The one with the watering can

Isaac circa April 2012

I think one of the most challenging things about being a parent is trying to explain things to your child in a simplified yet accurate way, instead of brushing them off with a "when you grow up you will understand." or something similar.

We often encounter this when we have to explain to Isaac why we can't send him to every holiday camp his childcare teacher tells him about. Or why we can't buy everything he wants or likes immediately. We find that, the older he gets, these instances are getting more and more frequent. 

Last Sunday, after lunch at the coffeeshop, we had a bit of spare time and decide to shop around a bit. Window-shop, that is. We're rather controlled when it comes to buying stuff, and we hardly even go shopping a lot, but now and then, if it was convenient, we do like to look at stuff...

Isaac:"Mummy look at this!"

Me:"Oh, a watering-can."

Isaac:"Yes! We can buy this to water the plants!"

Hubbs:"No, we don't need that. You don't need a watering can to water the plants."

Me:"What plants?"

Isaac:"Our plants! In the garden!"

Hubbs:"You can use a cup, to take water, and still water the plants in the garden."

Me:"What garden?" (We stay in a hdb flat, so I was rather confused.)

Isaac:"Our garden! our huge garden! Our TREES ARE DYING! If you don't water them, they'd DIE!"

Me:"Huh? Our huge garden with plants and trees???" 

Hubbs gives me a significant look. 

Me:"OH, yes, our huge garden." (We've come to adopt the common gardens below "ours", just like how we have a nice playground, and a huge carpark (the multi-story carpark) etc.)

Isaac:"Yes! We need to water the plants in our garden. So we must buy this watering can."

Me:"Okay, we'd think about it." (escapist, me)

Hubbs:"No, we only buy things that we NEED. We don't need this to water the plants."

Isaac:"Why can't we buy?! Everytime we just see, see, see. It's soooo boring!"

Me:"Really? So boring? Okay, then we shouldn't see at all next time. No more shopping. Come, let's go."

Isaac:"No! We should BUY! Seeing is so boring! Should BUY! Buy, then more fun!"

Me:"Seeing is fun! It's more fun than buying. When you buy, you need to pay money, then you bring the thing home, at home already so many things, no place to put."

Hubbs:"Isaac, we should only buy things we NEED."

Me:"Yeah, see, you can only BUY things you NEED. But, you can SEE - EVERYTHING! Even things that you don't need, you can SEE! Isn't that great!? It's so fun!" (Hubbs sniggers in the background)

Isaac:"Arrrggghhh!!!"

Me:"Ah! Isaac, you know what?"

Isaac:"What, Mummy?"

Me:"Let's go home and make our own watering can! Let's take an empty plastic bottle, poke holes, then you have your watering can already!"

Isaac:"Yes, Mummy! That's a great idea! Now, we just need to make a handle!"
Me:"That's right! Oh wait! If we use the Meiji milk bottle, it even comes with a handle!"

Isaac:"Oh yes! Let's do that!"

Phew! And another episode has been averted. 

I wonder where they get these notions that "buying is fun" but "seeing is not fun" from. When I was a child and buying was not a real option, I certainly derived loads of joy from "seeing". Ah well, next time, we'd just make everything. At least that's an activity I like! :p