I love my neighbours’ kids. Sometimes they’re so adorable and on occasion, have even made me wish I had my own children. Other times however, I feel like I need to give them a serious talk about a habit of theirs that’s taking a toll on my wallet. The children, aged five and three ask me for money nearly every day. I’m not even joking.

The practice has persisted for a few months now and other children in the neighbourhood have picked it up as well. So now every time I stop by the small boutique close to home or even when I’m simply taking an evening walk on weekends, children run up to me and ask me for coins. It’s ridiculous. When I have some loose change, I hand it over but sometimes I really need all the money I have and have no way of explaining to the children that money doesn’t grow in my purse.

However, one look at their innocent faces, smiling in anticipation and holding out their little palms and I give in.

The laughter and repeated expressions of gratitude as they run off to buy sweets or gum always gets me. In the last few days, the children have developed a tactic of complimenting me. Someone must have told them that if they do that, I’ll give them more money. It worked at first.

They’d walk up to me and say how nicely dressed I was and because it was something totally unexpected, I was moved and unzipped my wallet. However, I quickly realized it was all a ploy when one Saturday, I was told I looked nice in an old pair of Jeans and baggy T-Shirt! I knew then that the children had an ulterior motive all along. I thought about saying something to their parents but knowing adults, the poor kids will probably just get beaten up and I don’t want to be the cause for that.

I think I’m going to have to just do it myself. Going forward, I’m taking a tough stance and will speak to the children. I will do it nicely though. My plan is to invite them to my house, give them some ‘Fanta’ and a few snacks and afterwards, deliver my ‘lecture’ about it not being a good idea for children to ask grownups for money all the time.

I will proceed to explain that adults like myself have bills to pay like transport and lunch and so we don’t always have money to give away. "Children don’t have these responsibilities,” I will go on and then throw in a "Why don’t you ask your parents for money like you always ask me?”

I hope I don’t come off as the mean neighbourhood Auntie because as I mentioned earlier, sometimes these children are good company. But at the same time, I don’t want to lose sleep worrying about money I need to offer them. If and when I’m in position to give them any, it will happen but no pestering on their part.