This evening Antonio and I went school supply shopping.
Armed with a long list of items required for first graders at his school, we wheeled the shopping cart to the back-to-school area of our local megastore.
We found pencils, crayons and glue sticks easily enough.
Antonio was way more interested in the compasses and pencil sharpeners than revelling in this experience as I thought (hoped) he would.
When it came down to paper bags, pump hand sanitizer (not liquid soap!) cotton balls and other odd to me classroom things, we had to start what felt like a scavenger hunt.
An hour later, a shopping cart full of potential we headed to the cashier.

Antonio had brought along some money to help buy school supplies, which I told him to put away because I'd gladly pay them.
He asked if he had enough to buy a Matchbox car, after a quick peek at his handful of change we determined that he did.
As I loaded up the supplies on the conveyer belt, he studied the rack of cars for the perfect one, narrowing it down to two cars.
He asked if he had enough for two, and I told him if he had 9 quarters he'd have enough.
He carefully counted out 9 quarters from his handful of change, and patiently stood in line behind me, with his cars on the grocery conveyer belt.
After I paid for his school supplies, the cashier rang up his cars, he proudly handed over the entire handful of money and she picked out the amount she needed.
He got his receipt, his own bag with the cars and change back.
He was so proud, this was the first time he's ever bought something.

He talked about it the whole way home.
"Mom, I have my own bag, my receipt and change too!"
And told Dad about it,
and his friends playing outside, each and every one of them.