A Post Easter Thought

On Saturday at my snowflaking job a coworker asked if I was getting Easter baskets for my kids. I said that I wasn't. Her children are much younger than mine and she remarked that they were excited about Easter because they thought it was going to be a huge gift-getting day like Christmas. My friend said she thought it would be fun to give someone my daughter's age an Easter basket because it could be filled with lip gloss, make up and little trinket types of things. I thought about that for a brief moment, but still was not motivated to run out to get stuff for Easter for C1 and C2.



Even when they were growing up, we never made Easter a huge present-giving day. Because I sold Longaberger, each had and still has a Longaberger Easter basket. I used to put grass in it along with a chocolate bunny and a small toy, for example a stuffed Easter animal or maybe an action figure for my son. Then they would use their baskets to gather eggs at the Easter egg hunt.



I must say that I do think C1 thought I was giving Easter baskets this year. She was shocked when I told her that I wasn't. I'm thinking 22 and 16 and you don't believe in the Easter bunny...no need for the Easter baskets. In the end I did get each of them a chocolate bunny.

Should Children be Paid to Excel in School?

As you know I have two children a daughter who just turned 22 and a son who is 16. I call them C1 and C2 for Child #1 and Child #2. When most people have two children, you can see differences in their personalities and their approach to things like school. But I was blessed with two children exactly the same.

C1 and C2 are very, very smart. They test well. They have a lot of natural talent and ability. Consequently, they have never learned how to work hard or put forth one iota of effort. Just to give you an example, C2 doesn't like to take honors classes in school because he'd have to open a book and read a little. I mean, I'm in awe of their natural ability. I think they got it from their dad.

Anyway, when they were in elementary school, my husband would pay them for making A's and B's on their report cards. An "A" yielded more money than a "B". I can't remember exactly how much each was worth, but they got paid. As they got to middle school and high school, it seems that they didn't need the money because they would do just enough school work to get a passing grade.

So that brings me to my question: Should children be paid for grades?

Reasons to pay.

1. When you go to work you get paid. School is a job for kids, so why not pay them?
2. Payment is an incentive. If they know they're going to get paid, that may encourage them to excel, but not my kids.
3. Life is expensive. Children have many wants. Earning money for performance in school is an opportunity for parents to teach children the money mantras: earn, save, invest and give to charity.
4. If there is some toy or gadget that a child really wants, this is an opportunity for them to learn delayed gratification.

Reasons not to pay.

1. School and school work is what you do as a child. A pat on the back should be sufficient. There should be no expectation of a monetary reward.
2. If children are paid to make good grades, they won't learn to appreciate education. They will only work for the grade to get the money.
3. There are other ways for children to earn money. For example, chores.
4. Rather than paying children for grades, children should be given an allowance. Parents can still teach the money mantras with the allowance money.

Obviously, for me hind sight is 20-20. But what do you think? Should we pay children for good grades? Should we pay them when they score a touchdown, make a field goal, or hit a home run? How do you weigh in on this subject?

My Free Cell Phone

C1 and C2 decided that they wanted new cell phones for Christmas. Back in the summer I asked my husband to start researching cell phones so that I could put my money together and use cash to buy the cell phones. Of course, they wanted very expensive phones that have many, many bells and whistles. So my husband and I agreed that this would be the only gift each would get and we would spend up to $300 for each phone. I know that C1 wanted a Blackberry. C2 wanted something similar.

My husband was all set to order the phones online. He even found a couple of rebate deals, which meant we would spend less than $300 for C2's phone. Well, when he went to place the order, he found out that we would have to upgrade our phone service to the tune of $40-$50 per month for each phone! As you well know, I'm somewhat remedial when it comes to technical stuff, but I do know that I am not upgrading to the tune of almost $1000 per year so that my children can have really cool phones.

In the end C1 and C2 settled on the same phone. C2 had it as an option on his Christmas list. But C1 decided that it was good enough for her too. They both were very appreciative. I got text messages, thanking me for the phones. Best of all each phone was only $85, leaving money to get them other items that they had on their Christmas lists.

This leads me to my free phone. My husband, C1 and C2 have been after me to upgrade my cell phone. I didn't think that I needed a new phone. I rarely use mine. The only people who call me are my family and my snowflaking job. I'm old school in that I think the phone is for making phone calls. Well, each reminded me that an upgrade would be free because I'm the primary account holder! I thought, if it truly costs zero dollars, then I'm all over it. So I did it! I upgraded my cell phone for free. I feel like I really saved money too. I was willing to spend $600 for two phones. In the end, I got 3 phones for less than $200!

The Continuing Saga of C1

My daughter decided that she's not going to move 13 hours away. Between you and me, I think it was a financial decision. Although she hasn't said anything, I believe she realized that she doesn't have the income (she works as a bartender at a small local restaurant) to support such a relocation. Also, she only pays her father and me $400 a month for rent. I haven't done the research, but I would think that to live the lifestyle to which she has become accustomed would mean paying three to four times that amount in rent.

She has a friend who lives in New Mexico. She mentions him every so often. I guess they talk on the phone quite frequently. She said that one of the reasons he likes New Mexico is that his allergies don't flare up. Well, C1 has seasonal allergies. I suggested that perhaps she might like to visit her friend. I even offered to pay half of the airfare. I told her that I thought she might like it there especially if she wouldn't have any allergy symptoms. Well, she declined. Something about New Mexico being a land locked state. My heart sank.

Then she announced that she would like to visit her uncle in Europe. I perked right back up. She said that she had researched airfares and that she could get a flight for around $500. Of course, her next question was whether or not my offer to pay half still stood. I said, "Absolutely." But I'm waiting for her to tell me that she has the $250 before I give her the other half.

I really worry about C1. She seems a little wayward to me. I wish she could find direction for herself. I just keep thinking that experiencing a new location might help her find her way.