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

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]What is the best way to address class issues with a 6 year old? His observation is true.[/quote]

"Yes, sweetie, we are very lucky to have all that we need. Others aren't so fortunate. Is there anything you want to talk about, any questions?"

I think it's a great opportunity to talk about a whole host of things. I've had to introduce the idea of privilege to my own children, who are barely school-age. It's part of our family practice of gratitude. It's also an expansion of our guiding principle of making good choices. Just because we have the ability to do certain things---I dunno, buy 100 bey blades or action figures----doesn't mean that we do. We put our money into what we value, and aren't we lucky? [b]Mommy gets to stay home because we have the money to allow for this luxury.[/b] Doing well at school and working together as a family are what helped us, what created this situation. Having enough money to be comfortable doesn't mean we don't have responsibilities. You have to work hard at school and continue to make good choices, honey. Remember that not everybody has choices and that life can be very hard for a lot of people.

I haven't looked through all of the responses. I hope that it's been constructive.

Compassion, hard work, unity---these are all meaningful words. I hope you're able to use this as an entry point for a terrific, life-long conversation about social justice.

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What a weird message for a kid. You are basically telling your kid that you are richer and luckier than families where the mom works.

It's also pretty ironic that someone who touts hard work as a way to wealth doesn't work (at least not for pay). [/quote]

Since it's what they value (time with me), it makes sense for my family. Didn't mean to convey the message you took from what I said I share with my children. Not working is a luxury, one that was only realized through an awful lot of hard work. They are just old enough to remember when I did work, that transition and what it meant for our family. It was one example, I could have mentioned the artwork or the travel, but me being home is the most immediate and constant reminder of the privilege we have.

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This makes perfect sense to me.  I work part-time, which is absolutely a luxury and a choice, and that's how I talk about it with my kids.  I also discuss it in terms of choices - I work part-time, which lets us do this and that after-school activity together, but which also means that we cannot do this other thing.  [/quote]

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