the yo-yo

A few weeks ago the boys and I visited our favorite toy store downtown to play and read books.  While we were there, Brooks found a yo-yo that he decided he really wanted.  So I suggested that since his birthday was coming up, that he could ask for one for his birthday.  Then he says to me, "Mom, I want to earn some money and save up to buy a yo-yo."

Well, I guess I don't want to discourage that!  So we set up a "yo-yo" jar at home and he started asking for chores to do.  He's worked so hard for the last few weeks folding & putting away laundry, hanging up diapers on the line, setting the table, cleaning up his brother's giant toy mess in the living room (yes, that is worth paying Brooks $.50 to do) and other miscellaneous jobs around the house to earn the $5.00 he needed to buy a yo-yo.

A few days ago, he earned the last dollar he needed and today we headed back to the toy store.  He was so proud carrying in his jar filled with coins and dollars.  He told the owner, Nancy, and everyone else who would listen all about how he saved his money to buy that yo-yo.  He picked out a green one (his favorite color) and then counted out his dollars to pay for it.  She put it in a bag for him and he happily carried his green yo-yo all the way home.

It's such a small toy and he very easily could have just asked me to buy it for him, or even asked for it for his birthday.  But I was so proud of him for wanting to earn the money himself and then having the diligence to follow through on it!

 Now, for the next challenge .... figuring out how to actually use the yo-yo.