Originally Posted by arimuse

everyone is born a blank piece of paper. what we do is what we're taught -

if you start giving to babies before they're even born and continue in that manner then they simply grow feeling "this is the way it is, I want and I get, I never have to give, not even a thank you."

I have a little neighbor girl, 14, who works on w/es for her mom in her mom's business - off the books, cus shes 14. She is sharp as a tack, she knows the value of everything, has a checking account and mom signed for her debit card. She makes about 100$ every 2 weeks! Her mom told her, because she gets paid she has to pay for her dog's vet appointments, pills, food, and anything else the dog needs, for all her guinea pig's needs, for her shampoo/condtioner, and anything else she wants that her mom doesnt want to buy her (she just bought a real soft fuzzy lime green pillow for her bed cus her mom said it wasnt needed, cost her 10$) -clothes, shoes makeup etc.

When she comes over and sees me, if I give her as much of a glass of water shes all over me with thank yous. She absolutely gets how hard money is to come by and how it can translate into "things", and when someone gives you something they put money thought and time into it, but she learned this - it just didnt jump in her head. Shes never just got things because she wanted them. She has chores around the house and started having them from when she was little. She even gets disgusted with some of her classmates when they get things simply because they think they should have them given to them. She trying to save at least half the money she gets for college. I give her gifts at Christmas, and they give me a few things - shes aways come over Christmas afternoon to tell me thank you personally, and I thank her for being so thoughtful and we have a cup of cocoa. sharet