“How about this one, Mama?”

My daughters’ eyes locked in on mine as she leafed through the racks of fabric samples hanging in a local furniture store.

“Isn’t it pretty? And it goes perfectly with the new couches you’re getting.”

It was true: the modern white and gray floral print on an avocado background fit our new space to a ‘T’, but I already had my heart set on another one with a different color scheme.

“Can we get it, Mama? Don’t you like it?”

Smoothing my hand over her hair, I lifted her chin to my eyes. “It’s beautiful, sweetie, but extra pillows are kind of expensive, and I already ordered this print.”

She shifted her gaze from my face to the length of fabric in my hands, and then turned back to the interior designer standing nearby.

“Uh, actually,” the designer started, “Many of my clients order more than one set of pillows so they can change them out throughtout the year. In fact, Jane, the print you chose would be ideal for fall and winter, whereas your daughter’s choice is a lighter fabric and would be great for spring.”

(GREAT.)

I stood in the crosshairs of our firm budget, my daughter, and this helpful salesperson.

“Ok,” I said. “How much would a pair of additional pillows be?”

Investing in Your Child’s Dreams and Talents

That day I decided that affirming my daughter’s long held and steadfast interest in art and design was worth a Benjamin Franklin.

I knew that by ordering an extra set of pillows (which I loved, incidentally) I would be sending a powerful message to her:

• You are good at this!
• You are worth the investment!
• I value your input!
• I trust your judgment!

Of course the biggest payout may be hearing me explain to our visitors:

“Oh, thank you! Yes, I love the pillows, too. Did you know my daughter actually picked those out all by herself?”

Obviously, unless your lifestyle isn’t constrained by budget concerns, we know that we can’t always give in to requests like these. The music lessons, theater productions, sports teams, and athletic equipment mount in cost, and there are legitimate times to say “no.”

But can we create a little more wiggle room  when it’s an “investment?”

How Can You Invest in Your Child’s Talents?

Perhaps you’re thinking:

Ok, my kid could care less about pillows and paint swatches. How can I affirm him?

Here are a few ways:

1. Cooking: Provide the ingredients for a new recipe that your little chef wants to try. Try to let go of the worry that your $10 protein could be destroyed. He’ll cherish the thought that you let him give it a shot!
2. Building: Find a great hammer-and-nail idea on Pinterest or YouTube , go to the hardware store together to find the parts, and hand over the tools. *some supervision required!
3. Entrepreneur: Invest in business cards for your little entrepreneur, touting her skills and her area of expertise. Vistaprint.com often times offers free cards or runs super deals. (not an affiliate link — just one that we’ve often used.)
4. Mr. Fix-It: Go to your local second-hand shop and grab an old toaster or inexpensive vacuum. Let your little repairman take it apart and attempt to put it back together again.
5. Organization: Take your child to purchase bins and baskets, and then let her revamp your linen closet or toy room! Give her labels and allow her the freedom to organize in a way that makes sense to her.

What are some easy ways that you can invest in your child’s talents?

Please scroll down to leave a comment with your idea!