Money - The Root of All Evil

We have a saying in our house when it comes to money - "Mom is 'el broko." It's not necessarily true all the time, but it helps my children understand that mom is not made of money, nor do we have a money tree growing in the backyard. Like most, my kids are expensive. They are not greedy kids, nor do they beg me for something in every store, but they cost me a pretty penny.

This month alone proves my point. Beyond back-to-school supplies and clothes, we had dance registration, school fees, cub scout signups, soccer fees (and supplies), and pediatric and dentist checkups. Needless to say, the well is running dry as summer vacation slowly comes to a close.

I truly believe the old saying that "money is the root of all evil." Without it, we become stressed, worried, panicked, and sometimes, even bored. While millions of people are struggling to make ends meet, I've spent the summer trying to show my kids just how lucky they are to have what they do - kicking off our at-home work study program.

Because my son is a miniature Alex P. Keaton and my daughter has her eye on a laptop computer that I refuse to buy for a 10-year old, they jumped on board. Beyond typical household chores, we found "work" for them to do this summer. My son helped clean out the shed and trim overgrown weeds in the backyard while my daughter helped me with online research. They kept a timecard and worked for $5 an hour with Friday paydays.

We were really pleased with the program - the kids worked hard, enjoyed collecting their paychecks, and seemed to gain confidence. They learned that money doesn't come easy and that hard work is important for both personal and financial success.

My 9-year old son, though, found his success a little too liberating. After checking his wallet yesterday and gloating about the $25 he has left, he promptly informed us that he is ready to quit. "I'm rich now," he said. "But mom is still 'el broko."

Yes, money is the root of all evil.

Shannon Philpott has been a professional newspaper reporter, published freelance magazine writer, and experienced SEO copywriter for 10+ years. She also teaches both college journalism and English in St. Louis, MO, and maintains a blog about writing, reflecting, and teaching at http://www.shannonphilpott.com