Fruit Loops....
So, just to make your
day: the generation gap is alive and well. I thought you might like to know.
Of course, I have a
reason for saying that. La Belle Noelle, Princess of Quite a Lot, is spending
the weekend with Grandma. So far, we've had a lovely time. Mostly playing but
hey, that's okay, too.
We went to the
grocery store this morning. Bought everything we need for the weekend: Fruit
Loops, potato chips, and stuff to make ice cream. We're going to make “cookies
and cream” ice cream by following the recipe for vanilla ice cream, then adding
chopped Oreos to the mix for the last five minutes.
I think it is very
important to eat healthy, nutritious meals, don't you? As far as Noelle is
concerned, we have three of the food groups covered: dairy products, Fruit
Loops and Oreos. I think I'll make sure she takes a daily vitamin today and
tomorrow and hope for the best.
We also went shopping
for “accessories” this morning. There is a store in the mall that she loves to
look in, and found several things she thought she had to have. I asked her to
wait and look at Penney's, since I had to go there, too. She agreed.
And then, an “aha”
moment for her: Grandma did NOT buy her everything she wanted. I explained that
I cannot spend that much money on her when it is not Christmas, not her
birthday, and she didn't do anything to earn the money.
Apparently, that got her
thinking.... She did choose a couple of items, which I did buy for her, but she
had to choose, and she had to put several things back that she really, really
wanted....I wouldn't buy them. If you know me, you know how hard it was for me
to deny her anything.
But I did....
And so, she thought
about what I said. “You didn't earn the money...” must have stuck in her head.
Just a little while ago, she came to me with a proposition: she would do some
chores around the house and I could give her some money for her efforts. Okay,
fair enough.
And then, the
generation gap reared its ugly head. She offered to clean the kitchen counter,
dust the family room, and fold clothes. She wanted $25.00 for her efforts. Uh,
NO, I don't think so. I tried telling her about the state workers who have had
their pay reduced to minimum wage. I got a blank look...
In my head, I'm
adding up all the money I have spent today.....No way is twenty minutes' worth
of fussing around the house worth what I have spent already. So I stood firm.
No. No $25.00 for work I do for free. For myself.
She has now been
working for an hour and 10 minutes. The last chore was to use the Swiffer
Sweeper on all the wood floors. This is a big house, so that was a big job. She
also watered the container garden and swept the kitchen floor....
She offered to
“rearrange” the stuff on the bathroom counter and make it look better. I said
no: I wouldn't be able to find things after she leaves. She offered to dust the
inside of the car. I said no: it's in the triple digits outside, and even more
inside the car. I don't need for her to get sick.
Ah, she's
straightening up the family room now, putting all the Wii stuff away. By the
time she's through, it will have been an hour and a half, almost, that she's
been working. I will split the difference with her and give her ten dollars.
Ten dollars for the
opportunity to learn one of life's important lessons: nothing's free....
Cali
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