PARENTAL GUIDANCE

A conversation from the Parents Council blog:

“Mom, do you think Mary’s‘ mom is rich?” my daughter asked.

“Why would you say that?” I replied.

“Mary has really nice clothes.”

I wasn’t sure what to say. “Maybe her mom is a very smart shopper and buys lots of things on sale,” I say. “No, she wears fancy stuff,” she tells me.

What does fancy stuff mean to a first-grader? At first I’m thinking of a pretty holiday dress, and then I think maybe its expensive-looking clothes instead.

We talked about the nice clothes she has and then it was over. What would you say?

– Posted by Lisa P.

I’d ask her what ‘rich’ meant to her. And then explain that some people have more money, some people have less but it doesn’t define their worth as people. And maybe someone chooses to spend more money on clothes and that is their choice.

I want my kids to know there are haves and have-nots and everyone in between and THINGS are not the way to measure someone’s value as a person.

Of course, that doesn’t stop them from wanting, wanting, wanting, but I am hoping to give them some perspective in this world of consumerism and instant gratification.

– Posted by Debbie G.

We’ve also talked from early on about brand names and what makes a brand popular. Is it quality or just the fact that it’s expensive? Do you really want to pay top dollar just for the privilege of being a walking advertisement for a company? If the tag was taken off and put right next to the same thing from a discount store, could you tell the difference? – Posted by Jennine

You can join this conversation, or start one of your own, at spokesman review.com/blogs/ parents.