11.24.08

Teaching my Son Responsibility

Posted in Family at 10:31 pm by <ADMINNICENAME>

A few weeks ago, I bought my son new Sunday pants and shoes.  That evening I walked into his room and his brand new Sunday pants were on the floor.  I picked them up and told them I was going to take them back to the store unless he paid me the money for them.  He told no way that he was saving his money for a computer.  I said, “Okay”, I’ll take them back to the store.  He responded, “Fine with me, I won’t go to church if I don’t have church clothes” but I told him it wouldn’t be a problem for me to find some clean, used clothes at a second hand store.  He said, “That’s cool, I look good in anything.” I was surprised at his response.  If he doesn’t care about wearing nice clothes to church, neither do I.

With my older children, I consistently made sure that they had jobs outside and in the home. They received compensation by filling out a home chore chart, or payment from their employer.  I quickly learned when they spend their own hard earned money, they take care of their stuff, and more carefully consider each desired purchase.  This incident with my son was a wake up call that I need to recommit my energy to teaching my younger children to work hard, and be responsible.

Permalink