We were at this shop with his little friends the other day
He saw them each bought a piggy bank
He wanted one too
but I told him perhaps we could make one ourselves
one with a little more character and cost a little less
We rummaged through our ever growing collection of scraps
We gathered these
and we made a piggy bank, from our pile of recyclable junk
An Army Tank Bank
where he can drop coins from the top
and pop them out from the side
an opening with a blue cap
where his Meiji milk used to flow
And it wasn’t just any tank
It was a FV 101 Scopion from the British Army’s reconnaissance units
one used in the Gulf War
I was clueless how a reconnaissance tank should look
so he instructed me to refer to his book
He was particular about how each part should be
the position of the turret
the length of the gun
and the colour has to be like those used in Operation Desert Storm
It’s fun piecing up what he WANTS from what we HAVE
and I love to hear him goes
‘AH! I have an IDEA!’
When we were finally done
the tank probably looks different from the actual one
with his own specification and improvisation
but he was ecstatic
and he was exhilarated
He LOVES how his reconnaissance tank looks
and I LOVE what follows next
That I can now nag less
for he has incentives to do his daily things
as he was eager to earn his keep
to fill up his Army Tank Bank
And he LOVES his tank/bank so much
that he had to bring his precious creation to the airport to welcome Dad
I’m blown away by his creativity. Creativity is priceless, can’t be taught. Can do wonders with it.
Rachel : hey ailing, actually I am more the one who come out with the ‘HOWs’ he is the one giving specification on ‘WHAT’ he wants
Awwww … it’s awesome!!!
Rachel : thanks leonny !
love the creativity! you showed how we can make use of ‘useless’ stuff to create something totally useful! the ‘wheels’ are cool! just two pieces of cardboard and four toilet rolls look so realistic.
Rachel : thanks Dreamycat! u just spell out the fun behind recycling craft
cool!!! that is one piggy bank u won’t get anywhere! they do sell this piggy bank that u’re supposed to make with papier mache, in the shape of a pig lah, and for a balloon, some cardboard, paint.. they are marketing it for $16.90! u shld start marketing all your creations toO! your tank sure looks much better!
where did the idea of a tank come up from anyway?
Rachel : hey hoonie, the idea came from my husband’s frown and nag that our junk is growing out of control. HA
That is amazing beyond words. The idea of saving $ started even before you put the first dime in! Just awesome.
Rachel : hey Jayne, thanks
That’s so creative of Malcolm…it’s amazing how he can conceptualise the parts and then part it together so well. Definitely better than any other coin bank that can be bought off the shelf.
Rachel : hey Rachel, I was more of the one who came up with the HOWs and he is the one who is giving instruction and specification on how he wants the tank to look like.
Oh Cool!!!
Finally, Daddy’s home!! Daddy’s home!!!
U two are amazing!!!
I’m beginning to think your blog should enter the ‘hidden gem’ category in blog awards!! Or even ‘best parenting’! You have shown your child good eg on recycling and conserving – this value is as priceless as his tank bank.
Rachel : hey nic, thankyou for your compliment and I am really flattered and It’s my wish to remain true. http://4malmal.com/2009/03/12/staying-truth-to-first-principle/
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