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How are you discussing the economic collapse with your children?

Posted by rachaelbliss • 2/21/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: business, child, economic collapse, family, jobs, open call, parker palmer, politics, tragic gap

My children are all grown, but this economic collapse is a real struggle for them. Tonight I post a letter to my child at peoplepowergranny.blogspot.com. I want to be real, but I also want to give hope. Vote in my poll on how you approach this subject with your children, whether they be young or old.

User Comments

2/21/09

clioandme

I have appreciated my father's attitude of courage, fighting back, not taking things lying down, and humor.

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1. 2/22/09
  
  clioandme
  
  Maybe I should add that clearly I was talking about a senior citizen parent and an adult son or daughter, since that seems to be the situation with the OP and her blog post.
  
  Of course, what messages one conveys to children will vary by age, level of maturity, and how dire the situation is.
2/21/09

Anok

My mother is in denial - and deeply in debt. So, I'll not be getting any talk from her

Punky is too young to care, so I have no discussion there either.

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2/21/09

rightcommentary

I don't think you can be brutally honest with your kids. I think that just creates anxiety for them. At the same time, however, if you're in financial straights, your kids are going to know it - so lying isn't a good idea either.

I think you have to appreciate the age of your children and try to explain to them what's happening (in a macro way) and then how you feel about it and how it could impact your family. Above all, I think children need to be reassured that as a parent, you are going to ensure your children are well looked after (presuming they're not adults) and they will have the things they need.

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2/22/09

xmarks

I was out of work for a couple of months. My severance covered us but we prepared the kids that we were cutting back a little and the we may have to cut back some more. We normally go away for a weekend in November, which we skipped but we spent some special time at home. We focused on the good things, like time together, not the expensive material things. They are young so it was a little easier. Luckily I went back to work without taking a pay cut, so we didn't have to do anything dramatic like move in with grandma.

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