How to Raise Spoiled Kids: Sweet 16 Party April 28, 2006
We all are trying to save on monthly costs, cut tax costs, or spend less to gather enough for a major purchase that has meaning in our lives, such as a home, college tuition, retirement, or emergency expense (at least those of us in the personal finance blog world and responsible spenders). I’ve been able to cut out $290 per month and counting, without noticing any difference in my lifestyle. But when I read about MTV’s ‘Super Sweet 16′ show about super-spoiled 16 year olds, I get sick to my stomach. I mean, all the effort by parents working and saving money for a secure future goes down the drain thinking about kids who throw temper tantrums because they want a party that will cost upwards of $200,000, goes down the drain. This behavior by children starts with the parents. One parent who is on the MTV show says:
“If you can afford to have a grand celebration, then why not,” said Dr. Kothapalli, who immigrated to the United States from India in the mid-1980’s. “It’s the American way. You work hard and you play hard.”
It’s no mystery that hearing this from parents results in kids like the one who says:
“We both want to lose three pounds,” said Priya, who received a Mercedes convertible and an assortment of diamond jewelry for her birthday. Her sister’s graduation gift package included a Bentley, diamonds and two homes in India.
“I was really surprised,” Divya said, “because I was only expecting a Bentley and one house.”
If you want to instill responsible money habits in your kids, they need some wisdom from parents about finance before they can become responsible citizens of the world, not to be wasteful. How sad when we are in a world where most people are dealing with poverty, environmental disasters, war, and energy crisis. I hope these parents who are raising these kids come to their senses.
Source:
MTV’s ‘Super Sweet 16′ Gives a Sour Pleasure
NY Times
By LOLA OGUNNAIKE
Published: April 26, 2006