How do you teach personal finance to boys who refuse to work, panic if they don’t have money, and spend every dime on gum and Pokemon cards? Still trying to navigate this “parent” thing, I haven’t yet found a successful, positive method of assigning chores, paying allowance, or discipline. Once I do, I’ll be sure and share it. However, I have discovered a great way to help encourage the boys to save money. [...] 
“Sit. Stay. Stop. Wait… Sit!” He was struggling to gain control as the dog wiggled and sniffed in front of him, nudging the treat in the boy’s hand. “Dad,” he asked. “How do I train a dog to obey me?” The same way you train kids, I thought. Rewards. Bribery. Threats. “Repetition,” Toby replied. The boy stood there, face scrunched in contemplation. Then he took a deep breath, turned back to the dog, [...] 
I was inside scrubbing another sticky floor, when I heard her screeching outside. I glanced out the window to see our neighbor lady (the one who drinks alot – for those who might know the area). She was standing in my driveway, bellowing at the small, neighborhood gathering of boys in our yard. I walked out, dismissed the kids back to the treehouse, and asked her if I could assist her in [...] 
Scrambling. Jamming. Climbing. Scampering. Skittering. Bouldering. Scaling. Living, faith and mountaineering are much the same. Taking in the view from the top begins with braving and mastering the rocks gathered below. Often under the watch of the olderlings. One step at a time. All the way to the summit. 
“Are we there, yet? … Are we there, yet?” Classic lines from a preschooler. Everyone has heard them. Everyone has said them. Growing up, the family joke phrase was… “Is this the city or the country?” My little sister would constantly query from the back seat, eyes straining to determine if the street vendors and tall buildings lining the boulevard, and the bright lines standing guard at intersections were actually spruce trees and rugged mountains [...] |
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