Reality check

Putting my daughter on an allowance was supposed to stop me from having to buy stuff for her. Reality check. In the store, she would promise to pay after she took the cash from her savings account. Afterwards the deal was forgotten.
Last year I declared she had to get a checking account to eliminate the problem. She was thrilled. At 14, she was determined to get a permit to drive and now she would have her own checking account as well.
I took her to the bank to apply for the checking account. She thought she would open the account without me.
Reality check. People under 16 can have a free checking account with a guardian’s signature on the account. As I signed my name, I promised her I would never pay any of the penalties accrued if she overdrew it.
I took her to take the written test to learn how to drive. She passed the test the first time. In one month, she would have her own picture ID.
She decided to take her new checks for a test drive.
Reality check. Without numbers and some kind of identification, the clerk could not accept her checks. I let her write me a check to pay for the one I wrote for her.
When her box of numbered checks arrived, she lacked a week or so to be eligible to take the road test and get a driver’s license with a picture ID. She did not want to wait. She wanted to use her new purchasing power. At the store, she loaded her buggy and headed for the check out.
Reality check. The checks were fine, but she still had no personal identification. I pulled out my driver’s license and credit cards and assured them my name was on her account. They took the check.
As soon as the month of practice driving was over, she took the road test and rushed us over to the revenue office. She wanted one of those unique driver’s license pictures.
N more freeloading off mom and dad until she could withdraw from the savings account. No more promises to pay after she got her allowance. No more waiting.
She went with her dad to take a brother to college. They stopped at a shopping center where out of town checks were accepted.
The world’s newest adult shopper saw a necklace at a cute boutique. Had to have it. The checkbook was ripe for harvesting.
As the clerk rang up her bill, she pulled out her checkbook and wrote a check for the full amount. The clerk looked at my sweet young thing. Looked at the check. “Do you have identification?”
With an adult finesse, the state’s newest driver took out her freshly minted license with picture. The clerk studied it, “I didn’t know 14-year-old could get a license.”
Reality check. The state does license 14 year-olds and the store only required that before accepting checks. Shrugging her shoulders the clerk initiated the check. In one more way, my daughter no longer needed mom and dad to survive.
I suppose I should cry.
Reality check. I can hardly wait until she gets a job and no longer gets an allowance.