Moral fiber
A thing about Naomi is that she won’t accept money. At all.
The other day I asked her to come to the store with me. When putting things in the car, we found that there was some small item we’d missed paying for. I probably would have just shrugged about it because I was tired and didn’t want to go back in and I’m pretty sure cub foods can absorb the terrible loss. But Naomi was not having it.
Nae: that would be STEALING
Me: Fine. Here is money. You go back in and buy it.
Nae: ok.
She went back in and came back with the item, a clear conscience, and change. She gave the change to me.
Me: *giving her back the paper money, which was like $1? $2?* here, you can keep this. Since you went in for us.
Nae: *giving it back* no. I didn’t do anything to earn it.
Me: you did though. after all, I asked you to do it, and you did me a favor and I just sat here.
Nae: no. *refusing to take it*
When we got home I slipped it in her pocket.
Me: if you want you can just put it in tzedakah.
She put it back in my purse instead.
She also did this a few weeks ago with $10 the tooth fairy left under her pillow. The tooth fairy being my mom. She gave it back and wouldn’t take it.
Nae: I don’t deserve it. I didn’t do anything. all I did was lose the tooth.
Me: but you sold your tooth. Is the idea.
Nae: no.
Nae is extremely cautious about money and disapproves of spending any. If I’m going to the grocery store and I am hungry, I bring her to ensure that I do not deviate from the shopping list. But she clearly does not feel it is ok for her to take money, either, so it’s not about greed. It’s just about fiscal responsibility.