I've got three teenagers, and like most parents, I dream that they will one day have families and children of their own. I dream that they will have great jobs that they love, be a vital part of their communities, and live moral lives marked by honor.
The dreams I have for my children are probably pretty much the same as the dreams you have for yours.
As part of our efforts to teach our kids to work and plan for their best futures, my husband and I expect them to work for their own spending money. Our sons do yard work for friends, wash cars, and engage in an assortment of other odd jobs for extra money. We teach them to save, to give from their hearts and pockets to our church and to those in need.
But I have a little dilemma. Somehow, I've got to tell my kids that they can expect to be ripped off of a substantial amount of the money they?ll earn.
Just as my oldest son, Drew, is reaching the age where he will take his first "real" job with a regular paycheck, I've got to break the news to him that he has a greedy ?uncle.? I'll have to explain that this sly guy has the authority to take money from him every single day. I also have to explain that I?m powerless to stop this uncle from taking more than 10 percent right off the top of everything my son earns for his entire working life.
This task is already tough, but it's even harder because Uncle insists that he's going to put the money into a vault, and when my kid is old enough to retire, Uncle's going to pay it back, with interest, so my son won't starve when he?s old.