<p><a href=“Berurah%20–%20please%20tell%20me%20how%20to%20get%20a%20daughter%20like%20your%20oldest!!!%20She%20sounds%20like%20an%20absolute%20treasure”>quote</a>
[/quote]
calmom~</p>
<p>If I knew the “recipe” or even thought that I’d had anything directly to do with the way she has turned out, I’d most happily pass it on—and for THAT matter, I’d have made sure that all of the others got the same thing! And I very much thank you for your kind words about my daughter.</p>
<p>The sort of weird thing is that she was probably my most challenging toddler…defiant, headstrong, and generally a pain in the rear. But then, somehow, miraculously, she grew into this absolutely phenomenal young girl.</p>
<p>This story was quintessential D—when she was in first grade (7 years old), she went with a friend to go roller skating. The friend’s mom was a good friend of mine, so when she came to pick D up and I had only a five dollar bill or a twenty, she took the five and said, “It’ll even out later.” At the skating rink, they had this little contest that my D ended up winning, and the prize was a free drink. When my friend said to my D, “Hey, <strong><em>, do yo want to go and get your drink now?", my daughter, without missing a beat said, "Oh NO, Mrs. </em></strong>__! My mother would be SO disappointed in me if I asked you to do any more for me than you already have!” My friend said that her jaw just dropped…(And of course I had NEVER told D such a thing to begin with!!)</p>
<p>Now, my oldest D is NOT my oldest child. My Dukie is my oldest, and he, too, is exceedingly financially responsible…I put a minimal amount of money in an account at Duke, and I’ve yet to have to replenish it. He is VERY considerate in terms of realizing what we can and cannot do financially, and he has always demonstrated incredible gratitude for all that has been given him.</p>
<p>My second daughter (child #3) is the one who is least frugal and the most careless with money. But, even she is not bad by most standards.</p>
<p>My youngest daughter (almost 11) shows signs of being like her oldest sis, so we’ll see…when it was my birthday 10 days ago, she took her own little stash of quarters to Wal-Mart and bought me a bee-you-tee-ful ring with my birthstone color. She is a real dolly. </p>
<p>So, they really ARE very different, but all special in their own ways. </p>
<p>I’ll be interested to see how my “littles” turn out…I still have a 12-year-old, an almost 11-year-old, and an almost 8-year-old.</p>
<p>To answer your other question, my younger brother, the youngest in our family is VERY responsible with money and exceedingly frugal, so it CAN happen that way, I guess. And I DO think you are right when you say this:
</p>
<p>~berurah</p>