前几天儿子学校开始了一年一度的给food bank募捐，这些募捐来的食品是给穷人家的。为培养孩子的同情心又不让家庭有困难的家长为难，学校是不要求每个孩子捐多少，但班级之间有比赛，看那个班募捐得多一些。对这个老爸老妈一向是支持的。但让孩子自己从自己的口袋里掏钱和找父母要钱，对孩子的影响还是不一样的。往年都是孩子自己从自己挣的“奖金”里拿出来一两块钱，其余的大部分是老爸老妈出。今年老爸提出不同的做法：儿子出多少，老爸老妈就match。儿子数着自己的钱，权衡一下，自己十块，老爸老妈再掏十块。
看着自己的钱流出去，总是会心痛的。儿子向老爸老妈提出零花钱的问题，说班上有同学这次捐献的钱就是自己的allowance。想想人家也十一岁了，到了讨论零花钱的年龄。尤其是儿子这些年从老爸这里“挣”了不少奖金，有自己的银行户头，也知道存钱上大学的理念。所以，老爸老妈对儿子的Allowance的提议没有反对。但钱还是要“挣”，没有“白给”的道理。所以，经过谈判，和儿子达成协议，以签伙同的方式来解决allowance的问题。
为了不让儿子觉得任务太繁重，这里的许多条款是儿子在作的，或有针对性质的。这个条款就是希望能让儿子更认真完成他在作的一些任务。也听取了网上网友的一些意见，如以“奖励为主”，“责任要明确”等等。经美国同事过目。反映不错。
（三个美国同事的反映：1st:20 dollars per month? I used to get half dollars per week. When I asked my mom to give a raise, I got a quarter reduction! 2nd: I remember I got allowance when I was 10. However, a couple of years later when I was strong enough, my parents simply asked me to earn by myself. 3rd (从南韩来的第二代移民）:I never get any allowance in my whole life! Not fair！其他过目的同事都大笑说是good idea。)
CONTRACT FOR ALLOWANCE
To receive allowance (20 dollars/month), as a big boy, XXXX(儿子的名字） has to take some responsibilities at home. This is a contract between XXXX and dad/mom for everyday duties at home and at school. Any unfinished duties will result in allowance deduction (25 cents per violation unless it is specifically indicated below.).
1. Wake up on time and do bedding every morning, and keep room neatly.
(No coins litter around the room, and all toys should be organized nicely.)
2. Throw trash every evening, and put a new trash bag into the garbage can.
3. Keep toilet clean after using it. Wash hands after using bathroom.
4. Put shower towels in order after showering.
5. Finish all homework from school, and assignments from dad everyday.
6. Music practice should be done nicely according to teacher’s instruction. Comments from teacher that XXXX does not follow instruction will result in 1 dollar deduction.
7. Must pass all taekwondo tests according to the master’s schedule.
8. Keep grades at A and B levels each quarter, at least half of the grades should be As. (Any A at the end of semester will get 5 dollars award.)
Signature of XXXX: Date:
Signature of Dad: Date:
Signature of Mom: Date
Violation Check:
October:
November:
December:
（二0一0年十月十日）
