I have an iPad that isn’t any older than the one I use but I had dropped it enough that I was afraid it was going to stop working so I got a new one and she uses the cracked one when she’s here. Both of the iPads are old enough that they need to be charged often. I’ve told her to watch the charge on hers and charge it as needed.
Last night, she came in and told me that her iPad was dead . . could she use mine. I told her no because I use Knit Companion on the iPad and I was knitting. I let her use my Chromebook but explained to her that I wouldn’t do it again. If she’s old enough to use the iPad, she’s old enough to watch the charge on it and make sure to plug it in before it goes dead.
I said “I will do anything for you but I don’t want to spoil you!” She said “But Granny . . you already spoiled me!” I told her that it might be time for some unspoiling. 🙂
She really does seem to be sweet, kind and considerate most of the time. I would be terribly sad if she was hateful and selfish but I don’t think she is. But . . she does have to learn to be responsible.
We’ve been working on grabbing everything you need before you leave the house – mask, jacket, anything she wants to bring. She has a habit of getting in the car and wanting something to drink. I’ve told her . . grab a bottle of water on your way out the door! I’m not stopping every time we go out and spending $1 or more for a drink. Her parents do that! I’ve told her to go to the bathroom before we leave home. If we’re making one or two stops, we shouldn’t need to use a public restroom.
Dottie Newkirk says
Sounds like a very loving and reasonable granny to me!
Dorothy Matheson says
Takes lots of reminders on your part. It takes two weeks to make a new habit. So keep up the reminders when she is with you. Good habits to get into.d
Karen Clark says
I’m still trying with my husband, its been 50 years and hr still doesn’t have it
Twyla Starr says
You are teaching her responsibility. This will make her life easier as she ages. My 24 yr old grandson has thanked me for teaching him good manners, responsibility and being a good dad. Now what happened to good money management?
Judy Laquidara says
As you might guess, I’m probably not the best to teach good money management – at least not where my hobbies are concerned but I’ve never been one to want name brand everything. I have tried to teach that you don’t spend what you don’t have and that credit card bills come due and when you are still paying for a TV you bought last year and you want the new model, it makes no sense to keep credit card debt. I do hope that hits home some day because Addie can’t understand why I say “we’ve spent enough money for now” when I still have a credit card. She sees that as no limit to what we can spend, despite my numerous sermons on that being only a convenience and it’s still MY money – I just have to pay it later but it does have to be paid. She cannot understand that or . . she chooses not to understand it.
I figure everything I teach her – she may take it to heart or she may not but she will always know that Granny tried to tell me this once and then she either listens and learns or listens and doesn’t learn. I always told Chad “You may choose not to take my advice but as a mom, I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t tell you this!”
Dot says
Those are good lessons to learn. My mother is still in my head, saying, “We’ll go home and think about it. If you still want it tomorrow, we’ll go back and get it. And if it’s gone, well then, you just weren’t meant to have it.” And there were no credit cards in those days. You saved up your money first.
Judy Laquidara says
Same here. I do remember my mom telling me as a child that she didn’t have the money to buy something I wanted and I’d say “You still have checks! I saw them in your purse!” To me, a check was an endless supply of money. At some point, a few paychecks into my first job, I learned that was NOT the case!
Nelle Coursey says
That is a good thing to teach her. She should know that when you put something on a credit card, you have to pay for it at the time the bill comes due or it will end up costing you twice or three times as much! Once she gets into math and algebra she will understand.
Linda in NE says
My kids were the same about the checks. Any time I told them I was out of money they would always point out that I still had checks. Darn kids! LOL They grew up and learned that if you write more checks than you have money in the bank for you get charged up the kazoo by the bank for overdrafts.