This week, two of them are earning money and one is spending money, so I suppose we’re heading in the right direction. Oldest Child has started his summer job; the first time he’s had an office job and has earned any sort of significant amount above minimum wage. Let’s hope it’s a trend.
MC completed his referee course and has been signing up for soccer games to ref every spare minute he has. Very driven by the mighty dollar, that one. He’s already running into his fair share of abusive parents and argumentative coaches, but so far not too rattled by it. He’s having to undergo a bit of an attitude adjustment towards referees when playing his own games though, as now he is one of them and may get into trouble if he’s seen to be causing trouble. The cash is rolling in, so it’s all good.
Youngest Child is a whole other matter, however. This week he is spending money like it’s going out of fashion. He is off on a school trip toOttawa,MontrealandQuebec City. It’s the first time he’s travelled without any family members, and the first time he’s been in possession of his own debit card… which he seems to be brandishing with gay abandon. He left on a plane on Sunday morning with said card in his wallet along with $40 cash. By Monday night, he had burned through $100. I have this mental image of him wandering aroundQuebecwith this enormous grin on his face, absolutely entranced by such personal and financial freedom. Unfortunately for him, if the craziness continues for too long, his bank account will run dry. Won’t that be a hardcore lesson in fiscal responsibility?
Money may not buy happiness but it definitely makes this particular teenage world go round.