Learning in Economic Quicksand

P.E.E.R. Pressure & Keeping up with the J.O.N.E.S.
Tough times put a lot of pressure on our young people, as parents tighten their budgets. However it is the P.E.E.R. (Parents Experiencing Excellence in Retrospect) Pressure that does them in the most. This is where parents (or elders) decide that they had no “whimsical wants” and made no “oops” decisions in their younger lives.

“You’re 13 now, you should know better.”

Why should they know what at which age? And when did you really learn the lessons you know today? Now is not the time to transfer anger to children. You’ll always make better, lasting connections when you admit you’re human.

Go on and have a flashback to when you were a teenager. Let them know that you were able to redirect your life after “actually” thinking some of the things, and feeling some of the ways they do. Then you can transfer that S.O.B. (Stretching Of the Budget) speech to your new expectations of them....

And whatever you do… don’t keep up with the J.O.N.E.S. (Just Our Neighbors' Expensive Stuff). Everyone will recover at a different pace. Let your respect for one another grow, and help according to where you see fit.

Don’t under or over-estimate your ability to S.H.I.N.E.