The first time relatives heard my husband and me talk about children they were shocked mainly because we wanted a large family. “How are you going to pay their way through college?” “How are you going to get them toys for Christmas?” “How are you going to buy clothes for them?”
We always had an answer for the questions but they were not the answers most people want or expect to hear. We didn’t plan on doing any of those things. And so far we haven’t.
Society today is a consumer society. Teaching kids from birth that it’s all about the getting only enslaves them into a life of debt. Instead of getting we are teaching our children about getting.
1. Christmas is all about planning gifts for others (preferably ones that are hand made). Our children have never made a “Christmas list” for their own benefit (and the oldest son is now eleven).
2. Savings is a fundamental part of our children lives. They save a portion of everything they receive – from gifts to allowance.
3. Credit lessons are a regular part of conversations. Our children understand how credit works and how much it costs.
Instead of teaching our children to live a life of slavery we are giving them the tools to live free.