Karen and her bike(s)

[Deleted]

So instead of doing my assignements last night, I was reading Karen books, and one mentioned about how she has two of all her important possessions - one at each house, naturally. And she specifically mentioned having two bikes. So, my question is, what happened when she grew out of both of them at the same time? We know Watson made her pay for half of the big house one, but did she also have to pay for another half to replace her other bike?

[sparklymouse]

I don't remember Lisa and Seth ever doing the "pay half" thing. They probably bought her a new one.

[magentanation]

And what kind of crap is that anyway, making her pay for half? She's 7! And it's not like she wanted a new bike just for heck of it, she grew out of it and really needed a new one. It's not like she had a job or anything to magically pull funds from.

[aln1982]

I always hated the "half" thing, too. In my opinion, many of the BSC parents don't buy enough for their kids. This is my dad's opinion too and it makes him mad that Karen had to pay for half of her own bike (I know - I'm so lucky to be spoiled )

[mckay]

What confuses me is why Watson would buy Karen a pony just because it looked sad and she wanted it, but not something she actually needs, like a bike.

Maybe he was just trying to look like he doesn't totally favor Karen over the other kids after they started questioning why he made Kristy pay for half of her own CHRISTMAS PRESENT...

[Deleted]

Heh, imagine how pissed you'd be if your millianaire father made you pay for half of your new bike, but your mother and her carpenter husband just bought you a whole one.

[lilafowler]

It's not like she had a job or anything to magically pull funds from.

Ah, but she did. Have something to magically pull funds from, that is -- the rest of her family. Aren't they the ones who bought the garbage she was selling to raise bike funds?

[magentanation]

Oh yeah, I forgot about that part. That makes it even worse...Watson made the rest of the family pick up the tab for half the bike.

[mckay]

Yeah, it's one thing if she had saved her allowance, but that's a whole 'nother level of annoying. For once I don't blame Karen for it, either. WTF, Watson?

[aln1982]

Seems pretty out of character for Watson. Maybe the writers were trying to make a point (though I don't know what). It annoys me in all of the books how they make a big deal about the kids paying for their own stuff. My dad really can't stand this part of it - his philosophy is parents should buy their kids as much as they can (I'm really, really lucky, I know)
Anyway, books that are even worse about making kids pay for their own stuff are the Boxcar Children series. Those are almost ridiculous about it. I mean "Grandfather" is a millionaire, too, but they're always spending their "birthday money" on everything - things that Grandfather should be paying for.
What book does Karen get the bikes in?

[dawnomite]

My mom has that same policy My dad would tell me to pay for something myself and my mom would say "oh that's ridiculous, we can buy it for her". Not that my parents where rich or anything, but I never had to pay for my own bike. And I always felt bad for the BSC having to buy their own clothes. Unless I wanted something ridiculous like a $30 tee shirt I didn't buy my own clothes until college (where my parents paid my rent and bought me food, OK maybe I was just spoiled). It's hard to imagine though why a guy who pays for multiple vacations like Watson does would make Karen pay for her own bike.

[aln1982]

I'm so glad that I'm not alone, Dawnomite It makes me feel much better. And I still live at home. But my parents insist that they love having me around, which is different than the attitude of so many parents. My feelings are why have kids if you don't want them around? (Kind of like why adopt a toddler and then have your mother raise her???)
Does Karen get the bike in Karen's New Bike? I was just looking at my bookshelf this morning and noticed that I had it so I might have to read it soon and find out all about this buying the own bike thing.

[Deleted]

I've never read this book, but I agree that it's stupid that Karen would have to pay for her own bike. My parents never bought me and my two siblings everything we wanted, but they did buy us each a new bike every 2 or 3 because we out grew our old ones.

[msstock87]

It is stupid that she had to buy her own bike, or part of it. A bike is something I loved as a kid, actually I still do. When I outgrew my old one my parents were more than happy to buy me a new one!

[hitzpink]

aln1982 said:

But my parents insist that they love having me around, which is different than the attitude of so many parents. My feelings are why have kids if you don't want them around? (Kind of like why adopt a toddler and then have your mother raise her???)

Totally off-topic but I agree with you sooo much on this, aln!! In real life and the BSC books (the Emily Michelle thing). I won't start ranting, but... yeah. ITA!

Hm, I don't think I have anything substantial to add to the actual topic of the thread, though. Lol. I agree that it seemed way out of character for Watson to make Karen pay for half of her bike - did he give a reason for it? Was he trying to teach her "the value of a dollar" or something? Because that's ridiculous, and I think it's actually pretty MEAN to do that to a 7 year old.