The Problem With Finger Pointing

“When you point your finger at someone, there are three fingers pointing right back at you.” Right back, indeed. I’ve had this wonderful truism illustrated quite clearly to me here recently. I have four wonderful boys. Each one having a unique and remarkable gift-set likely passed to them through their mother. However, I’ve noticed that each, unfortunately, is not without some degree of paternal influence as well. They have a tendency, at times, to leave their money lying about, willy nilly. A few quarters here and there – no big deal, right? Well, these guys have graduated to leaving 5s and 10s behind couch cushions, in the yard, and even with other people! (Yes, one of my boys would prefer to give his money away rather than be forced to hold onto it…bless his heart.) So, as any well-intentioned parent would do, I took their money to teach them a lesson. Yes. I took it. Likely not the best plan as they’ve since forgotten they even had it in the first place, and I’ve since forgotten where I put it.

That’s one finger

A few unaccounted for bills won’t break their bank, likely. But this type of management – or mismanagement rather – certainly will if left unchecked. So I gave my kids the, “If you’re not responsible with a little, how likely are you to be responsible with a lot?” talk.

Finger number two, please

So, as any good parent would do, I followed up that conversation with a saving and spending plan that each of the boys would be able to implement at his own level. Well, that was my intention, anyway. It’s yet to really be…uh….be uh….finalized.

  Come on in, the water’s fine!

Okay, so I didn’t exactly capitalize on this teachable moment. I might then tell myself there’ll be plenty of time to walk them through financial stewardship. Really? Who among us knows what tomorrow brings? And when was the last time you used the expression, “I have plenty of time”? Other life lessons with respect to etiquette, for example, have not been delayed, so why should this one be? Is it any consolation that they’ll say “Yes sir” and “Yes ma’am” to the attorney taking their bankruptcy application? Too much hyperbole? Maybe. But the reality is this: Financial stewardship is a life lesson ranking as high on the list as most life lessons can. If it’s not at the top, it’s likely scaring the heck out of whatever is.

So here’s the lesson I’m learning: I should practice what I preach, but I don’t have to have a PhD in parenting or finance to begin instilling principles worth adhering to – even if we’re learning some of them at the same time.