Would money change you as a parent?
The humongous Mega Millions jackpot -- now at $330 million -- got me thinking about whether money would change me as a parent.
If I won the jackpot -- I could dream, can't I? -- for instance, what kind of parent would I become?
Even if you didn't win the lottery, what if you didn't have to worry about money? Would you parent differently?
Would you stay home with the kids? What kind of advantages would you provide your kids without creating a culture of privilege?
Comments
No - I would still be broke after paying off all my bills.
Posted by: your neighbor | January 4, 2011 6:53 AM
I am going to become a parent in June and I would love to win the lottery so I could stay home and raise my child. It would be a dream come true.
Posted by: Sarah G. | January 4, 2011 8:26 AM
Hannah,
Years ago, I dreamed big about winning a jackpot. However, as I got older and I shifted my focus, I would be scared to death for winning that amount of money now for a variety of reasons. That;s just me.
If my kids knew I had that much money at our disposal, would they feel motivated to dream, work and seek out their goals in life? I do not want to raise "spoiled rich kids".
If anything were I to win, I would simply keep enough for their educations, needs, wants and that's it. Education, though is number 1.
I feel in the grander scheme of things, having that much money would just complicate things and create problems. People WILL find out and I don't want to go through life feeling that I'm perceived as a walking ATM by others. I hope I made sense and addressed your questions. Thanks!
Posted by: Ted | January 4, 2011 1:08 PM
Of course once I have all those millions in my hands I might change my mind, but...
I would try my hardest not to change much about the way I parent. I was brought up to believe that you have to earn what you get.
My kids are young, but I encourage them everyday to help with simple chores (like picking up their toys before bed or vacuuming).
I would definitely put aside plenty for each of them to have a fully-paid college education, as I would not want them to start off their adult lives under mountains of debt for something that has become a requirement in our society.
But things like TVs and cars and video games would have to be earned and/or paid for by them.
Posted by: Aileen K | January 4, 2011 1:36 PM
Yes, it would change me as a parent. I'd hire someone to raise the kids. Then i'd just do the fun stuff with them. Maybe see them once a week. Keep it fun.
Posted by: headshots Los Angeles | January 4, 2011 6:23 PM
I would stay home until they are five, then sent them to school, and raise them like the way I was raised. I was well provided, but I had to earn everything.
Posted by: best friend necklaces | January 6, 2011 6:36 AM
I would have more kids, that's for sure.
Posted by: Betsy | January 6, 2011 10:55 AM