In the past few months, my husband and I have been challenged trying to explain to a toddler how credit and debit cards work.
At 31-months-old, our daughter gets eagerly (and impatiently) excited to swipe the card every time walk into a store. Resistance is almost futile. As soon as we get up to the cashier, she’d pull on our clothes and/or attempt all kinds of sweet gestures (how about a big hug while padding your back, daddy?) to get hold of the card. Certainly, her short stature doesn’t stop her from completing her mission.
Once she gets hold of the card, she’d tip-toe higher and higher until her toes are sore, trying to reach the card reader. Sometimes, the cashier couldn’t see her and wondered why we were not making a move to pay. Most of the time, we’d lift her up and help her swipe/insert the card into the card reader. To slow down the line even more, Ruby would insist she’s got the hang of it and refuse to let us help. My husband and I’d watch her missing her aim 98% of the time, until one of us finally loses it and grabs the card away from her so that we can get out of the line. This usually involves lots of crying. If you don’t know any better, the expression on Ruby’s face would typically tell a story of a child being robbed of her favorite belonging.
An interesting and amusing incident happened this past weekend as the three of us were shopping at Target. Every time we enter a store, the following conversation (or a similar version of) occurs:
Ruby: “What’re we doing here?”
Me: “We’re here to buy some things.”
Ruby: “OH, WOW!” or “OHMYGOSH!” or “I like buying things.”
Me: “Did you bring your money?”
Ruby: “Yes.”…and she proceeds to show me her empty (actual or imaginary) pocket(s)…follows with a “oops” smile on her face as she usually doesn’t carry any money with her.
The three of us were walking around the store. Per her usual, Ruby took the liberty to put all kinds of items into the cart without asking for permission. We typically spend half of our shopping time putting unneeded items back in their respective places.
As we were walking toward the cashier registers, Ruby proudly and loudly announced that she was going to pay for the items. Before I had the chance to remind her that she didn’t bring any money with her, she flashed an unloaded gift card (that she somehow managed to get hold of somewhere in the store while my husband and I were not paying attention) with a huge smile on her face.
It took me several seconds to register what just happened. My husband didn’t exactly know what was going on. The whole conversation was in Mandarin. By the time I put all the pieces together (she associated the unloaded gift card with the credit/debit cards my husband and I use to pay at the register—of course she wasn’t aware that the unloaded gift card has no monetary value as it was), I was very amused by this cutie who standing beside me. I laughed so hard and loud that my stomach hurt. How could she possibly make such an association? When did this association form in her head?
The logical part of me wanted to immediately correct my daughter and give her a long lecture on gift/credit/debit cards. And the scientist in me was curious and wanted to immediately research how the developmental processes occurred.
Yet, at that moment, the mother in me just knelt down, wrapped my daughter around my arms and kissed her forehead hard and long. I had no idea my daughter was capable of such smart and creative thinking. Her whole being in my arms just melted my heart. Her imagination and innocence were surprising, refreshing and amusing all at the same time. Tears of joy and love flooded down my face. I didn’t care I was in a public place.
It’s moments like this that I want to savor forever; it’s moments like this that I thank my daughter each day for giving me a chance to be her mother. The lesson and research can wait.
I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.