When more is never enough…
First of all, I apologize for my recent lack of posts. Between work and traveling, I’ve just gotten behind on things. Secondly, to those of you whose comments have just now appeared, I also apologize. WordPress has been dumping some of them in my spam box, but I know to check there on a regular basis now. Anyway, moving on!
Have you ever noticed how so many parents use their children as excuses for excess? In turn, they’re just adding to our society which always wants more, more, more and wants it NOW. With gas prices out of control, you can bet there are many a parent griping about the huge cost at the pump. That is nothing new. We’re ALL bitching about it. However, how many have actually made changes to what they drive? How many complain about the expense, but they absolutely CAN NOT live without their SUV/minivans which guzzle gas like nothing else. I have a hard time feeling your pain at the pump when you CHOSE to have that Hummer. Seriously. Even when gas prices weren’t averaging $4+/gallon, you still knew that the gas mileage sucked. Of course, they insist that they have to have these huge vehicles because of their kids even if they only have one or two. I remember my parents getting by with a regular sedan and my brother and I aren’t scarred for life. We took cross country trips as well as daily errands and survived without monster SUVs.
This doesn’t go for just cars, but it seems like most parents with kids just go crazy with more this, more that. Do you really NEED a 7 bedroom/4 bath house for a couple of kids? I had friends that had to share a room with their sibling, and they turned out okay. Do you really have to buy your kids all the expensive new toys and gadgets when you can barely pay your bills and put food on the table (yes, I do know some people like this)? I’m sorry if your kids will throw a tantrum if they don’t get this or that. However, they’ll live. You’re not doing your kids any favors by giving in to them. It teaches them a pretty crappy lesson about priorities, in my opinion. It seems like these days, when everyone is trying to cut back, people with kids have the it-doesn’t-apply-to-me attitude and that they have the green light to constantly spend and splurge on stuff they REALLY DON’T NEED. Now, I’m not saying that every family is like this and I don’t mean to imply that all those who are childfree are tightwads. It just seems like the trend for families seems to be spend, spend, spend, and it’s never too much/too big, etc.
July 31, 2008 at 4:01 am
I really hear what you are saying. I know families who were in debt before having children, but instead of clearing it or at least trying to, they go ahead, have a troop of kids and then double or triple their debt because they *need* that huge car, and they *need* those designer baby clothes and they *need* to take them abroad on expensive trips.
When I was a kid, I grew up with seven of us in the house, I shared a room – we didn’t mind. We had a modest car, we ate and spent sensibly. We also walked to places. In Britain at least, a lot of people live within a sensible walking distance of the school that their kids go to, or the nearest park that they frequent. Do they walk there? Of course not! Even if people live a hundred metres from the school gate, they won’t walk their kids, they’ll get in their huge hummer or BMW X5 and drive them there, then drive back home. It’s one of these things that really riles me.
August 1, 2008 at 7:28 pm
A-freaking-MEN.
Bravo!!!
August 2, 2008 at 5:36 am
Agreed. It’s irritating. Or when they use kids as an excuse not to cook homemade food at home — total BS. You cook once, eat for the entire week.
I’d just choose food over TV, that’s all.
AM linking this
August 2, 2008 at 8:38 am
Dorian: Completely agree. I remember going to school with kids who lived close enough to walk or ride their bikes to school. I, like a lot of others, rode the school bus. However, it seems like these days, these options are out of the question for doting parents. Even if they live within walking/biking distance or have a bus available, these parents INSIST on driving their kids to school. And I know this is the clichéd “old person’s” adage but the school bus didn’t drop all of us off at our doorsteps either. We actually had to walk to a common bus stop. *sigh* I’m only 25, and I’ve already said that. Sad…
Stepher: Thanks! It’s something that’s been bugging me for a while and I knew others felt the same.
FB: Ah yes, when we ate out or got fast food, it was a treat, not the norm. These days you have commercials like KFC that suggest the only way to have a family dinner is to pick up something deep fried. No wonder there’s a childhood obesity problem. Also, my mom didn’t fix a separate meal for each of us. We ate what she cooked or we didn’t eat at all. One of the many lessons she used to teach us that the world does not revolve around us.
August 19, 2008 at 3:38 am
I honestly don’t know how anyone can afford to have kids in these times especially when they are spending so much money on frivolous stuff as you described. Every once in awhile I take a niece or nephew out for the day and no matter what we do, I end up blowing at least $50. Can you imagine taking a family of 4 out?