dolla dolla bill...

This post has a prolouge.  A childhood memory.  Something that needs to be explained so you can truly appreciate the conversation I recenly had with my own children.

When I was about six my Aunt gave me a one dollar bill.  Such a fine gift for a little girl!  Now, I had recently learned that there are a "hundred pennies in every dollar".  So what's even better that a paper dollar?  That's right, one hundred shiny pennies!  I took that paper dollar, shook it really well so that all the pennies would settle down at the bottom (like a Kool-aid packet) and cut the top off.  Only when I turned it over nothing came out.  Oh, and I got into a lot of trouble.

So now back to me and my two kids.  We're all sitting in the study and Sam is holding a dollar bill.  He very carefully (and deliberately) tears it in half.
Richard : Sam!  what did you do that for?
Sam: surprised silence
Hannah: silent anticipation
Sarah: (calmly, trying to avoid drama) Sam, why did you tear that money?
Sam: I don't know.  (realizing that wasn't good enough)  I didn't know if it would tear or not.  but it does.
Sarah:  You're really surprised that it tore, aren't you?  Did you know that once when I was a kid...(story from above)
Richard: laughing at his ridiculous wife
Hannah: staring at her ridiculous mom
Sam: glad no one is yelling at him
Hannah: Really mom?  you did that?
Sarah:  Yeah!  but it makes sense doesn't it?  I mean there are a hundred pennies...
Hannah: Mom.  That's silly.
Richard: still laughing


Richard told me later that his favorite part was watching me trying to defend my six-year old self to my six- year old daughter.