The other day, Ashton – my middle child and our household’s self-appointed truth-teller – looked up from her McDonald’s Happy Meal and randomly said, (completely serious), “Mom, it’s because of inflations.”
Now, a few things about Ashton: she’s seven, she still thinks “yesterday” means anything that happened before breakfast, and she gets her worldly wisdom primarily from YouTube. So naturally, I had to ask, “What do you mean, inflations?”
She sighed (because clearly, I was the one who didn’t understand economics) and said, “You know, Mom. Inflations. It’s when everything costs more money, and now McDonald’s chicken nuggets are like, six hundred dollars.”
I just sat there, torn between laughter and a tiny bit of fear. Because honestly? She’s not wrong!
When I was seven, I didn’t know what “inflation” was. I was just mad when my mom bought the “off-brand” cereal. But these kids today? They’re quoting economic trends between Roblox videos and pop songs. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ashton starts demanding I diversify her savings account next.
It’s funny though – kids really do pick up on EVERYTHING. I guess I’ve complained about grocery prices one too many times. (In my defense, $6.99 for grapes should be illegal.) Ashton has clearly absorbed every exasperated sigh I’ve made in the produce aisle.
Later that day, she found a $5 bill in her backpack from the tooth fairy and asked me if it was “even worth anything anymore.” I told her yes, but by the look on her face, she didn’t buy it.
Ashton might not fully understand how inflation works, but she’s definitely noticed that life feels a little more expensive these days. And honestly, if her generation is already aware of it, maybe there’s hope. Maybe they’ll be the ones to figure out how to make the price of gas and groceries make sense again.
Until then, I’ll keep laughing, she’ll keep learning and we’ll both keep eating our $600 chicken nuggets (because apparently, that’s the going rate for joy in 2025.)
And maybe that’s the lesson here: the world might feel heavier, busier and definitely more expensive than ever, but kids like Ashton remind us to stop, laugh and find humor in the chaos. Because joy (even overpriced joy) is still worth every penny!
(Paige Gurgainers is a mom of three girls, digital journalist for Webster Parish Journal.)