Money Must Grow on Trees
>> Wednesday, February 2, 2011
I've been trying to think about what would be a good gift for my graduating stepdaughter. I really don't have a clue yet. I was also thinking that anything we get her will be nothing compared to what her mother will give her but oh well. I'm not losing any sleep over that. We'll come up with something for her that doesn't crush our bank account into oblivion or put us into debt for a few years...we have time yet. This thought popped into my head a few days ago: I think her mother will get her a new car for graduation.
So today I asked my hubby if his daughter has given any indication of what she wanted for graduation. Of course she has. She told her dad she wants a new car. *excuse me while I pick myself up off the floor* She picked a college that costs $62,000 per year AND wants somebody to buy her a new car? This from a kid who hasn't ever held a regular job - not even babysitting? Wow, what's it like to have things handed to you?!?!
I could not imagine ever telling one of my parents that I had a new car on my gift list! My first car was paid for by me. My auto insurance was paid for by me. My college was paid for by me. I pulled good grades and worked several jobs in high school at a doctor's office in the afternoon, waitressed at night, and I babysat on weekend nights when I wasn't working at the restaurant. I worked for what I wanted or needed. I worked and went to college on my own dime, not my parents. I don't understand this mentality where everything gets handed to you without working or anything (and that's not just college but kids today EXPECT everything - mp3 players, cell phones, etc.). I've already told my oldest, who is two years away from a driver's license, that she'll have to pay for the higher insurance if she wants her driver's license (and if she expects a car, she better have a job).
Yeah, good luck with that new car, ex, because we will not be buying it for her. My car is ten years old and my husband's is 13 years old, both over 100,000 miles. If anybody is getting a new car on our dime, it'll be one of us. I don't give free rides and never to ungrateful kids. Maybe that sounds mean to some but I expect my kids to learn the value of working for something and not have things handed to them on a silver platter without any effort on their part.
2 comments:
I feel your pain, my SD is graduating also. My husband said as soon as he quits paying child support he is going to take 50 dollars a week out of his check and give it to his daughter. I laughed at him. We have struggled for 4 years because he pays CS. I was going to start living and I was not giving up anything for him to do that. He was going to give up something.
I really hope my husband doesn't get it into his head that we'll be handing out cash to a kid who won't work. I don't "think" he will (because my wrath would be awesome:) but time will tell. He's been looking forward to the end of child support as well so *fingers crossed* he doesn't think about becoming the personal ATM machine for his adult children.
After 15 years of struggling financially, when child support for his two kids ends, it will REALLY end. No way will it continue in the form of handouts - unless hubby wants to live by himself:) We've been talking for years about moving to a bigger home with property to handle our own four growing children instead of being squeezed into our current house like sardines when child support ends. That's my plan. Hope it'll still be hubby's if his daughter puts her hand out.
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