So, the time came when I felt he would be receptive to the conversation and this is how it went:
Me (taking a deep breath): “Hey, I think we’re going to start doing something different with allowance next month. I think it will be fun and you’ll really enjoy it.”
Him (suddenly stock still and avoiding eye contact, as if aware he had been spotted by a predator that was ready to pounce at his slightest move): “Uhhh, huhhh ...”
Me (putting out my hook): “Well, I was thinking that instead of paying your allowance at the end of each month, I would pay your allowance weekly.”
Him (visibly thinking through that he would have a money each week): “Yeah?”
Me: “And, I thought I would give you guys each three envelopes. One would be labeled spending. This would be the envelope you could buy your toys and stuff with. Then we could have one for saving and you could put a picture of that new Wii game on it and put some money in there to save and when you had enough you could buy it. And then we’d have one for giving.”
(He is now silently contemplating what I’ve just said, so I press on.)
Me: “You know the Bible teaches us to give a tithe. Tithe means 10 or 10 percent of our income. And I think it’s also a very good idea to save at least that much. Your Dad and I have not always done this and still struggle to do it. We would have been so much better off if we had started this sooner.”
Him (Now suspicious): “How much of my allowance is 10 percent?”
Me: “Two dollars per month”
(I am now holding my breath. Forget breathing deeply, I’ve just stopped all together.)
Him: “Do I have to give it to the Church?”
(OK, I wasn’t expecting this ... think, think, think.)
Me: “No, I don’t think so. But it does need to be a charity that Mom and Dad approve of.”
