Penny Pinching
The other day, Gabriel found a penny on the street in the parking lot. He was happy and thought it was pretty cool.
We got to the car. While I was unloading Hannah and her equipment, Gabriel was wandering inside the van. He tried to help with bag placement.
Well, in the middle of the tussle, he lost the penny in the car and started frantically searching for it. It was cold out and I was trying to get him seatbelted in.
I finally used the Stern Mommy Voice and got him to sit down. Meanwhile, he was going on and on about the penny. I reminded him that there are more important things as I was draping the seatbelt across him. In my mind, I was also thinking about the ride home and how my little drama king would go on and on about the penny. So I came up with a solution that would give me a peaceful ride home. All it would cost me was a penny.
When I’m the main caregiver with both children out and about, I don’t like to use a purse. It becomes another thing to worry about. So I wear Old Navy men’s cargo pants. I’ve nicknamed them Mommy Pants. They have nice sized pockets. I can carry my wallet, cellphone, keys and a small camera nicely sorted about my person. (I usually wear it with a pretty girly shirt)
So here is what I did. I pretended to look for his penny with my right hand while my left hand pulled my wallet out. Then I bent over like I found something and pulled the grubbiest penny I could find out of my wallet. Then I said, "Hmmm, I’ve found a penny." Meanwhile, I re-pocketed my wallet as Gabriel gushed at my cleverness. "That must be my penny!"
My father in-law, who was driving, smiled and exchanged winks with me. He also chuckled, "Gabriel, you have no idea how smart your Mommy is."
--Mom
