Life lessons from Legos

     Caleb is currently obsessed with building and creating with his legos.  As a Mom, it can be so tough to not spend all of my money on them, since they make him so happy, and are "creative play", so they're good for him, right?!?  Maybe it's the big brown eyes (which all of my children are conveniently equipped with) Maybe it's the sincere desire on his face - his thinking over how to ask for a new set when he spies one at a store.
     Today, we went into an outlet store in search of cheap Halloween prizes for the upcoming Trunk or Treat, and there it was.  A large, Jurassic set, which makes a dinosaur, multiple vehicles and comes with many lego people.  While it was an off brand, it was a nice set.  Once I saw it, I froze for second, positive he had already seen it as well.  Sure enough, I looked down and his eyes were locked on it.
Too polite to just ask for the set, he began, "I wonder how much that set is."
"Fifteen dollars, buddy."
"That's a lot of money, Mom, but I think maybe I have it in my bank at home.  Could we count my money and come back today if I have it?"
That sweet attitude was enough for me to want to buy it right then and there.  But, parenting is about teaching life lessons, so I agreed.  "I'll help you count all of your change, and we'll see."
     Later, sitting the floor of his room, with a pile of coins which was many dollars short of his goal, he again showed great restraint. "Mom, how can I earn enough before everyone else buys them all?  I only get five cents for putting away my rack of dishes and ten cents for sorting the socks.  Are there any special jobs I could do to earn more?"  Again, I wanted to hug him and tell him he was the best son ever, and I'd just buy it for him...but then, would I be teaching the right thing?  As agonizing as it was for me, I told him I would come up with a list.  Though it might take him a few days, I'm sure he can earn the money.
   It's times like these, that I know parenting teaches us just as much, if not more than our children.
Like the song says,"God gave us families to help us become what he wants us to be." - and today, I feel like I took a small step in the right direction.