“Mom, you should be proud of yourself.” Those are the words that my 5 year old uttered to me in the mist of me explaining finances to him.
At that very moment, I began to wonder, if I was talking to a child or an adult because of how he was able to articulate most of what I was saying to him. No, it was not a harsh conversation about our financial limitations and inability to spend frivolously, but more on the lines of, you do not always buy what you want.
No matter who you are, trying to explain the value of saving money to a child can be a tricky subject; especially, when they really want that toy in Walmart.
Children do not often see the value in a dollar because they do not always have to work for the things that they receive. However, one thing is for sure, they are always watching and always listening, even when we think that they are not. Oftentimes as parents, we do not give ourselves enough credit for the sacrifices that we make for our children. Yet, one thing is for sure, they notice it, even when they do not speak it.
My grandmother used to say, “Kids see everything”, but I did not realize how much he paid attention until he gave me a speech on me being proud of myself. As much as I uplift and build up the people around me because it makes me happy to see other people smile, I never expected him to start to mimic me in that form. There is nothing more powerful, than a motivational speech from a 5 year old that will leave you at a loss for words.
How a young boy flipped the script and made me take a deep look at myself in the mirror, is still a mystery. Nevertheless, I will pass the lesson on to you. No matter how small the victory is, be proud of the things you have accomplished because each small step is leading you to an even greater victory.
(Lacresha Dowdy is a graduate of Clinton High School, Piedmont Technical College, and Claflin University in Orangeburg. Since December, 2009, she has been the City of Clinton, Municipal Court, clerk of court.)
