on them from the big department stores!

Neman Marcus (Needless Markup) cloths at bargin prices!

 

[Killswitch]

This is ironic....here we are listening to you show your love, and admit spending only ten dollars on good jeans, and in another thread I am being made fun of for questioning whether 25 dollars per person is expensive or not when taking kids, and the family out to dinner.

Funny how different perspectives are........

 

[Rhys]

actually you are getting attacked because you are a tactless bigoted idiot
but I think you knew that already

 

[Avery_Chisholm]

My six yr old gets up in the mornin' gets dressed and as were walking down the street tells me how PURTY I is

 

[freakygirl]

Besides "Goodwill" usually has name brand cloths with price tags still on them from the big department stores!

Neman Marcus (Needless Markup) cloths at bargin prices!

I understand that Goodwill has name brand stuff at a bargain price (that is very rare here though). But they don't buy those. 99% of the clothing they buy are old, worn and dirty looking. No matter how many times they are washed they never look clean. That is what my daughter is wearing when going to their house.

And when I say I'm buying name brand.. I didn't mean Neman Marcus.. I buy at JcPenney and Sears. On occasion I buy Jordache brand at WalMart...

The shoes that her dad buys for her brother are usually a size larger.. "they last longer that way" and so dirty.. they look like they were worn for 5 years before purchasing.

Who wants to wear someone elses old shoes?

Should I get started on the underwear? Nah.. I don't think I will.

 

[Calamity Jane]

ok freaks, I see your point, without mentioning the underwear, thanyaverymuch.

I don't shop at goodwill, I shop at resale/consignment shops. Often, the clothes are new, just discontinued or needing a button or a zipper. Since I sew, that's no big deal.

I can't figure out how you get jeans for $10 though! Last time I bought clothes for the kids at Sears, the cheapes jeans I could find were at least $19. I buy new jeans at Target when they're on clearance, and that's about it.

 

[freakygirl]

ok freaks, I see your point, without mentioning the underwear, thanyaverymuch.

I don't shop at goodwill, I shop at resale/consignment shops. Often, the clothes are new, just discontinued or needing a button or a zipper. Since I sew, that's no big deal.

I can't figure out how you get jeans for $10 though! Last time I bought clothes for the kids at Sears, the cheapes jeans I could find were at least $19. I buy new jeans at Target when they're on clearance, and that's about it.

My daughter is still in toddler sizes. (her average size 4 year old brother is bigger than her). I can still get 5Ts for her at $10. I dread the day that she grows and has to go into "normal" sizes.

We don't have any good resale/consignment shops here where I live. The two that we have are like really large garage sales/Goodwills.

I re-read my posts.. I can see why people took it wrong (Sorry PMers) I never meant that I was better than my daughters father because of myself having money.. and him not. That isn't what I was talking about.
My point was.. My daughter is noticing and I don't know the right words to explain to her that her dad works hard.. but doesn't have the same kind of income as me and Mr Freaky (Mr Freakys income is twice what Kimbers dad makes. I make equal to or more than her dad).
I know Kimbers dad works/tries hard to provide for his family.. but how does one explain that to a little girl who is use to "my way of life"? It's not that it's "important" to her to have money. I've taught her that she has to work towards things. She isn't handed everything she wants. If she wants something (above normal needs).. she has to figure out a way to earn the money. I don't pay allowence unless she goes beyond what is expected (keeping her stuff picked up and keeping her room clean).

Is this making any sense?

 

[phrodeau]

People that buy new items are supporting the economy.

People that can't afford or prefer not to support the economy buy used.

Some people support certain segments of the economy and not others.

A child can understand this.

 

[Gilly Bean]

My kids are the same, size wise. My daughter will be 7 in 2 months , and she wears a size 5 still, where as my just barely turned 4 year old son is wearing 6's. Sheesh.


I don't know how you would explain being poor to a child. My oldest has noticed when we are broke, though, and just asks when pay day is.

She has also mentioned how some kids at school, or her cousins, seem to have more, and I've told her in the past that different people have different money, and they don't always have as much as others, but that we live comfortably for now.

She has popcorn day on friday's, where she takes ina quarter and gets a bag of popcorn, and I usually send her with .50 or .75 instead, because a few times, she's come home without, because she has a friend who never gets to buy popcorn, and Rae told me that wasn't fair, so she thought she would share.

It's moments when they come up with wisdom like that, that makes me just want to cry at how old children can seem, even when they are so young.

 

[sweetnpetite]

I understand that Goodwill has name brand stuff at a bargain price (that is very rare here though). But they don't buy those. 99% of the clothing they buy are old, worn and dirty looking. No matter how many times they are washed they never look clean. That is what my daughter is wearing when going to their house.

And when I say I'm buying name brand.. I didn't mean Neman Marcus.. I buy at JcPenney and Sears. On occasion I buy Jordache brand at WalMart...

The shoes that her dad buys for her brother are usually a size larger.. "they last longer that way" and so dirty.. they look like they were worn for 5 years before purchasing.

Who wants to wear someone elses old shoes?

Should I get started on the underwear? Nah.. I don't think I will.

I hope "santa" will be good to them, come christmas. (though I know that is a very long way off)

 

[sweetnpetite]

People that buy new items are supporting the economy.

.

and the landfill

 

[sweetnpetite]

out of the mouths of babes

my daughter was 6 or seven. we had just come back from the library where they made doe creations that were still hardening when we got on the bus. I spread them out on the emptly seats, but i was running out of room. "I'm trying to make sure they don't get broken" I reasured her.

"That's ok, mommy. Nothing lasts forever."

 

[sweetnpetite]

Re: out of the mouths of babes

my daughter was 6 or seven. we had just come back from the library where they made doe creations that were still hardening when we got on the bus. I spread them out on the emptly seats, but i was running out of room. "I'm trying to make sure they don't get broken" I reasured her.

"That's ok, mommy. Nothing lasts forever."

then she said, someday this bus will get old and fall apart and they will replace it with a new one. and someday I will get old."

here in a split second, I heald my breath, not even wanting to think about what she was going to say next. I was thinking that I would have to explain that we can't replace people like we replace buses. But she had a suprise in store for me becuase she said,

"And my daughter will cary on in my place."

 

[intrigued]

Nice little pearls of wisdom, thanks. Oh geez, I just scrolled down and read your last reply sweetnpetite, damn! Priceless.

 

[sweetnpetite]

the last time she came back from her dads she said, "sometimes I think I'm the only one in my family who worries about my future. Like how my life is gonna be, my career, who I'll marry..."

Also, she says she likes her new school becuause its challenging and she learns something new every day.

mommy so poud