Over the summer I thought we had prepared our daughter for the upcoming school year. Between sales and coupons she's gotten a weeks worth of new jeans, twice as many tops and more than enough new stuff to wear under this stuff. We also bought her a new lunch box and thanks to a FREE after rebate offer, the first new backpack she's had since we purchased one at the L.L. Bean outlet in 2004 (not a typo...six years & it's still in great shape.)
Everything changed when we entered the eight-grade hallway and confronted the "Joneses" (technically not the Joneses b/c homeroom is alphabetical, and these kid's all had names beginning with A-F, but you get the picture). Cliches full of thirteen-year-old girls yielding cell phones that do things I am certain my daughter's TracFone is incapable of doing! All wearing clothes that seemed superior and adorning their lockers with every cute magnet, white-board, pencil holder & storage rack available. Suddenly I wondered if we had done enough for our child.
We entered the room, lifted the overstuffed manila envelope and found a desk to occupy while completing all of the forms. When number "16" was finally called, I approached the teacher's desk where we ran through all the fees and I wrote a check just shy three digits (before the decimal). Relief suddenly ran over me as I realized that the Joneses (as well as the A-F families) can keep their clothes, cell phones & locker decor. I signed the check without any worry that there would be funds to cover it. There is no concern over what may be forthcoming on any credit card statements and we're still free to give, save and/or spend as God leads us.
As we walked towards the van, our daughter asked, "Mom, do I have any locker stuff?" We discussed where the items she brought home last June may be and I can imagine she will purchase a few magnetic luxuries this weekend. That's OK though because she earned some money babysitting this summer. She already tithed and saved, so she can spend the rest as she pleases!
