Thank you, all of you who showed such concern about the cat and the coffee. A slight swelling is all that remains of that story.
I wish I knew how to write a blog that could be sent directly to pre-teeners and teenagers. There must be such an awful amount of fright and depression in that age group because of homelessness and parents loosing their jobs. Who looks out for that group. I think the parents mistakenly try to protect their children from these bad news. I think it is important that they all should be involve and form a cohesive front.
I would like to tell this group to first of all ...try to be loving and helpful. Help in every way you can and resolve to be a united front. Suggest that you be allowed to look for work in your neighborhood. There are many things you can do to earn money. There must be old people living near by. Offer to sweep snow off the sidewalk. Or to go shopping in the nearest market. Or walk the dog. Ask for the lowest legal payment. At the end of the week add up all your income and keep 10% of your income and save the ninety % for college. If your parents have regained jobs, ask them what you can do in the house to help out and insist on getting paid and do the same saving . Discuss with your parents where to deposit your savings so the money can earn more for you in a safe way.
If they feel that there are ways to save for college there is no way they will drop out of high school. And if they are seriously college bound they will work hard to keep the grades up. And do not ever use a credit card. I have heard so much about huge school loans and on top of that huge credit card debts.
If any of you, my wonderful commenter, have children in this age-group, read this to them and let me know what their reaction is. What on earth does this nearly ninety year old foreigner know about my problems, will probably be their response.
5 comments:
What do you know? You know how to come over here all by yourself and with grit, ingenuity, and determination make not one life, but several lives for yourself--from housemaid to physical therapist to wife and mother to illustrator! And that's just so far! Who knows how many other lives you've had--you've only just begun to write it all down here in this blog. I fully expect to hear that you had several more lives that you'll be telling us about soon.
I can't think of a better-qualified person to tell today's teens how to rise above whatever might be their present circumstances.
My computer died in january and I was so afraid that I'd lost your blog address for good. This evening a friend recovered my entire "favorites" list and your blog was the the first one I went to. I had a lot of catching up to do! Please keep writing. You've led such an interesting life and its wonderful that you are sharing your stories with the world.
Hugs~Cheryl
i think you're a little overly optimistic about that age group. many of them are so lazy and expect their parents to do everything for them...and even in light of economic trouble, their parents still aren't forcing them to earn personal responsibility. after years of having everything done for them, these kids don't know how to do anything for themselves.
this includes simple, menial jobs. they think they're too good for them.
Your savings plan is good advice for any age :)
I think first you need to speak directly to the *parents* of this generation...who have instilled a sense of entitlement in their teenagers.
Not only are so many of them not willing to work at *menial* jobs for *minimal* pay, they aren't willing or expected to lift a finger around the house. They have no work ethic and no life skills and no sense of personal responsibility. I'm generalizing here, not all teens are lazy good-for-nothings! :)
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