Lesson learned

Dear Little B,

I thought it was pretty exciting when Mom-Mom sent you a Halloween card with a five dollar bill just for you!  You thought it was exciting too.

I thought it was cute when you insisted on storing your money in the Lego fort in your bedroom.

I thought it would be really fun to go to Barnes & Noble and pick out a new Halloween book to buy with your five dollars.  You thought it would be fun to go to "Barnes to Noble" too.

You thought the Berenstain Bears book we picked out (with bonus stickers!) was great.

You thought it was fun to hand the check-out lady your book and your money.

You didn't think it was fun to not get the money back.

You sobbed genuine tears of sadness and anguish all the way home.  "I want to put the book back!  I want my money back!"  If either of your grandmothers had been with us, they would have emptied their wallets in your lap to try and make you feel better.

I didn't realize I needed to explain the concept of purchasing to you ahead of time.  I thought you would focus on what you gained.  Instead you focused on what you lost.  My mistake.

I'll do better next time buddy.  Also, you better get used to it.  All of us "want our money back" when we buy things and it almost never happens.

Love, Mommy

P.S.  You not napping their week isn't good for either of us.  Let's do better next week, ok?

Post-meltdown