It’s not all peaches and cream

As a child I didn’t receive everything I wanted. I wasn’t allowed to get goodies while waiting in line at the grocery store, for example, just because they looked good on the shelf and I wanted them. This was directly due to an attempt by my parents to instill a sense of working hard to get what you want in me.

As I grew, I quickly developed a sense for what my parents could and could not afford. By 8th grade, for instance, ‘Air Jordans’ were the coolest new sneakers on earth. That was 1989, and those were the early edition Jordans if I remember correctly. (I checked, and the ones I distinctly remember were the Air Jordan IVs) I knew my parents couldn’t afford them priced at over 100 dollars a pair. I also had to be picky regarding what 8th grade formal suit I chose since not all of them were priced accordingly. I seriously doubt this sort of understanding by teenagers at this age is in any way special.

As an adult, these two very different philosophies are now very much intertwined for me. I would really like to know the difference between teaching a child they have to work hard for what they want, and allowing children to know that you (as parents) can’t afford something. Does that mean the child should go out, find a part-time job, save, and then buy the item themselves?

Come to think of it, what are we really working so hard for? Material goods? For our bosses? What if you work super hard, and still cant afford something you would really like, like a private jet? Most people will never own a private a jet. I sure would like one, how cool would that be? (To my friends in San Diego: Yeah, I'll be there on Saturday, you know for the beach party. I'll just hop in my private jet.) Are there really that many people out there working so hard just to be middle class?

And, do the people who make $250,000 or more actually give a shit at all about the middle class? I would like to think they do, but then again I’ve been known to be wrong.

Keep the faith.