Milk Money

Lillian and Sylvia both started 'big girl school' this week, Lillian to Kindergarten and Sylvia to a 'real' preschool in a classroom setting (versus her previous at-home daycare). Part of the transition is dealing with milk money, as the girls now have to pay 50 cents at lunch to get their coveted carton of chocolate milk.

The first day of school, we gave Lillian a dollar to buy her 50-cent milk. After being picked-up that afternoon, she blurted, "Mommy, I gave them my money and they gave me money BACK! It was like being at a REAL restaurant!"

You know, for most of us, it's been too long and thus it's all too easy to take for granted, but can you remember just how AMAZING it once was to have a dollar or even a quarter in your hand (much less receiving from an adult actual CHANGE)? It just used to feel so special, and empowering, and amazing... plus your eyes pretty much bugged out of your head as you immediately started to wonder just how many Milk Duds, Bubble Yum, or swedish fish you could buy.

Now Sylvia, all of 3 years old, it turns out didn't have to pay to get her milk, because she's still in preschool. We didn't know that so gave her 50-cents anyway. When she came home, Sally was telling me, in front of Sylvia, that she didn't have to pay for her milk. Sylvia piped in with, "Yup, LUCKY ME!" Sally and I laughed and then gave each other that 'where the hell did she get that one?' look (which we do ALOT).