Are You Only the Worth of a Dollar

Are you only the worth of a Dollar?

       What have we become when people only see you as far as a dollars worth of…anything?  As we near Christmas and any celebration for that matter, look at what people are asking you for. Do they think for some ungodly reason they deserve it, that you just say screw everything and everyone just for them? Yes. Many do, and worse than that they think they’re right. You can lose the shoes on your feet as long as they get what they want.   

     Before it too late and it isn’t no matter what ages we’re talking about, people have to accept who and where you are in life as well as your values. If they don’t, you don’t need their pressure and their values invading into your life.

      Recently I spoke to someone about consequences and children’s rights. I do believe kids need some rights, enough to know they will and should be protected if abused, going hungry or without heat, that they need to tell someone without repercussion. But things have gone too far. Look at our schools. We have special school for kids with bad behaviors, and that cost your tax dollars. We have special classes and school psychologists, more money. But where does this behavior come from? Not always mom and dad. There are variations between what they see on television, hear adults talk about and sometimes just feel they have a right to do and say what they want. Who are the role models? How effective are they?

   Let’s start at the bottom which would be the cradle.   

          Good example: Baby is nurtured with a plan that both parents agree on, concerning everything from food to clothes to manners, respect, education and religion. Moms and dads don’t ask, well honey do you want the pink dress or the blue one? The child is a child. At five years old, you buy; she wears up until an appropriate age. Teenagers are not allowed to dress in all black, pierce everything, and have a belly or nose ring.  Mom and dad don’t smoke, eat well within reason. Supper time comes and now the child is eight. Mom or dad puts out a reasonable portion of spinach that she has been getting since she was able to digest it. Child tells her parents thank you and eats it along with a small baked potato and piece of chicken. No problem unless the child is full. Yes, she still gets dessert, and left over’s for lunch or supper the next night. Bedtime is routine. Shower, brush your teeth, get a book if she would like and parents approve as well as she wears pajamas to bed. No shorts and sloppy tee shirt Bedtime is seven every night, no exception, and lights out at eight; done.

     Poor example:   Baby is nurtured, bottle fed or breast, either way apparent chooses. Parents don’t talk about a plan but leave it up to whoever thought the other one was going to take care of things. Shopping is, but honey I thought you wanted the pink one? Child throws a tantrum and mom or dad allows her to get whatever she chooses so as not to embarrass their lack of parenting skills. At eight she is now allowed to have her ears pierced, four times on each side. At thirteen she is wearing a belly and nose ring. Supper is whoever gets something from the freezer. Shower if she wants to, brushes her teeth to now cover up the pot odor along with going to bed at eleven at night in her cut off shorts and smelly sweatshirt in her bed that hasn’t been changed in three weeks. Now fourteen a guy is beeping outside and good old mom and dad say, honey you better hurry, Rick is waiting, who by the way is nineteen. Almost fifteen she comes in one night crying thinking mom and dad know what to do now that she is pregnant; done.

     So does your child think your worth as a parent, friend, supporter is all about money? The second child in this would. Tonight I met a woman who is raising her grandson, who she stated with pride. He is such a good boy and a nice person, no thanks to his mom who is her daughter and the dad either-in a way. Dad does try, but doesn’t know how to parent. Dad sees his son on weekends and buys him things and does not discipline at all. The Grandparents do that.

   Take the dollar signs away to get to really know your child. I’m not talking about need. I’m talking about want. Our kids do need us financially from time to time, but that’s need, not greed. Don’t get the two mixed up, because they won’t. It’s up to us.