4th and Goal Commentary - April 24, 2001
Teach Your Children Well
By Bill McCartney
Most parents have a hard time talking to their kids about sex.
And, it turns out we're avoiding other topics, too!
I'm Bill McCartney... It's 4TH and Goal!
A financial services organization, and a social science research firm
teamed up to release a survey showing that only thirty-six percent of parents
had taught their children about proper money management. A similar
number had talked to them about having good morals and values.
Why are so many parents so reluctant to talk with their kids?
One expert says, "The theme I consistently get from parents is, 'I know
I haven't done well in this myself.'"
But, in an era when teenagers are being pressured from all sides with
various temptations, it is vitally important, that we sit down with them
and provide them with the life skills to make good choices.
Our society tells them "buy, buy, buy" and "if you don't have the money,
there's MasterCard for everything else." Guys, how can our teenagers
learn to make wise financial choices without our instruction?
The same goes for transmitting solid values to the next generation.
Many polls have shown, that regardless of what the culture may say, teenagers
do greatly value our opinions and teaching. There are simple ways to teach
our kids. We've just got to step up.
First, let's sit down with them and have open and frank conversations
about the many issues they'll face in life, such as money management, ethics,
sexuality, racial tolerance, and so forth. The second step is modeling
for them what we've learned from our experiences.
If we want our children to handle money properly, we need to show them
how to make wise financial decisions and teach them skills such budgeting
and avoiding debt. Finally, let's be open and share our mistakes
with our kids so that they can learn from them.
We can take some time each week and have a one-on-one session on various
topics with our kids. Let's be vulnerable with them and let them
ask us questions. We have a small window of opportunity to influence
their lives, let's take advantage of it!
I'm Coach Bill McCartney.
Source Material:
Jacques Steinberg, "Adults Side-Step Serious Talks with Teenagers,
Survey Finds," New York Times, January 9, 2001.
"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not
turn from it." - Proverbs 22:6.
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