The girls are starting to understand the value of money. Not entirely, they still leave coins all over the house or use them as game pieces for board games or even trade dimes for pennies because they like the colour better.

Ellie especially has learned she can earn money by doing simple household chores and has asked repeatedly to receive an allowance.

Greg made the mistake of asking Ellie “I’ll pay you to clean up the family room.”

And so she did.

When he came back into the room, she stood bowing as though she had just performed in front of a packed audience.

He raved about her pattern choice for the couch pillows, the placement of puzzles over books and the balancing act of some severely overstuffed baskets.

What he neglected to acknowledge was his off-the-cuff comment about payment that Ellie had clearly taken very seriously and used as fuel to complete her work.

Greg later received this note under his office door.

Translation: I think you said something about money?