• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

My Kids Need To Be A Little More Materialistic

March 26, 2014 by Julie Cole Leave a Comment

Throughout
my parenting journey, I’ve generally put value on experiences rather than
stuff. I’m not fussed about having fancy furniture or cars, mostly because I’m
simply not interested. Those things don’t excite me.

My friends
often laugh at my lack of interest over things like a new house or new car.
When it was time to buy outdoor furniture, my neighbor picked it out. When I
needed new furniture for the family room, my mom and sister did the shopping
and I just sent along my credit card for them to buy what they liked.

I don’t
make a big deal about a broken dish or such things. Hey, it’s only “stuff”,
right? Some of this lack of interest has rubbed off on my children. While my
kids have certain fashion “looks” that they like (mostly defined as “comfy”),
they have never asked for a certain brand or label of clothing.

While we
were away for March break, a friend tried to surprise me by attempting to get
some stains out of a couple of the bedroom carpets. Surprise me, she did! It
turns out she used bleach as part of her cleaning concoction and as a result, I
have multiple patches of bleached carpet throughout two bedrooms. My sister
popped over for a visit the night we returned, so I gave her a tour of the
damage.

While showing
my sister around, I guess I expressed some unusual concern about the bleaching
event, because my daughter pulled me aside and shared that she felt I wasn’t
acting like my usual self. She reminded me that it was an accident and it’s
only carpet and she and her sisters don’t mind that their carpet is splotchy.

Her
sentiment impressed me and I liked that she placed so little value on the
carpet. But then I thought to myself, “Hold on! I’m going to have to replace
these carpets. And I’m the one who paid for them. They ARE of value”.

So it
made me question – what have I been teaching my kids without realizing it? Have
I raised my kids to be so un-materialistic that they don’t understand the value
of anything?
 Or should I not worry, because they’re not irresponsible with
their belongings, so they’re clearly not too far gone?

How much
value do your children place in “things”? Has your attitude around material
possessions been passed down to your kiddos? Do you have any tips on how to
teach kids about money and value?

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Kids, Parenting

About Julie Cole

Julie is the mother of six and a co-founding VP of Mabels Labels, the leading provider of labels for the stuff kids lose!®. After her son was diagnosed with autism, she shelved a legal career to monitor his therapy and launch a business that would strike a better work/life balance. Mabels Labels has grown from a basement start-up into an award winning international phenomenon. It has been featured everywhere from The View to Forbes.com and is widely recognized for its business and product excellence. As company spokeswoman, Julie is a well-known personality amongst mom entrepreneurs and her dynamic personality has led to numerous speaking engagements, from morning TV to university business classes. With humor and candor, Julies writing focuses on her experiences raising a big, happy family while running a successful business, and has appeared in Chicken Soup For the Soul - Power Moms and numerous websites. Follow her on Twitter @JulieCole Julie Cole
www.mabelslabels.com

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Search

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

ModernMom TV

Featured

Brooke Burke: My Slim Down Secrets

Everywhere I look, I hear about a new fitness fad, a quick … [Read More...] about Brooke Burke: My Slim Down Secrets

Must Have

STEM-related Toys to Include in Your Child’s Easter Basket This Year 

April has arrived which means it’s time to pull out the food … [Read More...] about STEM-related Toys to Include in Your Child’s Easter Basket This Year 

Did you know?

What Does It Mean When Your Partner Curses at You?

What Does It Mean When Your Partner Curses at You?

strep throat symptoms in babies

Strep Throat Symptoms in Babies

Best Way to Cook Boneless Shoulder Steak

The Best Way to Cook Boneless Shoulder Steak

toddlers and frequent urination

Toddlers and Frequent Urination

10 foods to improve sperm count and quality

10 Foods to Improve Sperm Count and Quality

Remove the Lens From Plastic Frames

How to Remove the Lens From Plastic Frames

early signs you are pregnant with twins

Early Signs You Are Pregnant With Twins

Academic Parental Pressure on Kids

The Effects of Academic Parental Pressure on Kids

Negative Effects of Single Parent Homes

The Negative Effects of Single Parent Homes on Children

How to Help Young Kids Lose Weight

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2023 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Copyright © 2023 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in