Nigerian parents and the 'small small' gift economy 💀

My mum called me this morning to ask if I've eaten. I said yes. Then she said 'good, so you can send me something small for your father's birthday.' Something small. That woman has been collecting 'small small' since I started working and I swear the 'small' is now bigger than my rent.

Meanwhile when I ask her for money she says 'I don't have' with the confidence of someone who just won a court case. But let it be time for village meeting or church harvest, she becomes a finance expert overnight.

I love her but this economy is not matching. If I send her the 'small' she wants, I'll be eating garri for two weeks. Shey una parents dey do this too or na only my own?