Isabella yearned for her daughter Ana to understand the difference between wants and needs.
“You’ve got to understand Ana that the world does not evolve around you and your teenage life!”
“Mom! All of this drama because I needed money to buy a new CD?”
“No Ana, there you go again. You “want” that new cd. You don’t “need” it.”
Ana began walking around agitated circles in the kitchen as her mother sat calmly.
“Mom, I’m not stupid! Ok I want the cd but what I need is a new dress for next weeks dance.”
No Ana, you don’t “need” a new dress. You “want” a new dress.”
“But Mom everyone has already seen me in all of my other dresses!”
“Ana there are people in the world who really need things like food, shelter and medicine. It is not good to think of a dress is an equivalent need. Ana you “want” a dress, you don’t “need” a dress.”
“Ahhhhhhh! Mom you don’t understand! You just don’t get it!
“No Ana, you are the one not understanding. Knowing the difference between wants and needs is very important to becoming a mature adult.”
“Well I heard you tell dad the other day that you needed him to spend less time at the office and more time at home.”
“Yes Ana I did say that.”
“Well mom I think you “want” dad to spend less time at the office and more time at home. You don’t “need” dad here at home more!”
“Ana I “need” your father to spend more time here at home with our family and less time at the office.”
“No you don’t Mom! We have food; we have shelter and medicine if we need it! So according to you everything else is a “want.”
“You will understand when you are older Ana, but for right now you just have to understand that saying you “need” everything is not good.”
“I don’t say I “need” everything!”
“That’s not the point Ana.”
“Mom you’re not making any points your just tell me that your “needs” are more important than my “needs”.”
“Ana go to your room and we will discuss this later!”
Ana storms out of the kitchen, down the hall, through the living room and up the stairs. As she is ascending the stairs, she passes her father who is on his way down. They stop, embrace at the midway point of the stairs.
“Good morning Daddy.”
“Good morning baby.”
He kisses her on the forehead.
“I love you Daddy.”
“I love you to baby.”
He hugs his daughter a little tighter.
“Daddy?”
“Yes baby.”
“I really need a new dress for next weeks dance.”
“Oh ok baby.”
Her father reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a wallet, handing her a wad of cash.
“Enjoy your shopping baby.”
“I will daddy.”
Ana bounds down the steps and runs out of the front door to head to the mall just as her father enters the kitchen.
The End
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