– Mom, we are poor! I don’t have my own room or a new bag!” – my daughter said after her friend’s birthday.
I have to raise a first-grader and a son who goes to kindergarten.
If earlier the girl was happy with the doll I made for her, now her outlook has changed dramatically. This toy no longer caused her delight and admiration. Now she understood that her mother sewed her doll because of poverty. There was nothing to brag about to her friends anymore. She would never have a lush dress for the first bell, a fancy backpack or a set of colored pens.
I remembered the time when the teacher told me off for my son’s unacceptable behavior. That day, as usual, I took him to kindergarten. One boy did not want to share his toy with him and called my son “poor”. This angered him, so he began to sort things out on his own. In the evening I had an educational conversation with the children and tried to explain that such nonsense should not be reacted to.
When my daughter returned from her friend’s birthday party, she told me about her expensive gifts, lavish celebration, beautiful room and expensive repairs. It was then that she realized how poorly we live.
Of course, I tried to explain to my daughter that true wealth is not in material things. We should be grateful for what each other has. This is a great value. And everything else will also work out later, because I have another part-time job.
The next day my daughter and I went to the store where she tried on the dress and shoes she wanted. In this outfit she looked like a real princess. However, the girl refused to buy these things, although she really wanted to. I did not insist and decided to discuss it at home.
What a surprise awaited me when my daughter offered to buy a fire engine for her brother for this money. This thought warmed her soul and gave her indescribable joy. And I was quietly happy that I was able to bring up my daughter correctly.
Our strength is in unity and love for each other. Family is what has real value.
And what is wealth for you?
