Sometimes the best lessons for our kids happen in the most ordinary places.
One thing we’ve been doing with our daughter lately is giving her a set amount to spend at the grocery store.
We hand her the list and let her work through it.
She’s been comparing prices, paying attention to what things cost, and figuring out how to stay within budget. What’s been especially neat to watch is how much she’s enjoyed it.
She told us herself that it’s teaching her a lot.
The other day while we were shopping, I found a kitchen rug I really liked and wanted to get. She looked at me and said, “You don’t need that, you want it. Today we stick to the list.”
Well… okay then. 😄
She was so focused on the goal that she wasn’t about to let me throw it off.
What stood out even more was that she didn’t ask for anything for herself either.
Later that night, her dad and I were talking about it and realized we had both noticed the same thing.
She picked up a few things she liked, like she usually does, but this time I watched her smile, put them back on the shelf, and go right back to searching for the things on her grocery list.
Calculator out on her phone and everything.
She’s done this twice now, and both times she’s given us such good feedback on how helpful it has been for her.
She said it’s helping her see what one day she’ll need to do for herself.
And honestly, that stuck with me.
Because we didn’t sit down and make this some big lesson.
It happened right in the middle of everyday life.
She’s learning how to think ahead.
How to prioritize needs over wants.
How to make choices and stay focused.
And we’re learning right along with her.
I love that she’s enjoying it.
I love that she’s learning.
And I love getting to watch those little lightbulb moments happen in real time.
It reminded me that teaching our teens doesn’t always look formal.
Sometimes it looks like handing them the grocery list, giving them a budget, and letting them figure it out.
And in those ordinary moments they end up teaching the most.
Until next time sweet mommas
~ Christina