 
Yep, it's that little round table! I received it 30 years ago as a premium for buying something (can't remember now what I purchased now) before my children were born. My Hubby remarked that it just wasn't me - I was into Americana and primitive furniture styles when we were first married.
I kept the little table anyway. We used to put our odd change in the tiny little drawer after work each day. As we had our children, they grew and went to elementary school. As luck would have it, all three of my younguns were excellent math students - except for the making of change.
So, I decided that the little table with the change drawer would be for the kids to get out the monies necessary for the Ice Cream Man who frequented the neighborhood each hot summer afternoon. The catch was that each child had to count out his/her change before going to the curb to place their individual orders. Soon they were able to count the change like financiers!
I took it a step further - when at a store I'd purposefully have 'bills' to give to the cashier when the kids were with me. IF they could tell me the change I'd receive back from the overage of a purchase, they could have it. (An item costs $3.78 with tax, I give the cashier a five dollar bill, and whoever could tell me $1.22 cents was the change would receive their portion of the overage!) The catch was they had to express the amount before the cashier would tell me the total and hand back the change.
Recently, I went to take the little table to the flea market booth I manage in my spare time. When my middle son caught wind of my aim, he requested, "Please hang onto the Ice Cream Table for me. When I get settled into a house, I'd love to have it for the fond memories it holds for me. I'd love for my kids to learn the lessons I learned from the Ice Cream Table." Little did I know that my children had dubbed the thing, our ice cream table!
When Cameron's brother and sister saw the ice cream table again (on separate occasions), each asked for it. They both have children; to date, Cameron does not. I have explained my reasoning for saving the little table for him. But, until then, my granddaughters will be able to experience the lessons of the Ice Cream Table this summer. (Two of them start kindergarten this fall.) And the little table now has new life as it is adorned with pictures of those who will give it new purpose!
Labels: Children, WFMW |
