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Does “Mom, I need $5” sound familiar?

Posted Aug 6, 2010 by Beth Gaddis

Updated Oct 5, 2010 at 11:56 AM

Does this sound familiar? Guest blogger Marti Nusbaum, a working mom with a teenaged daughter, is convinced MOM is synonymous with ATM.

As I sit in my car at the stoplight trying to look at everything BUT the homeless guy outside wanting money, I think to myself “Sorry, buddy.  My teenager beat you to it.”  I find myself looking longingly at people ahead of me in line at 7-11 paying with cash, wishing for my pre-teenager days when I didn’t have to use a debit card for a diet Coke.  The typical scenario is “Hey, Mom, can a have a few bucks?  Going up to Jamba Juice with Carly. Five oughta do it.”  “What happened to your babysitting money?” I ask.  “I CAN’T use THAT, Mom, I want to save it!”  Then, impressed by my daughter’s savvy financial sense, I proudly hand over a 10. Not long after the door shuts behind her, I once again picture my imaginary transformation into a cartoon lollipop. 

I am convinced that Annie thinks the ATM stands for Mom.  Of course the topic of a part-time summer job was explored after school let out.  Annie hoofed it to a couple dozen stores and fast food places.  But between obligatory summer family vacations, SAT taking, band camp and the occasional babysitting gig, there was actually only a few weeks left to squeeze in a part-time job. So what’s that, 10 three-hour shifts?  Not likely. 

So, as my husband blusters about lazy teens and doting mothers, I continue to shell out money for Taco Bell and the gas it will take to get there.  At least I can appreciate the irony of needing to scrounge for free coffee and powdered creamer when I get to work—because I gave Annie my last 4 bucks to go to Starbucks.

In my next life I think I’ll start my own business so I can hire all my friends’ teenagers over the summer.