I caved...

Many, many years ago, when Ry and I were first married, we attended a Young Married Student Ward.  In that ward was a family that had young boys.  These young boys would often bring their weapons of choice along to church with them.  They brought swords, bowie knives, guns, rifles and semi automatic machine guns... OK, maybe not that last one, but you get the idea.  Ry and I had many discussions regarding these boys and their toys.  I INSISTED that we would never allow our children to play with weapons, especially GUNS.  Now, don't get me wrong, I am not opposed to guns.  I grew up in a house with guns.  My Dad was a hunter, he taught me gun safety, took me to the shooting range, taught me to shoot, took me on the deer hunt.  I am not afraid of guns, nor am I opposed to the 2nd amendment to the US Constitution.  I just didn't want my kids to learn to be violent by playing with guns.  My wise Brother In Law once told me that no matter what I did, my boys were GOING to play with guns, like it or not. I rolled my eyes and totally blew him off.  Ha ha, my childless mind thought, we'll see.  Turns out, he was right!  It really wasn't an issue when Peanut was little, he wasn't interested.  Now Beanie on the other hand, is a different story.  That child.... loves guns.  And he has made them out of anything he can get his hands on.  We have had guns made of bread, cookies, straws, blocks, Lego's, pencils, even my breast pump became a gun.  And so it began. 

We have recently begun trying to teach our kids money management with their allowances.  After tithing, savings, and contributions to keep the kitty, they can do what they want with the rest.  I no longer purchase "treats" or other things at the store for my kids.  If they want it, they get to save and purchase it for themselves.  If they forget their wallets when we go to the store and they see something they want, they have to wait until next time and remember their money.  We have had the occasional freak out. "Please, please, PLEASE, I will pay you back as soon as we get home!" But I am standing my ground.  I know it is probably frustrating to those behind us in line to have to wait for the kids to buy their treasures, but I think it has been a good learning experience for them. (The kids, not the people in line)

The other day, I had to go to the store and I had Beanie and the 2 little ones with me.  Beanie had his wallet with him, and was excited to get something with his money.  He had $7.00 and was disappointed that he didn't have enough $$ for the Lego set that he wanted, but had decided to save for it.  When we got to the check out there was a Nerf gun for $4.00 and he wanted that.  I asked him if we played with guns at out house and he came back with this. "Well, Mama, this is my money that I earned, and I can buy whatever I want to, you said I could, and I want this gun."  Well, indeed I did.  I told him that I would have to talk to Papa and we would decide if he could purchase a gun with his "own money" because I wasn't going to buy one for him.  When Papa got home, we asked Beanie what we did with guns, and he promptly told us that we didn't shoot it at people or pets. We told him that as long as he didn't shoot or point it at people or pets, he could purchase a Nerf gun with his own money.  The very next day, we took him back to the store and He bought it with his own money, and it has become his "most favorite toy ever".    However, he will NOT be taking it to church :)