The other day, I was taking Kyle to school and I handed him the latest Scholastic book order form from school. I told him to pick out three books, and we'd buy them for him.
He was naming a whole bunch of books he wanted, way more than three, and I reminded him he needed to pick just three.
"Ohhhhh, but I want all the books."
"I wish we could buy you all those books! We can only afford three, though."
I said it quickly, without really thinking, to be honest. I wanted him to choose, but it was also true. I wish we could buy a hundred books but, you know, THE ANNOYING MORTGAGE AND ALL. (The boy also refuses to update his resume and get himself a job. Freeloader.)
He got quiet for a few minutes and I assumed he was scanning the pages again to decide which three he wanted.
"I just need two books, Mommy. You can save the rest of the money."
He's going to become a surly teenager one day, only talking to me to request another $20, so I wanted to remember this moment. I wanted to remember when I thought to myself, "Ohhh, kid. Freeload as long as you want. In fact, let's save that money to get you a pony."