Money

I believe it is important to teach children the value of money, how hard it is to earn it and how easy it is to spend it. Part of that lesson includes the importance of saving. Our kids have been begging - and I mean truly begging - to go to Disney World. I hear at least every other day, "Mommy, when can we go to Disney?" Ugh. So, my response has been, "As soon as we save enough money." I think this may be in the process of backfiring.

My children are now obsessed with money. Truly. If they see any coin in any place - dirty or not, they will lunge for it, knocking things and people over just to have that penny, nickle or dime. It can be quite embarrassing when this mad dash occurs in public. They are not grasping the concept that all of our money is shared and that it doesn't matter who gets the coin or dollar. Nor are they grasping the fact that when this happens in public, people look at us with shock and pity in their eyes. Ok...maybe I am being dramatic. But you get the point.

And due to my 'lesson' on how to value money, I have created money hungry monsters. Recently when watching Spongebob Squarepants that featured the greedy Mr. Crab, Maura was watching with intensity. She then looked up from the television, pondered for about 2 seconds and then admitted, "Mom, I like money as much as Mr. Crab." GREAT.

So, when you see my kids' faces on the front page of the Wall Street Journal for working in cahoots with Bernie Madoff, you can blame me and my bright idea.