The Value of Money

Our bedroom is peppered with random numbers bearing the dollar or peso sign. We take it as a sign that the little one is slowly being aware of money and its value.


While there maybe a bad side of being money-aware so early on in childhood, I believe with guidance, it has its good points, too.


On Budget

I will be forever thankful that he is not one to throw tantrums. At toy stores, he will be content to push or pull you to where a certain toy caught his fancy-- but will not ask you to buy. His dialogues will range from:

• This is nice, mom
• I will buy this when I have money
• Mom, is this cheap?

Because budgeting is still hard for me, I am looking for ways to teach him that money is something that me and his dad work for, and is not something that comes to anyone easily.

But I don't want to deprive him totally-- so I have an imposed P20 budget for when we go to the mall and he wanted something -- most often at National Bookstore.


This exercise has taught him patience-- he scours the racks to find an item which will suit his budget. And the boy can be patient if needed. He has also learned that things can be pretty expensive... all the more reason to drive home our point that we shouldn't spend and spend but save instead.


Start Saving
 
So now, if he wants something, he things of it in terms of jars of money. He is always counting his savings (something he does almost every other day) because he wants to know how much more he needs to save (teka to save to be able to spend--may mali pa din ata hahaha).



For example:

After passing by Sofitel
Mom, I want to sleep there. How many jars (of money) do I need?


After seeing a for sale sign at one big house
Mom, can I buy a mansion? How many jars?





 At the most unlikely places

Another happy place for him to learn about money, among other things is the grocery. He'd look forward to this almost weekly chore with gusto, writing his grocery list ( I generally don't carry a grocery list with me because writing the grocery list stresses me out-teehee!) like this:

You can see what's important for my 5 year old here: Food!!!

So here, he's pretending to check his list and get the actual item to place inside his cart. Pretend because I don't see onions in his list.

For now, I'm so thankful that our jar is full, blessing -wise. 

My Weekend Came Early

Weekend came early for me last week. We had our little mother-son drama while I was giving him a bath ("My classmates' mommies always pick them up from school. Can you bring me and pick me up from school, please please mommy?" complete with pleading and watery eyes) so Friday was declared a holiday for mommy by the little boy.

As I was reviewing my photos from the past few days, I realized my Friday to Sunday was so full, imagine how happy it would be if we have 3-day weekends?

Anyway, these happy pictures will be my fuel to take me through work this week.

My weekend actually started on Thursday. I know we cannot have that 3-day weekend my heart and my boy so desire, so in my mind, I've declared Thursday night as the start of weekend.


Both mom and dad brought him to school on Fiday. I then brought the dad to where he can conveniently take the bus because the little boy also declared "dad should take the bus because Jared and mom will go to the mall after school".

I wanted to kill time while waiting for school to let out so I took my 2nd breakfast at Mcdo while reading the day's news. I tell you, I really appreciated this quiet time.

On my way back to school to pick up the boy, I passed by the Las Pinas Arts and Crafts Center inside BF Resort, near the Gawad Kalinga Village.  They make various items out of water lilies and does custom-made pieces.

Then, it was time for lunch! 

Even had time to visit the Off Price Show at the Filinvest Tent in the afternoon with my sister.

 Didn't get to buy anything--was too tamad to line up

Then on Saturday morning,  the whole family went to Divisoria. I'm impressed with the new Lucky China Mall, it is so nice there! Had lunch at Shih Lin and went around the shops while smelling stinky-- because we walked around Ilaya and Tabora Streets for a good 2 hours before going back to the mall. Parking was nice, airy and well-lighted and we only paid P50 for 4 hours or so.

We look like we're in HK or Singapore here

The Divi trip only took half a day. Feeling the need to use the soon-to-expire container of semi sweet cocoa powder, I browsed the net for the easiest choco cupcake recipe that didn't require too much butter. No, it wasn't for health reasons-- we were almost out of butter!

My assistant checking the yummy-ness of the batter. have to try that egg-free batter from www.pepper.ph soon so no risk of salmonella!

What the cookies lacked in form (they sadly were flat), they made up for extreme chocolate-y goodness. I printed this recipe out for good measure.

Then on Sunday, we met with my college friends (minus two) for some chika-fest at Global City. We don't venture out to this area too often but my, this trip had me changing my mind. I love the wide, open spaces and the chance for our little boy to make friends. Too bad my phone battery died before we reached High Street.

We were so hungry when we reached Serendra at 12.30. Had to fill our tummies fast. Conti's was the choice resto of the daddy

 

 

And a visit to a bookstore was also in order.

He played everywhere: benches, the grass, the shallow pools, even getting his foot wet drenched.

And fooling around the cam at Wee Nam Ki.  Love their wallpaper!

 I love weekends!!!!!

Summer in Manila: Our McDonald's Kiddie Crew

If given a chance to eat one food for the rest of his summer vacation, I'm pretty sure this 5 year old would say "one piece chicken and rice, please" from where else but McDonald's!

I've been blogging about our love for the McDo on a hill, and how we always treasure our weekend mornings there. Working at his favorite place would surely thrill him no end. Thanks to mama who found out we can actually enroll him at 5, because I've read materials the minimum age is 6.


The Uniform (and snacks)

Even before his 5- day stint officially began, the parents and guardians were asked to come in for a brief orientation. With the P500 fee, the kids were issued a kiddie crew shirt, an apron, a cap and a sling bag! That alone was worth maybe more than the fee already. Not to mention they also provide snacks to the kids before their duty ends everyday.



The Duty
Of course I was more than excited for my son to begin his actual "work". He was enrolled on April 8 to 12. Good thing we have the April 9 holiday so we get to watch him on the floor.

He got to be an assistant at the cashier

studying the order slip

reading it, or trying to

looking for utensils and tissue

Helped at the takeout counter

He mostly placed tissue on the trays and was heard saying " what, tissue again!" After placing tissue at a customer's tray probably for the nth time.



Welcomed and thanked the guests

Welcome to McDonald's and Thank you for coming!

hmm,  play or work?

tired na?

all smiles

Served food

 


Aside from the duty, they also participated in some fun stuff!

Learned the "Do the Ronald" dance
 
Like singing, and dancing.

Dance away (never mind if he's in the opposite direction =) )

Painted their apron

He loves anything involving paint and this one is no different.

And the highlight: made their own burger!

ahhh, will post the photos once I find them


The Awarding

If the 5 days weren't special enough, they received special pins and certificates towards the end of the program.
 
A this point in time our son must have felt he can do anything!!!!

Thank you, Mcdo!

I'd be forever thankful to whoever started this summer activity. True, the kids were sometimes a handful, and in truth, was slowing them down more than being of help. But the crew at Mcdo were so helpful and good at this already the kids felt they were truly helping. In fact, my son was so proud of his work stint he continues to wear his kiddie crew shirt as much as he can long after those 5 memorable days were over.

Approved!

A No Frills Father's Day Celebration

While I make every occasion a big deal, the daddy could not care less. Give him a gift, gift him a peck on the cheek, he is fine with any (or none I think).

But we could not let Father's Day go without making him something, not when I made a big deal out of Mother's Day again just the month before.

Early morning, while dad was away, we prepared our materials: blank keychain (about P35 at National Bookstore),  our plain white mugs from Uniwide (P12 each), and our sharpies. Oh, we found chocolates, too.

The boy took his "work" seriously. He loved using the word "work"

After several minutes of writing and more erasing....

 

Tadahhhhh. My work is in front while the boy erased and placed his finishing touches again.

For the keychains, I cut out sticker paper and let him write on it. He wrote a heart and a circle with an X mark. I wonder what it means...

Showing off the keychain and the chocolate wrap.

 We put all our gifts together with the breakfast tray and presented it to daddy.

Before the day ended, I remembered I bought him a shirt a few days before to wear when we go out for lunch or dinner. Unfortunately, the boy was a bit under the weather so we all stayed home and he wore this shirt right before bed time.

Happy Father's Day!!!!