The applause was resounding

[Tink]

A very self-important college freshman attending a recent football game,
took it upon himself to explain to a senior citizen sitting next to him why
it was impossible for the older generation to understand his generation.

'You grew up in a different world, actually an almost primitive one,' the
student said, loud enough for many of those nearby to hear. 'The young
people of today grew up with television, jet planes, space travel, man
walking on the moon, our spaceships have visited Mars. We have nuclear
energy, electric and hydrogen cars, computers with DSL, bsp; light-speed
processing ....and,' pausing to take another drink of beer.

The Senior took advantage of the break in the student's litany and said,
'You're right, son. We didn't have those things when we were young.....but we were the ones who invented them. Now, you arrogant little twit, what are you doing for the next generation?'

The applause was resounding..

[teri88]

Oh I do love that! Especially after I just spent 15 minutes arguing with my almost 18 year old about a car he wants to buy. I refuse to allow him to go into debt while in HS. (there will be plenty of time for that later on) Somehow everything that has ever gone wrong is MY fault

[DianaB]

I wish that I could come up with good responses quickly. I usually think of them way, way afterward!

Teri, sorry that you're having troubles with your son. Teenage years can be so difficult, for parents and teens!!!

[Janet]

That was great Tink, loved the comeback!

Teri, I know what you mean. I didn't want my son to go in dept. either. When he was little he was always interested in cars. So I told him he was going to have to save his money and buy one, because his father and I wouldn't. (We had to buy our own cars at his age).

Anyway...when he was around 8 or 9 he started picking up corn in the fields around our house and then he and his father would take it to the grain elevator and get paid for it. He continued to do this every fall and even sold some to a neighbor for his goats.

He then got a job detasseling corn. When it came time to get him a car...he paid cash $1200 for it. It's a '98, but it's a really nice car and he loves it.

I think it's great you're such a good Mom and standing your ground. It's the only way this younger generation is going to learn.

[teri88]

Thanks Janet. My parents never taught me money management and my father was always robbing from Peter to pay Paul. I am determined that my kids will not be like that. Kevin has had a job for over a year and Megan starts hers on Monday. I am not very popular with them when I make them earn their own money for fun things and won't let them be in debt. Hopefully someday they'll understand!

[AngieDoogles]

Originally Posted by teri88

Thanks Janet. My parents never taught me money management and my father was always robbing from Peter to pay Paul. I am determined that my kids will not be like that. Kevin has had a job for over a year and Megan starts hers on Monday. I am not very popular with them when I make them earn their own money for fun things and won't let them be in debt. Hopefully someday they'll understand!

They will! And eventually they'll be very grateful that you taught them how to live responsibly.

[judy]

Originally Posted by teri88

Oh I do love that! Especially after I just spent 15 minutes arguing with my almost 18 year old about a car he wants to buy. I refuse to allow him to go into debt while in HS. (there will be plenty of time for that later on) Somehow everything that has ever gone wrong is MY fault

Teri - Somewhere along the way, I just accepted the fact that my daughter blamed me for everything. Did you know that somehow, I was to blame for the war, the weather, her bad hair days, her teacher's moods, and it was definitely my fault when it rained. I also realized that I really didn't care if she blamed me or not. If she didn't like me because I was trying to teach her something, I didn't care either.

She has finally grown up, and I watch my grandchildren blaming her for everything.
Ha!

Tink - that's a great story.

[Marilyn]

Tink, great story, and I've realized that not matter what we do, for some children, it's never enough. I think our oldest is finally getting it. Melissa has a way to go, yet, but I think she will realize very soon..

[Janet]

Originally Posted by Janet

That was great Tink, loved the comeback!

Teri, I know what you mean. I didn't want my son to go in dept. either. When he was little he was always interested in cars. So I told him he was going to have to save his money and buy one, because his father and I wouldn't. (We had to buy our own cars at his age).

Anyway...when he was around 8 or 9 he started picking up corn in the fields around our house and then he and his father would take it to the grain elevator and get paid for it. He continued to do this every fall and even sold some to a neighbor for his goats.

He then got a job detasseling corn. When it came time to get him a car...he paid cash $1200 for it. It's a '98, but it's a really nice car and he loves it.

I think it's great you're such a good Mom and standing your ground. It's the only way this younger generation is going to learn.

Can't believe I wrote dept instead of debt. Duh!!!!

[Janet]

Originally Posted by teri88

Thanks Janet. My parents never taught me money management and my father was always robbing from Peter to pay Paul. I am determined that my kids will not be like that. Kevin has had a job for over a year and Megan starts hers on Monday. I am not very popular with them when I make them earn their own money for fun things and won't let them be in debt. Hopefully someday they'll understand!

I'm not always popular either Teri. I have a job to do right now...being a mother. I'll be his friend when he's an adult. I know he'll understand, just like I learned to.