Kiera has always been good with numbers. She got that from her Dad. Lately, though, she has really begun to show her math skills.
Randomly, she will ask what the sum of two numbers equals. Before we answer, we ask her if she knows and usually she will tell us the correct answer.
At school, they have been working with currency. Their teacher has been teaching them the value of the penny, nickel, dime, quarter, dollar and so on.
It is a fun journey, watching as she learns the value of money. Several weeks ago, Kiera asked if we could go to the store and buy a toy.
“Are you going to buy it with your money?” I asked.
“Yes.” She stated emphatically and ran to her room to gather her money.
Once at the store, we began to look over the prices of the toys. She opened her purse and pulled out four – one-dollar bills. “Let me count my money.” She said as she reached in to pull out a handful of change.
Not wanting to have to sit in the store floor and count coins, I replied, “I tell you what baby. How about this time you find your toy and give me the money that you brought? I will pay for the extra that you don’t have. Deal?”
Kiera hesitated for a brief moment before agreeing to my terms. She handed over her dollar bills and I stuffed them into my wallet.
A few moments later, she had picked a toy and we were headed to the check out. As the cashier scanned the toy, Kiera looked at me perplexed. “Where’s my change?” She asked.
“You don’t get any change.” I explained. “Remember? You didn’t bring enough money, so I am paying for the rest.”
Squinting her eyes, she processed my response, then said, “But, where’s my change?”
I’m pretty sure in a few years I will be repeating that phrase back to her.
Monday afternoon, I pulled up to daycare to pick up Kiera. I quickly grabbed cash out of my wallet to pay daycare and headed inside.
“Hey, baby!” I said to her as I handed a $100 to one of her daycare workers. Kiera watched the hand off and jerked her head to the side. “Mom!” She hissed.
I followed her to her cubby. “What’s wrong?” I asked.
“You gave her a 100 bill!” She exclaimed in a loud whisper.
“Yes.” I answered. “I have to pay them.”
“But, why did you give them a 100 bill?” She asked before she frowned at me as if I had just taken 100 dollars and lit it on fire.
We headed for the door as I tried to explain. “Honey. I have to pay them.”
“Well. Where did you get a 100 bill?” She asked, cutting her judging eyes to me.
“I took it out of the bank.” I responded, not really sure what the appropriate response needed to be.
Kiera climbed into back seat of the truck and removed her backpack. “I wish I had a 100 bill.” She grumbled.
I chuckled quietly, before saying, “Me too.”
Checking to make sure she was clear of the door, I began to close it, but not before she turned, squinted her eyes up at me and said, “Next time you have a 100 bill, I want it.”
I didn’t even bother to respond as I closed the door. I didn’t want to burst her bubble and tell her 100 bills are pretty scarce in Mommy’s purse.
Rowonna McNeely
Graphic Designer - Mommy to Kiera
Rowonna McNeely works with her husband, Aaron, at Willie’s T’s in the Art Department, regularly volunteers in the community, and has her hands full with her daughter, Kiera, along with two dogs and one cat.
Rowonna is a graduate of May High School (Go Tigers!) and grew up on a dairy farm. She enjoys reading, creating, swimming, and planning events. She’s also a bit of a klutz.
