Well put!!
I am on my 2nd child to be old enough to drive...BUT I refuse to buy the car or pay the insurance unless the grades are great and they are in sports. My 1st paid for his own, the 2nd is a great student and loves sports. The car he drives is a 97 Civic, it is a nice car....BUT...why do parents buy their kids new cars? Is image really that important? What are they teaching the child?
Too many kids get wayyyy to much handed to them on the silver platter! My boys get $15.00 a week, but they work for it! When they are old enough to be on their own, they will know how to mop, vacuum, dust, clean showers and toilets, fold laundry.... My boys know to hold a door for someone and treat people with respect! The worst a teacher has said is that they are a little chatty...the best (and this makes me feel good) is they are very respectful, helpful, and nice to their classmates!
I pray every minute they don't get mixed up with any of the craziness going on! We talk about problems at school and with their friends. They know I'm always there for them.
They might not have the BEST of everything, but they are learning that to get something you work for it, because that is life...