Quarters

Maddie has a new obsession with money. She finds a penny and carries it around all day long, saying "I'm rich" over and over.

She also asks for a new toy/coloring book/anything she sees that she deems "cool" everytime we go to a store. And, I hate feeling like the bad mom because I don't every cheapo notepad with Hannah Montana she wants.

So, I decided that it was time to teach her some responsibility about money. And it helps me out with my most hated chore. Making the bed.

If Maddie makes her own bed, with no help- I give her a quarter.
If Maddie doesn't make her bed- she gives me a quarter.
If I help her make her bed- no quarter for either of us.

Then, she is allowed to take the money that she has earned and purchase something with it. I'm trying to teach her to save it, instead of spending it immediately. My method for that is telling her to put it in her piggy bank and then claiming that I don't know how to get the money out. I'll work on that later.

She likes earning money. I like not having to make her bed. It's a win-win.

However, lately, she's turned the tables on me.

"Mommy- my book is in my room. Will you get it for me?"

"You can go get it. You know where it is."

"I'll pay you a quarter, if you do. But if I do, you have to pay me."

"Um. No. It doesn't quite work like that, my dear little swindler."

So far, she's offered me money for getting her milk, opening yogurt, and putting the dvd of her choice in the dvd player.

I haven't actually taken any of her money for doing, you know, mom stuff. But, if business doesn't pick up at any of my or Justin's jobs, I'm not above getting paid from my four year old.

I'll just pay the mortgage one quarter at a time.