During our Christmas travels we somehow ended up in a Perkins for dinner on New Year's Eve. As we walked in Charlotte saw the Claw Game by the door. Its allure of stuffed toys immediately drew her attention and she wanted nothing more than to play. You know the Claw Game, the complete waste of money that NO ONE I even know has ever won, ever. So she turned to her daddy with her big blue eyes. He decided that this was the perfect time for a life lesson in risk/reward management. He carefully explained how the game worked, how difficult it was for the claw to pick up any toy and about risk. How they make it look easy and then take your money and you have nothing. Next he showed her the gum ball machine across from it and explained how if you put your money in the gum ball machine you would always get something. Fully confident that he had explained the evils and perils of gambling and pretty confident that she would either:
1. listen to her father and enjoy the bubblegum
2. go for the toy, end up with nothing and learn a valuable life lesson
He gave her the quarter, told her to choose and we stood back to watch...
She discovered a 3rd option, and presumably a life of endless gambling with this experience embedded deep into her subconscious.... and an introduction to South Park, to boot. Parenting is hard.
1. listen to her father and enjoy the bubblegum
2. go for the toy, end up with nothing and learn a valuable life lesson
He gave her the quarter, told her to choose and we stood back to watch...
She discovered a 3rd option, and presumably a life of endless gambling with this experience embedded deep into her subconscious.... and an introduction to South Park, to boot. Parenting is hard.
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