Daughter’s cute date night note took these parents by surprise

THIS Sydney 10-year-old saved up her pocket money to give her parents a present they never expected. Their unusual parenting style could be behind it.

Chelsy-Lee and her mum Marci.

MOST parents dream of an all-expenses paid date night — but to have one handed to you by your 10-year-old daughter is totally unexpected.

Sydney youngster Chelsy-Lee Ordonez De Cross raided her piggy bank to give her parents a break this week — dinner and a movie, on her.

Just minutes after hearing her mum and dad talk about how they needed a night out, the Year 5 pupil emerged from her room with a heart-inscribed box filled with $82 of her hard-earned savings and a love letter, just for them.

“Dear Mum and Dad — here is some money for a date night,” her sweet note read.

“It should cover a movie, dinner, and maybe extras.

“Love Chelsy-Lee.”

The present Chelsy-Lee handed to her parents.

Proud mum Marci Ordonez said she couldn’t stop crying when she opened her daughter’s heartfelt gift.

“I poured it out on the couch and almost immediately started bawling,” the 31-year-old told news.com.au

“She is such a sweetie and I was overwhelmed by her thoughtfulness.

“There are no words — I was just completely overwhelmed with her generosity and very proud that she can be so selfless.

“Chelsy-Lee is a gorgeous soul that acts in ways that are often beyond her years.”

She said their parenting style was a unique one, and one that gave Chelsy-Lee the independence and freedom to think, feel and act like an adult.

She has no bedtime, volunteers to feed the homeless in her spare time and gets honest answers to questions — even told how babies are made at the age of two.

“I guess many would consider us to be a little left of field, or unconventional,” Ms Ordonez said.

Chelsy-Lee’s mum and dad use what some would call an ‘unconventional’ parenting style.

“We are arty, muddy and messy — and we embrace it.

“There’s a real rawness in our way of life, we say it how it is — while trying to be gentle and always inclusive.

“In general we are hands on and we work together, and learn from each other.

“We speak openly and honestly, every question receives an answer, and if we don’t know something, we look it up together.

“When we think of children, we understand them to be younger people — but they have feelings, thoughts, worries, comforts, questions just as adults do, so we treat her like we like to be treated, guiding her and talking the whole way.

“We also really expose her to the world — the beautiful and wonderful, the sad, and the horrible.

“We try lots of new things and try to look after our world and fellow humans while we are doing it.”

Even at such a young age, Chelsy-Lee volunteers at workshops for Reverse Garbage, helps in art workshops for children with disabilities and is a dedicated helper in Children Hospital gift runs, even starting a fundraising venture at her school to raise money for St Lucy’s, a school for the intellectually disabled at Wahroonga.

“I guess another huge thing that we personally don’t see as huge, is that she’s never really had a bed time,” Ms Ordonez said.

“We give her that autonomy because she’s a person and she can make these choices and understands there are repercussions.

“It was something that clicked when she was about two-and-a-half years old.

“She refused to get dressed and was crying and carrying on — she said she didn’t like her clothes.

“So my mum and I pooled our money together and I told her that we’d take her shopping and that she could pick out an entire new wardrobe but that was it, no more fussing after that.

“We went to the shops, she picked out what she liked, what was comfortable, what she chose for herself and the problem was sorted.

“The point was that we embraced her identity, and allowed her to start expressing that in her own terms.

“I think the best way to sum it all up is back to that idea of children being human- and their things are just as valid as ours.”

Chelsy-Lee’s chores aren’t set, however her mum said it was unspoken that her job was to straighten the living room, feed the cats, and keep the bathroom tidy.

“These aren’t paid chores — this is how she contributes to the household,” Ms Ordonez said.

“Paid chores are if we need particular help with something — much like if someone calls a gardener or cleaner, and she is paid accordingly.

“I wouldn’t want to go to work for silver coins, so I figure neither would she.

“An example might be, asking her to do a big pile of dishes.

“I’ll either negotiate a price for the pile or pay her about $14 for an hour of solid work.

“This gives her a greater understanding of work, and a better understanding of the value of money.

“To other parents I would say listen to your kids, talk to your kids, hang out with your kids.

“No one will remember you for your pristine couch — they will remember you for chats over cuppas, water fights over the fence with your neighbours and fabulous and welcoming Halloween parties.

“Dance when walking past buskers — be the you that you want to be, and let your child see that wonder.

“At the end of the day, Chelsy is a kid that loves to have fun with her friends and family, enjoys dancing and loves life.”