Spending Between Our Needs And Wants
Blog #222
April 19, 2022
Spending between our needs and wants was sometimes a struggle for me as a mom. When I go out to buy things that are needed at home I made sure that I already knew what I really wanted to buy or there were times that I already calculated how much I need to spend on those particular items that I needed to buy. But sometimes, I can't stick to the list especially when I have kids with me.
Do you know why?
It's because there were times that I felt pity seeing them looking at other kids or people who are eating and I know deep inside they wanted to have something to eat too. I was been a child before who envied others who had food to eat while their mothers or parents are doing groceries but since we didn't have much money before, those envies were just kept inside me. That's why today, as long as I have extra money, I had to buy food for my kids even if they have to share it.
My kids are not like those others who throw tantrums when they didn't get what they want. Even those smallest things that they receive, they are happy with it already and when it comes to food, even if they only have small shares of it, they are contented and thankful that I bought it for them. I'm thankful that they also can understand if there were times that I can't buy anything for them especially when I'm on a tight budget.
Last Sunday, as we went out because I need to let my kids have their names tags to be printed, Adam kept on pointing to the ice cream shop. I told him that we didn't need to buy it but he kept on touching me until I would give in to his request. Seems he craves ice cream because even if I rejected him many times with his request, he was still very persistent in persuading me until I said yes.
After how many times of telling me about his request, I finally said yes. Upon hearing the word YES, he smiled so widely and I can see in his eyes that he was happy. When we went home, his siblings were shouting Yeheey after seeing the box of ice cream. Seeing my kids happy made me so happy too.
Name Tag Story
Last school year when a pandemic hadn't started yet and the twins were in kindergarten, their teacher requested us to have name tags for our kids. During that time, I was tight on a budget that's why I only made their name tags and they were the only two whose name tags are written while the others were all printed.
So when the face-to-face had started last Sunday, I asked the twins if their classmates are having name tags too because I wasn't informed by their teacher, only the Kindergarten teacher had told me to have a name tag for Adam. When the twins said that their classmates are having it, I decided to have their name tags printed not because I'm lazy to write their names but because I want to let them experience having what their classmates had because wearing name tags doesn't happen every year. When they reach higher grades they won't be needed to have those already so by this time that they are still required to wear them, then I will make them wear name tags that are printed.
After the owner of that school supplies store handed us the laminated name tag, Xander was emotional. I knew he had been longing to wear it but he just didn't tell me.
.Look, how happy they are wearing it. They were too excited to wear it.
Do you know what amused me most? At night after having their names printed, Xander and Adam wore their name tag even if they were sleeping. That scene when I woke up seeing them having their name tags while sleeping melted my heart. It made me emotional because their actions said it all. I know that they were really happy.
Since the pandemic, most of the time my kids are just here at home so I didn't buy new clothes for them because I think that they didn't need to have those since they aren't going out but when I was able to go out to run some errands, I happened to pass by the area where there are lots of Ukay-ukay sold that only cost 10 pesos or $0.19. I was thinking to buy one pair of pajamas and long sleeve shirts for each one of them. My purpose for buying it is to let them have new clothes to wear even if they are at home. I also want to see them happy wearing all those.
When I went home and distribute those new sets of clothes to them, the happiness that I can see on their faces was very priceless. I only bought them new clothes once in a blue moon that's why they really are happy having those.
Closing thoughts
Those things might not be our needs at that moment but only wants but I realize that it's also important to grant kids' requests sometimes or let them experience some things that I hadn't experienced before when I was a kid to let them enjoy and be happy as a kid. Letting them experience having the food that they want to eat or other things that they could enjoy like toys are already a big thing to them. It could make them feel blessed and loved by their parents.
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You are lovely Mother and I'm sure your kids would be happy they have you in their life. You not just make them happy but other kids out there too.. keep it up dearie, I pressed the subscription button because I love you😘.