False Economies & Teenagers

I know this is a really cliche thing to say; but I was NEVER as bad as teenagers are today! (I'm sure my mum could confirm this hahaha). Want, want, want, now, now now! And heaven forbid they actually have to WAIT for something or eeeeek NEVER get what it is their heart desires at this moment.

I'm pretty sure every new generation of teenagers is worse than the last; or so our parents and grandparents will try to convince us. In my Grandma's day it was probably those 'awful hippies' with their funky music and having babies out of wedlock! Both of which are accepted these days; if not celebrated.

One of my teenage stepsons (aged 13) wanted a credit card the other day so he can buy 'stuff'; unbelievably he didn't know that it's not FREE money and you actually have to pay it back! A lengthy discussion/ explanation was entered into and yet he still didn't understand why we wouldn't get a credit card in our name for his sole use. (Wow I'm mean hey!) I honestly think money and budgeting aught to be in our school curriculae. I mean really; who's NOT going to need those life skills? Educate them so they don't think money grows on trees.

I certainly haven't sewn a pencil case since high school - & hubby will attest to my lack in culinary skills so perhaps part of Home Economics there could be a term of managing money.

Of course - kids are a product of their upbringing & said stepson lived with someone who raised him to believe that it's brandnames or nothing, that it's not the thought - it's how much you spend (YES she spent $1000 on Xmas gifts for him alone - BUT did they spend TIME with him?!) According to said person it's also ok to do shit at school 'cos I didn't do well & I'm ok'. Errrr sorry - you aren't - you think Hard Work is the name of a rock band - and don't you want BETTER for your own child? The mind boggles!

Here's another idea: send all year 10 students to a camp where they're sent out to work 8-10hours hard labour a day, at night they have to cook a proper meal for their family, do 3 loads of washing, make sure their 'kids' have done their homework, bath the babies, put them all to bed and make sure lunches are ready for the next day. After 7 days they must pay their rent/ mortgage, electricity, buy food, pay for fuel and registration. I think it would be a total eyeopener for the little so and so's to see how much/ little is left after the week and OMIGOSH maybe buying that latest and greatest x-box game ISN'T such a priority........

MMMMM I think i've just found my new daydream - I can just picture their precious little faces when they return home to their parents - such appreciation and understanding. But .... even I'm not THAT silly - it would last all of 2 weeks (if that) and they'd be back to their old ways. Why kill the habit of a lifetime - they've been taught no different.

Part of my 2012 resolution is to 'educate' them better at home, 'No' is going to be the big new 'IT' word for 2012 - just because I can. I think they need to learn to live without so they can truly appreciate what they DO have and how fortunate they are in the scheme of things.

In summary my 2012 resolution is to be a better parent and by 'better' I mean tougher for their own good. Don't do your chores? That's fine there's no pocket money this week. 'Forget' to do your homework? That's ok the X-Box and PS3 will be missing for a week. Whinge when you don't get your own way? That's alright, how does a week at military school next school holidays sound?

Yep - it's time for me to harden up and raise the next generation of well rounded, functioning and contributing members of society. Hopefully they'll forgive me for my hard-ass-ness by the time they've got Power of Attorney and are choosing a retirement home for me!