1 . Two parents in very different circumstances (境况) told me their worries. One was a Google executive in New York City, who said, “I’m worried that my kids are growing up with too much money. How do I keep them from throwing their money around?” The second was a single mom from Los Angeles. She explained that her son was asking her for $150 jeans so that he could fit in with the cool crowd, and she didn’t know what to do.
To both parents I gave the same answer: Start talking about the value of money, the same way you’d teach your kid to tell the truth or be kind to others. Make sure they know what matters most to your family when it comes to money. Yes, we could afford fancy jeans, but they're not a priority for us.
When it comes to day-to-day lessons, the best way to teach your kids the value of a dollar is to give them actual dollars. When my daughter was 13, she wanted to go shopping with friends for back-to-school clothes. The other parents gave their girls a credit card or a debit card (借记卡) with a spending limit. Me? I embarrassed my daughter by handing her $50 … in cash. The reason: I knew that when she got to the checkout line with more than $50 worth of goods, she’d have to make hard choices and put something back.
Additionally, sometimes it’s what you don’t do for your kid that counts. I will never forget the brave audience member at an event who asked me the question: “Should I get my son an Amex Platinum card? All his friends use theirs to get into first-class airport lounges (等候室)when they travel.” “No,” I said. Always remember, you’ re the parent. You set the rules. And the rules will determine how your kid values money in the future.
1. What worried the first two parents?| A．How to instruct their kids to make money. |
| B．How to teach their kids the value of money. |
| C．How to refuse their kids’ requests for more money. |
| D．How to raise their kids with small amounts of money. |
| A．The most valuable gift. |
| B．A way to hide the truth. |
| C．The most important thing. |
| D．An excuse to please others. |
| A．Letting their kids pay in cash. |
| B．Limiting their kids’ pocket money. |
| C．Asking their kids to report their spending. |
| D．Reminding their kids to make a shopping list. |
| A．Parents should protect their kids’ self-respect. |
| B．Parents should be strict about their kids’ spending. |
| C．Parents should help their kids fit in with their friends. |
| D．Parents should spend money wisely to influence their kids |
