Miss8yo: I need a new bike.
Miss8yo: I want a new bike.
Miss8yo: I need a new bike.
Miss8yo: I really need a new bike.
Me: I’ll get you one if the mortgage refinance goes through.
Miss8yo: OK – but I need a new bike.

A few weeks later:
Miss8yo: When are you going to get me a new bike?
Miss8yo: I need a new bike.
Miss8yo: I want a new bike.
Miss8yo: I need a new bike.
Miss8yo: I really need a new bike.
Me: I haven’t heard back from the bank yet, I’ll let you know as soon as I know.
Miss8yo: OK – but I need a new bike.

A couple of weeks later:
Miss8yo: I need a new bike.
Miss8yo: When can you get me a new bike?
Me: I should know any day now.

The refinance was approved. We went out and bought a new bike last weekend. Paris (Miss9yo) couldn’t think of anything she wanted because money doesn’t burn a hole in her pocket like it does in Ciel’s (that’s Miss8yo if you needed help figuring that one out!)

We went to Meijer and bought Paris a new bike helmet, a bell for her bike and 2 packs of Webkinz trading cards.

That’s when all hell broke loose.

“It’s not fair!” said Miss8yo, stomping her feet. “She got more than I did!”

I try the calm approach “yes, she did get more than you did, but what she got cost about a quarter of what your new bike cost.”

“IT’S NOT FAIR! I DON’T WANT MY BIKE!”

Me: “So, let’s go and take it back”

Miss 8yo “you can’t – I rode it back to the car so the tires are dirty.”

Me: “then you need to keep it, and stop wanting what other people have.”

Fast forward to today …..

Me: “OK, Ciel, your allowance is in the bank, did you want to buy some Webkinz trading cards when we go to Meijer?”

Miss8yo “YES!!! I really, really want to get Webkinz trading cards!”

On the way to Meijer we stop at Connecting Point, the Mac store in town. They have a Canon G2 camera for $45. Paris currently has a DisneyPix camera, which takes awful photos that you can’t download to the computer. I figure that this will be perfect for her because it’s like having a “real” camera without having the expense of a real camera. Sure, it’s bulky compared with newer models, but just the right thing for a 9 year old beginner.

We get to Meijer and Ciel picks her Webkinz trading cards and we head over to the grocery section. Of course, we bypass electronics. This sends Ciel into a fit because now she wants a new camera. “How come Paris got a new camera and I can’t have one?”

“Well, for one thing, you already have a video camera that you can use to take pictures on (she has an RCA “flip-style” video camera), and secondly you just got a new bike.”

“SO HOW COME PARIS GOT LOTS OF THINGS AND I ONLY GOT ONE STUPID BIKE?????”

“Because the “lots of things” that Paris got don’t nearly add up to what your bike cost.”

… and so it goes on. I’m really, really tired of arguing with Ciel about this – I tried to explain that if one person got a $10 item, and one person got ten $1 items, then they’re even, but I guess that just doesn’t figure in the mind of an 8 year old.

I know they grow up fast. But this is a phase that I wish she would grow out of VERY quickly!!