Learn to control money but do not allow it to control you

Firewalker

Thank you SW and NL - yes, we have a birthday boy. He is 10 today and you should have seen his face when he saw his birthday present. Little Boy wanted an iPod Touch for sometime now - this is the first thing he ever had a craving longing for; the kind of longing I remember from when I was a kid. And, of course, being his mothers son the longing was for a gadget.

We thought about it long and hard. On the one hand we were againsts - I think that he is too young and his Dad thinks that everything Apple is the computing Devil. But then again - children today grow up with this 'toys' and if anything they can be used as educational tool. And naturally there is the matter of money - it is an expensive thing. Here two things happened - I promised LB that if my royalties for this year are £800 I'll get him an iPod. There was not a chance in hell that this will happen...and then I got another, unexpected payment which combined with the royalties was almost exactly £800. On top of than LB's auntie gave me £40 to buy him a present. Too many messages, I though...

So here we are - a happy Little Boy, happy parents and a mum immersed in memories.

Firewalker

Little_bit_dizzy

Firewalker wrote: »

He did it – little boy not only finished the race but he actually run it quite fast. This is turning out to be a lovely day. Feel so proud of little boy and not only because of his running, and his willingness to go through the pain of pushing hard.

But let me tell you the story. Boys are usually competitive – thinking about it, girls are competitive as well. When we arrived at the race venue we met with other children and parents we knew. One of the boys, a friend little boy met when they were both about three weeks old, said with great conviction:

‘I am going for the win.’
‘What do you mean?’ – I said.
‘I am going to win this one.’ – he replied.

Little boy was standing quietly on the side – he had told me several days ago that he will never win a race. Now, there are different ways to deal with this one. On the one hand, you could say ‘But of course you will do darling’ which sounds encouraging but can have really devastating effect – if they don’t they feel bad because they have betrayed your trust as well. On the other, you could agree with them – in that case they stop having expectations of themselves as well. I went for explaining that every time one finishes a race one wins. But I did not have any idea whether it has taken or not.

So we were standing there, friend saying he will win, little boy keeping quiet and looking subdued, mothers going into you win anyway routine. And then the race started. We moved to the finish – shortly after little boy appeared looking serious and sprinting to the finish line. A minute after, friend finished as well.

They got their goody bags and we were hanging around when little boy looked at his friend, smiled and said: ‘We all won.’

And I could have burst with pride – this is my boy.

Firewalker

Found your diary this morning, quite by accident and I am now hooked. Like many have said: You write with a wonderful style. I'm only on page 7 or 8 but this is as good as any book in Waterstones.

I had to comment on the above post though. You have an kind, generous and amazingly mature son. He brought a tear to my eye when I read your post.

It's from May last year mind you, he may have changed! I'm back off to Page 7. I do hope you are still writing when I eventually catch up.

Diz

savingwannabe

I am laughing this is what hooked me in too!

claudiac_2

Hello Firewalker, I am absolutely hooked on your writing. First found you on Memory Girl's threads ( which also had me hooked, still am!), and some of the things you wrote on there made me seek out your own story thread. I have only got to page 27, and already I have noted 10 books to read( no problem, I love books), and have kept a copy of one of the poems contributed by one of your fellow followers ( desiderata) which I had read a long time ago, but which still sends shivers down my spine when reading. I would just like to say thank you to you and the others who write in your thread. I am inspired, and I am learning, thinking and deciding exactly what is it I want in life. I am some way into reading The Secret, and I am finding it quite thought provoking. My problem seems to be not enough time for all of the reading and catching up on threads, but I am working on making my time work better for me - it's a slow process in my case! I hope I may contribute in some small way once I have caught up with your thread.

Aesop

I haven't managed to read your whole diary and not sure why I started, I did like your user name and your style of writing. Reading that ..... my heart welled! that is how I want DS brought up!

Firewalker

Thank you, guys; thank you for giving me strength to make a run for what I really would love doing – writing. And thank you for quoting the post about my wise Little Boy. Today he is ten and his father and I almost completely spoiled it; the way only ‘adults’ can mess things up.

After the excitement of the morning when LB received his iPod the day was pretty much spent in setting this up. Is any of it straight forward? Is it heck! I decided to get his iPod through my iTunes; then OH said LB is upset because he wants his own account; then there was no obvious way to de-register it; then it turned out he cannot have his own account – not old enough; etc. But to top it all the two of us had an argument involving me saying ‘don’t play with the ball in the sitting room’ and him looking me in the eye and throwing the ball.

Which got me so mad that I did tell him off even though it is his birthday – a birthday can not be an excuse for bad behaviour. OH decided that I was wrong; and the whole thing escalated so that fifteen minutes later I was fuming and swearing under my breath like someone with coprolalia, OH was jumping up and down saying that he does not want to go out and Little Boy was crying his heart out claiming that he is leaving home. And that he would rather live on the streets than with us. Then I read Little bit dizzy’s post.

And I looked at him, at us and thought that in this case the ones who are being childish is again us, the two people who are supposed to get him through the pain and suffering of growing up (hopefully helping him to keep some of the Little Boy whose religion is ‘happy’). I also remembered that 10 years ago in the hospital, I looked at the tiny creature in my arms and promised him three things: a) that I will take him to his town (there is a town with his name); b) that he will thrive on love; and c) that I’ll make sure he is alright. Today I broke two of these.

We went out, had a wonderful meal and he went to bed calm, happy and excited about the world waiting for him. I made another promise: never to forget the original three.

Good night, sleep well and have a productive week.

Firewalker

savingwannabe

Oh Firewalker i am talking to Steve on the phone and laughing. What a fabulous description bet he will forget everything other than the fab present he was bought and you have made me laugh. I dont know if i should but it is such a happy family scene that you have described. The happy families in adverts dont have the fun that real families do dont measure yourself up against those. Trust me, you have made me smile. Another fab day over, another happy memory. Thank you so much for sharing them with us, bless you.

elantan

sounds to me that it was more than just your son that grew up a little bit today firewalker ... and it sounds like he is a really really lovely boy that has two wonderful parents to thank for a large portion of that

williamD1964

Have been so wrapped up in my own world I have forgotten my friends and their diaries. Young lady, you must be proud of your child. I know I would be. I hope to teach my sons and daughter lessons that will stay with them for life.

thriftyscotslass

Ohh Firewalker - you have made me laugh and cry all within one post. What a talented writer and wonderful Mum you are. Hugs and Happy Birthday (for yesterday) to little boy.

PS MrFW is talking Mr Thrifty's language - anything Apple is the devil's spawn in our house too