Question #233 Rich Kid Syndrome
If you had Bill Gates-type money what steps would you take in order to keep your kids from growing up as total snots? Or would you let them do whatever they wanted because they are your precious angels?
If you had Bill Gates-type money what steps would you take in order to keep your kids from growing up as total snots? Or would you let them do whatever they wanted because they are your precious angels?
17 comments:
i've thought about this thoroughly and i really don't want my kids to grow up to be total snots. i think the best way to stop this from happening is to not have kids. if i run the chance of having kids, mission abort.
Each time they wanted access to TV, toys, video games, books, pets, the outside or whatever else might entertain them, I'd make them perform a task (maybe a chore, or some mental or physical exercise).
When they got to be teens, all spending money would be given to them in the form of "wages" reimbursed for time spent volunteering for benevolent causes.
Before meals, there would be a mandatory 10-minute session of saying good things about everyone else in the room. One meal per week would be eaten at a soup kitchen.
All of their clothes would come from Goodwill or the Salvation Army.
Also, I'd give them middle names like "Not As Smart As I Think I Am" or "Pretty Enough, But Not the Prettiest."
I would try to set the kid up with enough help and encouragement to be able to do anything, but not so much as to set up the kid to do nothing. With Bill Gates type money it would be tough to achieve though.
I'd try to hide the wealth from the kid, keep him in public schools and let him grow up modestly. But then again with massive money like that I wouldn't want to live that modestly myself.
I just read Prof. Fancy P's answer and I think he has the right idea.
i had a friend in this predicament (she was the kid of rich parents). they had a lot of rules like, one hour of tv per week. i don't know all the rules. but they also had a maid. it was confusing.
i'd try to be not confusing. do regular parent things like allowance for chores, no going to europe at age 8 (who would appreciate that anyway), hang out with the kids. i'm not having kids so i don't know why i'm even thinking about this question...
Well I think the answer is painfully obvious. Real talk.
Umm.. I'd probably protect them from being rich snobs by not giving them money all the time. I had to earn all my own money for my first car, and never grew up with an allowance. I know this sounds all whiny, but its just a fact. And it made me very careful with money, and even quite frugal. As for snobbery, it doesn't matter what money you have, because I think its something you're just born with.
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ps> if Bill and Melinda Gates are your parents, you probably will get a good dose of philanthropy growing up, so that should help. And lets face it, the kids can't be pretty, so that should help too.
I think the only way to do it is to hide the fact that you are rich from them. Every month pretend to be stressed out for money. Not only dress them in goodwill clothes but also dress yourself from there. If you break down and buy them something really cool make a point of not buying any milk that month or something so it seems like the new jeans really set you back.
You can leave them at home a few times a year and claim you are going to talmage or something but instead can sail around on your cocaine-yacht and otherwise live the life of excess and privilege you would be living if it weren't for the kids.
triple C: Caddleprod, Closet, Chains
Being rich and staying sane doesn't need to contradict and I dont think it's difficult to teach that. I would raise them with wealth but make sure they don't define themselves through money. They should understand that it's an enabler, but not who they are. I would absolutely expose them to priviliged things, such as private schools, etc... (unlike Phil) I want them to have the best things in life and they also need to learn to deal with rich-assholes and their arrogant type of thinking as much as with hanging with people who aren't rich. Also, they need to be around normal people, relatives, etc. And if they turn into pricks, you just take some of the money away. I think in their teens they need to be kept on the short leash money-wise... otherwise they're not gonna get it. How can they develop passion and ambition and a sense for what something is worth if they never had to work or struggle for anything?
But in the end: isnt that what I want for my kids? That they dont have to give a shit about noone, and can do whatever they want all day, every day? I think I'd prefer their being carefree assholes vs. broke nice-guys... IF I would have to chose.
I like what Jake said... make them work for everything that they want.
Every. Fucking. Thing.
To be honest I think that kids have certain dispositions that are only mildly shaped by their parents. I know a handful of 100 million+ trust fund kids who are intelligent, polite, hard-working, and in general amazing people who would rather lose their limbs than be seen in tabloid magazines or on E!. Also know some kids who grew up with nothing and are complete brats. And visa-versa. It goes both ways.
I think the best thing you can do is teach kids to be respectful of everyone, including themselves. How they choose to show that respect is going to be up to them, no matter what parents do, rich or poor. And if they want to spend their whole lives in and out of rehab and dating morons, what the fuck do I care? I’m a billionaire!
I think being a good person and setting a good example is a bigger influence than money. I know plenty of poor snotty people who simply just had crappy parents. I know it's sort of a lame example, but if you look at Prince William, he has every right to be a total snot, but I think his mothers charity work and good heart really made an impression on him. He travels the world and visits poor countries and does all sorts of stuff for charity. His mother used to take him to homeless shelters as a kid, and I think that sort of thing can make a huge impact on a young boy. If your children are born into money, they aren't going to think it's a big deal. It will be normal for them. Parents need to make sure they realize how lucky they are and really appreciate what they have, and not take it for granted, which is what I would do I guess. I would just be a good person and try to set a good example.
I'd constantly spank their asses for whining and other snotlike behavior.
Then instead of telling them I'm going to Talmage so I could go sail my cocaine-yacht, I'd send them to Talmage for a couple weeks and peaceout.
My father immigrated to the US in 1980 was an entreprenuer and sold his company to a public firm. I also am an only child so my future inheritance is large. I admit that my dad won the lottery in life as many in his situation failed. Why would I go work for a company where I know I would never make the same amount of money as he has...
I have to agree with Jake and TLR. They have to work for every little thing. They'd have to paint their faces black and tap-dance for me... I would also make them call me "Massa" on occasion... but only in the bedroom.
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