Nest booting, part II

[primsong]

My son was transitioned to buying his own grub recently but thus far has been chowing down on what he started off with as if there was no worry about that.  Then it finally happened:
Son: "We're out of milk."
Me: "You can buy some if you like, I don't use milk."
Son: . . . . . "I really, really want mac and cheese."
Me: "If you have some quarters you can get a box of mac and cheese for about 75 cents."
Son: . . . . . (makes a peanut butter sandwich from his remaining half jar of peanut butter for dinner)

The following morning he gathered his bag of cans to turn in, went to the store and returned excited because he'd gotten a half gallon of milk on sale.  It seems like a small thing, but to me it was a tectonic shift - it's the first time he's grocery shopped for himself, entirely on his own impetus with entirely his own money.  Those can refunds would have been used to purchase soda or pizza before - now he's excited that he has a singular box of mac-and-cheese.  This is good!

Comments

[shirebound]

I agree, it's Very Good Indeed! May it continue!

[primsong]

It almost sounds silly to post about but I am feeling so freed from having to be the momma bird fetching worms, it's a great thing.

[senmut]

Baby steps!

[primsong]

One wobbly step at a time - I remember being that mental age and making that shift myself so I'm hoping it will stick. For me it was waking up on my first day on my own at college with nothing to eat but a piece of cheese my mom left in the fridge. We all have to get there somehow.

[thisbluespirit]

Hurrah! It sounds as if it may just be working...

[primsong]

It does! Now I'm kind of wishing I'd done this sooner but I wanted to give him a fair chance to grow up without being forced to first. We'll see how it goes.

[lurkingcat]

Progress!

[blackmare]

don't even have kids, but I get why this first step is a Big Deal. What he's learning will serve him well in life.

[primsong]

Amen! I wish simple life lessons weren't so hard to administer emotionally, it gives me sympathy for weak-willed parents who have to struggle to not be mastered by their own child.

[arwen75]

Got a way to go with my son yet (he is not 6 to July) but can see I will be celebrating when he gets to this time.....

[primsong]

Every age has its own challenges, I loved the grade-school years with my kids except for the ongoing headache of homework battles, there are so many fun things you can do together that they'll either be Too Cool, Too Busy or Too Old for later on. ;-)