About treasures

Patricija doesn’t value money. To her, it’s… just paper and metal that doesn’t fit into her pink flamingo wallet, and when she receives yet another coin as a gift, she usually sighs:
“And how am I supposed to fit another one in when there’s barely any room left in my wallet….”

Once, she offered the money she received to her brother. His eyes lit up like Mister Ego’s eyes in the dark, and the offer was politely acknowledged:
“If you don’t need it, I’d be happy to…”

And the “award” was made. To someone familiar. To Daminykas.

Lately, he’s been very curious about money. He wants to know what things cost, how much the aunt sends me from work, how much grandma’s pension is. He asks about taxes, loans, the cost of a house, why company money isn’t the same as personal money, and why some people don’t work but still get paid by the government.

I patiently answer his questions. I want him to understand the value of money. I explain how many responsibilities adults have that require money to manage successfully:
Home, food, school, clothes, shoes, hobbies, entertainment, electricity, gas, internet, trash collection…

Do raises his eyes:
“Even that costs money?” he asks, raising his eyebrows.

I nod, and he delivers the “final” question:
“So, Mom, are we rich or not?”

I smile:
“What do you think?” I ask, genuinely curious about his answer.

After a moment of thought, he sighs:
“If you say so much has to go to everything every month, it doesn’t look like much is left….”

Then he redirects the question to me:
“And what about you, Mom, what do you think?”

“I feel very rich,” I answer.

Do perks up, then quickly adds:
“Because I’ve got treasures you couldn’t buy even with all the money in the world.”

I hug all my “golden nuggets,” piled together on the bed for our evening chat after an intense day of the new school year.

And in my mind, I add:
Money shouldn’t be counted in coins in pockets,
Or cards in wallets,
Or zeros in bank accounts.
It should be counted in ARMSFULS.
Arms that, over the years, barely hold all the treasures that make us truly happy.

Friday.
Gather your treasures in your arms.
And for a moment, think about just how incredibly rich we really are.

Mua,
V.