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Parents just don’t understand

Writer's picture: Jamonica DisserJamonica Disser

But, we actually do!

Life lessons are always the toughest to teach your kids. Don’t run barefoot through the grass during bee season or you’ll get stung. If you don’t put your things away, you’ll always be looking for them. A penny saved is a penny earned.

Our kids love and hate our life lessons. Probably because we sound like records on repeat since they haven’t quite grasped them all. Our youngest son is currently learning valuable lessons in money earning and management.

Our kid is under the mistaken impression that money is easy to earn and should be spent because it’s there. Boy is he in for a rude awakening! I’m not even sure where he gets these crazy impressions since his dad and I work very hard for what we have and believe in saving for the things we really want.

I wish I could say our kids see and follow our examples of dedication, hard work and perseverance. Sometimes they gloss right over those and it’s an unfortunate circumstance of the world we live in. Our kids are growing up in the world of YouTube sensations and Instagram influencers making money simply by existing on the internet. TikTok sensations are sweeping the nation and earning millions!

Kids everywhere are seeing these so-called sensations making videos and earning ridiculous amounts of money and they want that too. It has become increasingly difficult to show and motivate kids to find a passion and work at it when so and so just hit two million followers and makes more money than their dad who works 60 hours a week.

The hubby and I remain vigilant and proactive though. Dad gets up before the sun rolls over and works hard five days a week for us. Between running the house and building a business and writing career, I’m no slouch myself. We show our kids hard work and dedication.

We recently took the youngest son to open an actual bank account. It was a bittersweet day for me. I know this is a step toward their independence and as a mom it’s a tiny knife in the heart. He’s worked hard this summer for our church and with his first paychecks, we opened an actual checking account.

It makes me nervous because the kid can keep a dollar in his pocket longer than a day. Instant access to his money is like letting a toddler loose in a candy store and closing your eyes. But, we sat him down and explained how the world works when you have a job. We gave him the ins and outs of money management. Have him going through a Dave Ramsey money class. Yet, I’m still nervous.

I know I can’t hold on to his money for him forever. At some point, he will have to learn that spending it as soon as he gets it only leaves a zero balance. Eventually he will see that we weren’t just yammering on when we tried to teach him that saving for what you want is a smart thing. After all, you can lead a horse to water….

Yeah, teaching life lessons is tough. If only they knew how much we actually do understand!

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