Mom, we must be rich right? How to respond.

[Anonymous]

Based on this thread's evidence, I'm struck by how badly we speak to our kids about money and class, as a culture. "work hard and you'll be fine" really?

[Anonymous]

OP, it sounds like you want your kid to know you are rich, at least in your own mind. So go for it. You will get the result you deserve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the best way to address class issues with a 6 year old? His observation is true.

"Yes, we are. We are so lucky to be part of a rich country where most people have access to food, housing, education. Other countries are not so lucky...let me show you a map."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you should be honest with him. What do you do as an occupation? What does daddy? Living in the DC area, you are most likely one of two options: 1) a lawyer and/or 2) a lobbyist. I put "political/campaign consultant" in the latter category. Perhaps a third option could be a doctor. But we know that like 75% of white collar jobs in DC belong to the former two categories.

So I assume daddy is a lawyer or lobbyist, so the answer is pretty simple: you exist to write laws for the 1% that preserve the 1%. You do what you can to steal money from the hard working middle class and make sure your 1% friends get richer. You do this on behalf of corporate and other special interests; daddy is essentially a whore who takes money to perform certain illicit acts at the expense of millions of hard working people, the environment, animal rights, etc.

If daddy works in politics, he lives to preserve the illusion of choice (and freedom) that the American people have. Of course, your hubby knows the truth that "R" or "D" means nothing; there is no choice and therefore no freedom in the USA. The only choice is that families like yours get richer. Then you send your kid(s) to the best schools and universities where they only know kids of the 1%. This buys your child access to the best internships in DC. Internship evolves into staffer and/or law school. Where they once again begin writing laws that preserve the 1%. Rinse, repeat and fuck everyone else!

OP: Tell your son the truth!

Do you live in the United States? If so, why haven't you moved away? You obviously think it is terrible. And have you never met a person who has achieved a better standard of living here than their parents had? If not, you must not get out much, because there are plenty of people who have accomplished that.

[Anonymous]

"It depends on what you define of rich. Most would consider us wealthy."

[Anonymous]

We are not apologizing for being rich. "Yes, we are rich. You can be rich, too, if you study and work hard."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are not apologizing for being rich. "Yes, we are rich. You can be rich, too, if you study and work hard."

And are lucky.

[Anonymous]

Timely. Sometimes hard work and good decisions aren't always enough:

http://thewireless.co.nz/articles/the-pencilsword-on-a-plate

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't go down the -- being rich is about working hard road -- bc there are nuances a 6 yr kid doesn't get. You don't want him thinking -- if I study hard, go to college for a hard major like bio, I'll be rich too. There are tons of kids who study hard but choose/end up in fields that don't rack up wealth. Also - bc he's 6, there's a chance he'll think or say -- Johnny's family isn't rich, it must be bc his parents don't work hard like mine. Hard work comes in many forms and you don't want to leave him with the impression that if you work at Starbucks, you don't work hard, hence you're not rich.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are not apologizing for being rich. "Yes, we are rich. You can be rich, too, if you study and work hard."

I doubt you are all that rich.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are not apologizing for being rich. "Yes, we are rich. You can be rich, too, if you study and work hard."

And are lucky.

And don't develop a mental illness, or suffer a psychological trauma, or be driving your car in the wrong place at the wrong time, or make a bad investment, or get arrested for drink driving, or fall in love with someone abusive or reckless with money, or develop an opioid habit from your college freshman roommate, or get date raped and drop out of college due to mental distress.

[Anonymous]

I think I would handle it something like this:

"Mom, are we rich?"

"We have a lot more money than many people do, so I guess we are rich. We certainly are rich in love and happiness! But you know what I think we really are? We are incredibly lucky. We have enough money to buy all the things we need and many of the things we want. It's really important to me that we remember that other families aren't as lucky. That's why I like to [insert your favorite charitable activities here]."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are not apologizing for being rich. "Yes, we are rich. You can be rich, too, if you study and work hard."

And this is what 90% of the boomerang young adults were told and felt horribly mislead when they worked hard, graduated with decent grades from good schools...and couldn't find a job because there were way too many college grads for the number of jobs available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the best way to address class issues with a 6 year old? His observation is true.

"Your father and I are rich. You are still a child."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the best way to address class issues with a 6 year old? His observation is true.

"Your father and I are rich. You are still a child."