Two Voices Separated By 1 Generation

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Added: Wed. Mar 25, 2009 1:29pm
Posted in: Money

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MONEY, MONEY, MONEY

 

Money. It seems to be the only thing we hear about these days. Except, of course, reports on the octomom, which is a whole other subject.  Money.  Personally, I hate the subject.  I was raised having to beg for everything and being resented for any need that pertained to my well being.  There was always plenty of money for my parents' cigarettes, booze and sleeping pills, but very little seemed to be left over for school shoes and first day supplies.  I entered Tony Palmetto High School with one pair of Capezio flats, two Harbert skirts, and one madras shirt.  Unfortunately, I was too emotionally immature to venture out and get a job, which would have given me my own money. Money. There it is again.

 

I cannot remember a time where the subject of money did not induce tremendous anxiety in me. I usually have these anxious moments in the middle of the night as I lay awake convincing myself I won't end up a bag lady.  I am getting better though, as this happens only once in awhile now.  If I do get a craving for my old anxious feeling I just listen to Sean Hannity rant for 3 hours and I'm good to go.  According to him America is going to hell in a hand basket and the life that we all knew is nothing more than a soon to be memory.  Is he right? For the 22 million listeners he claims to have he is.  But he's not right for me.  I have no idea how the country really got into this economic downturn. And I do feel that it is a downturn not the total collapse of our economy. However, I feel that if we keep going into an emotional downturn generated by the media's fear tactics then this wonderful country is in trouble.  I learned a long time ago to fight the fear monster around money and now it is really coming in handy.  Every time I hear someone say "in these hard economic times" I say to myself "says who?".   If there is 6 to 7 percent unemployment that means 93 to 94 percent of us are working!  Are things slowing down? Sure. But can't this be reframed into a good thing?  Maybe this time needs to be used to re-evaluate and to be introspective as to what is truly valuable.  Because of my sense of material deprivation as a kid, I over compensated for years with my own children and myself.  They had everything they asked for, and not just for Christmas.  I was determined they were not going to see me as a selfish, uncaring parent!  Of course this was wrong.  Thankfully, I also taught them a work ethic and a sense of meaningful giving to others.

 

Most of us involved with Growing Bolder have been through similar economic issues before, so we know they pass.  Let's make it easier for everyone and remain positive, and encourage each other to not buy into the fear mongers.  Have faith, have trust, and know you are not valued by the ability to purchase a $6.00 Starbucks Latte.

 

Written by: Deedra Hunter is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor  and Narrative Life Coach who has also published a book called; Winning Custody: A Woman’s Guide to Retaining Custody of Her Children. She has been a mental health professional for over 20 years and specializes in the counseling and treatment of eating disorders. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Florida International University, and her Master’s degree in Counseling from St. Thomas University. She also holds a Certificate in Chemical Dependency from University of Miami’s School of Continuing Education

 

 

 

 

It's a Hard Knock Life- When I was a kid I had everything you could ever want. Mom and Dad bought us games, clothes, toys, and took us on lavish vacations. From our perspective we had it made. Once I got a little older I started to realize that certain friends were getting new technology way before us. It never bothered me though. I had been taught the value of a dollar and at the age of 16 I got my first job: scooping ice cream at a local farm store. I made about $7.50 and hour which is still more than minimum wage in most states. I used that money towards purchases at the mall, movies and even a trip to France as a junior in high school. I knew how much things cost and what I had to do to get them. I became a more responsible person thanks to both my parents.

 

 

Today, especially with the economy being in its current state, young people are finding it harder and harder to accept that they have to actually work for a living. Times have changed a great deal in the 10 years since I graduated high school. Fewer and fewer kids have jobs. Yet parents are still giving their children everything they want and more. Even young people coming out of college are having a tough time in the current job market. They are predicting that 2009 will be the most difficult year for a graduate to find a place in the world.

 

Since I was in India for 6 months I got to watch the entire collapse of our economic system from abroad. Now that I'm home all the teaching jobs have been either frozen or cut. There is no money left. I have never seen anything like this before. Sure our country has had ups and downs but my generation has only ever studied them in history books. When I was going through school all I ever heard was “They will always need teachers, no matter what." Thank goodness I was instilled with great saving habits before I left the country or I might be in serious trouble. The times they are a changin’.

 

I am finding that this ingrained sense of entitlement is just now rearing its ugly head. The monsters we've created by giving kids everything they want is now coming back to bite us in the rear. Parents should be sitting down with their kids and explaining what is happening. What I am seeing rather is a glazed over look from many parents trying to pretend that nothing has changed. "Sure you can have a new car. No problem." When will parents learn that if they ignore the problem their kids will learn to be a new and improved, spend what you don't have, credit card coma induced, bunch of consumer zombies.

 

Haven't we learned anything from this mess we've gotten ourselves into?? I mean, I know it's a touchy and nowadays political subject but come on people! I know we wanted better for our kids but isn't that one of the reasons we got ourselves into this mess in the first place?

 

 

~ELIZABETH WHITTEMORE