Half shrilled at theKid recently.  Couldn’t rescue theKid, ‘cuz theKid was in the wrong.

Part of the problem is theKid is usually/typically/ordinarily totally awesome extraordinary, so when theKid reveals human traits, such as fallibility, selfishness, or lack of thought, Half explodes all over theKid because the expectation is that theKid knows better.

Which theKid does (know better) but nonetheless sometimes forgets.

Back story: theKid found a free online game that required add’l purchases to actually play the game … see “ripoff”  … and used Half’s online account to make said purchases, without asking permission.

theKid is usually/typically/ordinarily very good about asking for stuff and taking a “no” in equal stride with a “yes” and “maybeletmethinkaboutit.” 

However, this time theKid got trapped in the cycle of what I call “purchase creep,” when only one thing is being bought at a time but stuff adds up without noticing … suddenly that one-time $5 or $10 purchase made several times over now totals $400.

[shuddercringe]

Been a victim of purchase creep my entire life … see: debt satisfaction … and only now learning to pay attention to the pennies as well as the nickels, dimes, quarters and dollar bills.  Costco will not rule me.

BUT but, it’s great/entirely excellent that theKid learns this now, in theKid’s youth, rather than at my advanced, doting, crusted, indebted age. 

Also was able to impart some (limited? questionable? dubious?) wisdom re the meaning of value, as in the price of something doesn’t necessarily reflect its value, although it can.

Ergo, to wit: video game purchases.  Might be fun in the short term, but long term?  Were those in-game purchases really worth $400 and Half shrilling for 30 minutes? 

Tried to explain that value is basically long-term joy as opposed to short-term fun,
with joy = good dinner that fills the belly whereas fun = slurpee that freezes the brain.  theKid got that.

And the real beauty is that it all serves GOD’s purpose, even Half’s keening shrill and theKid’s resultant short-term depression. 

When theKid makes a mistake theKid is hard on theKid, probably harder than even Half and other half, takes a few days for theKid to start forgiving theKid for the mistake. 

Because there is an opportunity for teaching, for learning, and becoming better parents and better people, which is always welcome, and the ultimate reward.

Even though Half’s raised voice is like a dagger to the gut, the wound will heal and make the spirit stronger.

Or not. 

Might result in therapy due to a traumatic childhood.

Hope not.  Pray not.  {Proverbs 22:6}

Actually, methinks we (Half/other half) are doing just fine.

theKid is proof of that.