BACKPACK: (1) A convenient method for transporting school books and supplies back and forth between home and school ( – Mom) (2) A social and fashion statement that also transports school books and supplies back and forth between home and school ( – Kirsten)

The discrepancy between the two definitions was what launched the

Mom
1- Has no extra money to buy Kirsten a new backpack
2- Has no desire to buy Kirsten a new backpack since there were more than one available for her use
3 – Has no intention of buying Kirsten a new backpack since doing so would NOT be in keeping with the mantra “Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do, or Do without” that the family has, out of financial necessity (plus it’s a great idea), been adhering to
4 – Does nothing to prevent Kirsten from spending her own money for a new backpack (it’s a free country – sometimes)

Kirsten
1 – Has no extra money to buy herself a new backpack
2 – Has no desire to use any of the backpacks available for her use (they were “ugly” or “for dudes”)
3 – Despises the mantra “Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do, or Do without” when “IT” doesn’t conform to her sense of what’s an acceptable fashion statement
4 – Does nothing to try and earn extra money for a backpack after she had spent her hard-earned dollars on clothes

Kirsten’s Offensive Strategies:
1 – Ask Mom incessantly to buy her a new backpack
2 – Write “BACKPACK” on Mom’s shopping lists
3 – Beg and plead with Mom to buy her a new backpack
4 – Explain how incredibly old or ugly available backpacks are

Mom’s Defensive Strategies:
1 – No
2 – Didn’t see it on the list – sorry!
3 – No
4 – That’s really unfortunate, sweetheart

First Day of School:
– Kirsten goes to school without any sort of bag in which to transport supplies
– Upon returning home, Kirsten writes BACKPACK one last time on mom’s shopping list

Second Day of School:
– Kirsten packs up the “dude” backpack with all of her supplies and says “Bye, Mom! I love you!” as she leaves for school
– Kirsten doesn’t lose a single friend at school that day