Wish List
It was the end of Fall semester, nearing December, the month of Christmas, when a girl said somewhere along the lines of, "So what did you ask your parents to get you for Christmas?"
I replied, "Nothing. We don't really ask. If they want to give anything, it's a gift."
She looked at me, her mouth shaped into an 'O' and went 'hmm'.
She explained that everyone in her family has a wish list and they often get what they wanted as accorded from the list.
Today, I read an article about financial expenses, "Overspending on Kids Risks Financial Future". Yes. I read the newspaper - Yahoo News.
It said that parents find it hard to deny their children's wants. Parents also make four common mistake (reduced excerpt taken from the Web site)
1. Ignoring their retirement. Remember, the kids can always take student loans, while no one will give you a loan for retirement.
2. A bedroom for everyone. "Somewhere in time, good parents decided every child needed a bedroom," Allvine says.
3. Keeping up with the Joneses' kids. "Throughout the suburbs of America, there is a fierce competition for who can throw the most lavish birthday parties for their children," says Scoggins. "Renting ponies, carnival rides, etc., is a common scene. Setting the bar so high can destroy a child's appreciation of the fact that some of the best things in life are free and set him up for a lifetime of needing a high-cost lifestyle in order to be happy."
4. Not teaching them about money. "Parents who are struggling themselves to get the most out of their money become terrible role models and teachers for their children," Allvine says.
The third mistake struck a chord in me. Like Christmas presents that become a necessity, some people - children - are taking things for granted. E.g. MTV - My Sweet Sixteen or Paris Hilton aka, brats.
I often go 'wow' when someone mentioned that xxx is their Christmas present from xyxy. I thought that xyxy must have really love them to shower them with such expensive presents.
Now, I know the truth. Wish list.
I have come up with both sides of argument. For and against.
E.g. Asians - parents pay for everything until you get a decent job. Therefore, Christmas, we don't ask for much or if we do, it is not anything too expensive.
Americans - children work and pay for their living. Therefore, Christmas, even if they ask for expensive stuff, it is ok.
The method is different but the answer is the same.
The examples are generalized. I imagine every family has their own traditions but really, I somehow prefer the Asian style.
Wish list? Nah. I prefer surprises.
I replied, "Nothing. We don't really ask. If they want to give anything, it's a gift."
She looked at me, her mouth shaped into an 'O' and went 'hmm'.
She explained that everyone in her family has a wish list and they often get what they wanted as accorded from the list.
Today, I read an article about financial expenses, "Overspending on Kids Risks Financial Future". Yes. I read the newspaper - Yahoo News.
It said that parents find it hard to deny their children's wants. Parents also make four common mistake (reduced excerpt taken from the Web site)
1. Ignoring their retirement. Remember, the kids can always take student loans, while no one will give you a loan for retirement.
2. A bedroom for everyone. "Somewhere in time, good parents decided every child needed a bedroom," Allvine says.
3. Keeping up with the Joneses' kids. "Throughout the suburbs of America, there is a fierce competition for who can throw the most lavish birthday parties for their children," says Scoggins. "Renting ponies, carnival rides, etc., is a common scene. Setting the bar so high can destroy a child's appreciation of the fact that some of the best things in life are free and set him up for a lifetime of needing a high-cost lifestyle in order to be happy."
4. Not teaching them about money. "Parents who are struggling themselves to get the most out of their money become terrible role models and teachers for their children," Allvine says.
The third mistake struck a chord in me. Like Christmas presents that become a necessity, some people - children - are taking things for granted. E.g. MTV - My Sweet Sixteen or Paris Hilton aka, brats.
I often go 'wow' when someone mentioned that xxx is their Christmas present from xyxy. I thought that xyxy must have really love them to shower them with such expensive presents.
Now, I know the truth. Wish list.
I have come up with both sides of argument. For and against.
E.g. Asians - parents pay for everything until you get a decent job. Therefore, Christmas, we don't ask for much or if we do, it is not anything too expensive.
Americans - children work and pay for their living. Therefore, Christmas, even if they ask for expensive stuff, it is ok.
The method is different but the answer is the same.
The examples are generalized. I imagine every family has their own traditions but really, I somehow prefer the Asian style.
Wish list? Nah. I prefer surprises.
posted by beautiful stranger at 2:22 AM
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