“There are three boxes of Honey Bunches of Oats.  Are you not eating them, Nathan?”

I was washing the breakfast dishes when Ryan opened the pantry door and noticed all the cereal.

“I’ll eat them.” replied Nathan.  “I just want to finish the Chex first.”

I started to chuckle.  A few weeks ago, this would have been a weird conversation between the two teens.  But since Ryan has been doing all the grocery shopping, he’s beginning to notice things.  Things like how quickly we go through gallons of milk.  Or how the cereal is multiplying.

And I think it’s great.  Years before I ever thought it would happen, the boys are beginning to appreciate what needs to happen in order to run a household.  And…how much it all costs.  When Ryan got back from Winco yesterday he mentioned how the bill was a little higher than usual because we needed toilet paper and laundry detergent.

“Those are things I don’t buy every week.”

Indeed, I thought.

And then it occurred to me that their future wives owe me one.  Not that I’m keeping score.  Or anything.