Just a quick reminder: we’re not rolling in cash, so please remember to turn off the lights!
By Dr. Emily Carter
Updated: September 21, 2020
Originally Published: November 25, 2016
As I navigate the rollercoaster of parenthood, I find myself morphing into my own parents—especially my father. The transformation seems to speed up when I hear myself admonishing my kids for the same things that used to irritate me as a child. There’s nothing quite as draining as the constant reminder that “money doesn’t grow on trees!”
It’s amusing to realize that I’m now the one who gets riled up about the lights being left on, the doors being ajar, or the TV blaring when no one’s watching. My evenings are often spent wandering around the house, flicking off switches and muttering under my breath. If my siblings were to visit, they might think they’d stepped back into our childhood home, only to tease me for it.
But you know what? They don’t pay my electricity bills, do they? Utilities are not just an annoyance in a board game; they’re real-life expenses that tend to be overlooked by children. My little one, for example, seems to think that the power for his favorite nightlight and the Wi-Fi for Netflix appear magically, just like the air he breathes. His water usage habits—turning on the faucet and then abandoning it mid-sentence—suggest he views water the same way.
Let’s be honest: kids don’t grasp the concept of money. My son thinks every coin is a penny, and I once had to dig through a week’s worth of diapers after he swallowed one. If he understood the costs associated with electricity, water, heat, food, and Wi-Fi, I doubt his expectations would change—he’d still see them as free perks of life.
There’s a unique privilege in being a child with their needs met, and while I want to keep that innocence alive for as long as possible, I’m also aware that reality will inevitably set in. It’s a delicate balance; I don’t want to overwhelm him with the pressures of our budget, just as he doesn’t intend to stress me out with his carefree attitude.
Becoming our parents is practically a rite of passage, and the childlike oblivion to adult responsibilities is just part of the journey. I hope to shield my kids from the everyday worries of adulthood for a little while longer. After all, they have plenty of time before they join the workforce—perhaps as early as 10, just kidding! Until then, I’ll just have to get creative with my tactics to remind them about energy conservation, maybe even by linking their light usage to their allowance (which they don’t actually get).
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In summary, as parents, it’s natural to find ourselves echoing our parents’ concerns, particularly about finances and energy conservation. While kids may not grasp the significance of these lessons right now, it’s our job to gently guide them without overwhelming them with adult worries.