So, today, Josh took another step toward becoming a "big boy"! Before we left to run some errands the kids were already asking for things at the store!! So, I told them that they don't always get something when we go to the store, but they were welcome to take their wallets. So, Ellie collected her wallet with a few pennies and a nickle in it : ) , and Josh with his bulging Pirate wallet. (Josh gets paid when he works at the construction sites and he is very good about putting his money in a safe place) So, with wallets in tow, we headed to the store! When we got to the Christian book store, Josh had spotted his "want"! "Joshua the Warrior" sword and shield. But first, he decided he needed to know how much money he had! So, we got out his wallet, and right there on the floor we started counting all the crippled bills shoved in his wallet! "One, two, three,...eight! I have eight dollars! What can that buy?"
Then, he asked how much the Joshua the Warrior outfit was and after trying to read the numbers (a funny moment in itself!), I told him it was $29.99! "I don't think I have that many dollars," he said. He made a sad face where I had a chuckle inside!! Then he found an action figure, and then another shield...and then, before I knew it, he was following me around, picking up things asking "how much is this? How much is this? How much is this?" (Ellie soon followed his lead and was also asking the same questions while I just wanted to read the back of book covers!) Most things were over $8 and so Josh would put them back and move on. Finally, he found a book for $7 on the clearance rack! Then he said, "hey! I have...one two three four five six seven (pause for "eight" in his head)...I have enough to get this!" (I was laughing so hard in my head!!) Then we talked about how this isn't a book he needs (and really didn't want, something for parents...but that it was just something he wanted to purchase just to make a purchase!!) and I finally talked him out of it!! Then, we got to the $5 table (I love this table!!). He picked up a "kid looking" DVD and said, "How much is this!?" I told him it was $5 and such joy came to his face! "I have enough to get this!", he said!! I wanted to let him have this experience (and i actually thought the dvd looked good) so I said, "Yes, you do, would you like to purchase it?" His wallet was out before he said yes!! He went first, and the man said "It's $5.30. He was a little confused at the $0.30, and overwhelmed with counting and taking out the 5 dollar bills! I went digging for the thirty cents so he didn't have to break another dollar bill. He gave the man the 5 dollars and then the man said you still need thirty cents. Josh just looked at him thinking "what??" so i handed Josh the change and he gave it to the man and waited patiently for his nickle and bag. Then I had to explain "tax"...another hysterical moment for the on lookers! And also what a reciept was! He got his own bag and proudly carried it to the car!! I thanked the man for his patience and explained it was Josh's first purchase! And then as I was checking out he asked, "do you home school?" haha!! I said, "he's only in preschool!!" haha!!
We had to put the DVD in right away and watch it on the way home! As I was getting us all settled in the car and opening the DVD and putting it in, Josh was digging in his bag...and then he explained "I got a reciept!!" with a big smile on his face! : )
So I was putting the DVD in thinking "what if Josh doesn't like this movie? Maybe it's fluff and will be too young for him? That might be a good lesson (checking things out before we buy, rather than just buying something because we have enough money for it)..." Then, the first scene is the children pretending they are pirates!! HE LOVED IT!!
It turns out, it is a great movie! I listened to it on the way home with the kids and it was such a precious story, I was actually crying!! It's a great movie to explain letting go of things we love for the greater good of others! Good first purchase Josh!!
PS. I should have taken Matt in the stroller rather than carry him in my arms thru the whole thing!!! I didn't even run anymore errands I was so exhausted from Matt and the conversations!! : )
