Tyranny in the suburbs

New tyrannical rule has taken our otherwise peaceful suburban home. . . this ridiculous notion called "character" and its all too ugly friend "integrity" nevermind the abhorred "gratitude" and "moderation". You can imagine the terror in which we live when nightmares such as these break loose in our home.

Alright enough with the drama of it all. I'm destined to be accused of being "soooo dramatic" by the 10yr old.

So I put a spending freeze on toys. At least a freeze on my wallet. I've set up a system by which Jordan can do daily tasks and even some extra chores in order to earn a small wage that he can then save for the purchase of toys - aka plastic joy. There was a seething greed and ungratefulness settling in our house and I'd just finally had enough.
There never seemed to be enough stuff. Each new toy only made the next new toy more necessary and urgent and any denial of this inalienable right to more stuff was met with outrage, deep sighs, and rolled eyes.

Enough was finally enough.

I can only hope that somewhere in here a little boy will learn the value of hard work, the importance of setting a goal and working towards it, and maybe even that "new" and "stuff" are ever elusive lovers. A fickle pair. Stuff will never be enough. And new lasts but a few minutes. Can you imagine really learning that at age 10? Well, no, neither can I, but imagine that one could .. . how much heartache would be spared? How much clamoring over senseless possessions, attention, and status could be sidestepped?

Jordan, on the other hand, is sure that I've lost my mind. After all, EVERYONE else already has a cell phone and their parents buy them WHATEVER they want.

It is a miserable little life he is forced to lead.

What I want to be. . .

In talking about savings and futures Jordan share some of his thoughts on how his savings should and shouldn't be spent.

Jordan: But I don't even want to go to college so why do we have to save for it?

Mom: I never said that you had to go to college, but remember when we talked last time about keeping an open mind and looking for all kinds of different opportunities. Maybe you'll use the money for another kind of training, maybe it will be for a car, or your first apartment. . .

Jordan: But I dont want to go to college. Then I won't have to be a policeman or a doctor or even a drug dealer. I mean ... then I won't have to . . .

Mom (a bit perplexed): No one said that you had to be any of those things. Since you seem to have a pretty good idea of what you do not want to be - any thoughts on what you would like to do?

Jordan: Yeah. I want to be a hotel man. You know, give people their keys and stuff.

Mom: Okay, so like at the front desk?

Jordan: Yeah. . . . . . .okay I'm just joking. I mean, really, that's not what I want to be.

And around and around we went. But at least now that he isn't going to college he won't have to be a drug dealer. And here I never even knew that a college degree was required for official drug dealing. I have so much to learn. Thank goodness Jordan is kind enough to teach me.