Money Issues...Life Issues

With the passing of Christmas, came the gifting of money. Cash was abound in the kids wallets, in my wallet, in envelopes, on the floor, in pockets...... As a ritual, we, meaning the kids, go to the bank and deposit some of their booty into their savings accounts. It was a practice of my parents and I thought that it was worth the effort to continue it with my own kids. We haven't made it to the bank yet which leaves us with many problems. First: It is MAD MONEY burning holes in our wallets (not mine anymore. I spent my wad of cash) and the kids want to spend it left-and-right on nonsense like party ballons to make balloon animals with, games to rot their minds, skinny jeans, or even an occasional hamburger from Carl's Jr. Second: I am tempted more and more to just "borrow" from the kids instead of going all the way to the bank to take out my own (ok, Jerrod's hard earned cash). Third: These boys are not the most responsible with their "important" items. We've lost a wallet with $40 in it only to find it a year later.

They ask me what we are saving "our" money for when we go to the bank and I always reply, "It's for college." A few hundred bucks isn't gonna get them very far college-wise, but maybe they could buy books for a semester. But then I get questions like, "Well, what if I don't go to college?" or "Why do you get to tell us how to use our money when it's ours?" I guess I am hopeful in my thinking that I am teaching them a valuable lesson in money.

I was surprised to hear yesterday, through the garage door, my oldest chatting with his friend about the money he had in the bank. I was obviously a mean witch for not letting him touch it and then I found out that he may not go to college. "Yeah...I might not even go to college so then what happens to my money?" I have never told my kids that college is a priority, but I sure hope that he knows that he must continue his education somewhere...at least if he wants to touch the money. A trade school or a junior college....something that will give him opportunities to be successful beyond high school.

So it is clear to me that I don't have a money issue, I have a life issue. These kids are growing up so fast and it's already time to talk to them about goals for their futures as adults. Not only money, but education, occupations, what kind of person they want to grow up to be. What they do at school, church, at their friend's homes, in my home...they all matter so much more now. It's time for me to step up my game.