Today Katy Lee is my guest. I love her blog - it is chock-full of interesting insights. Katy is the author of the popular parents website Adventures In Parenting. Her stories and experiences inspire other parents to raise the next generation of “good” kids with traditional values. She lives in Southern California with her husband and three almost-grown children.
———————————–
How many credit card offers did you get in the mail today? I’ve gotten enough “You’ve been approved” letters to fuel a bonfire. We are bombarded everywhere with all kinds of advertising with messages to spend more money and to buy more things. Subconsciously, we fall into the trap of thinking that life is all about having things. Of course we want a new car, of course we want better furniture, of course we want the latest styles. The more we have, the happier we will be, right?

The definition of “Materialistic” is “a preoccupation with or stress upon material rather than intellectual or spiritual things.” The message of materialism is very subtle. We easily rationalize a materialistic lifestyle by saying we need things to provide for our family and to live comfortably. But are we preoccupied with getting more things? Is this mindset inadvertently teaching our children to be materialistic?

Take a look and see if we are doing any of these things that subtly teach our kids to be materialistic:

1. Going shopping as a favorite pastime.Walking around the mall regularly, even just window shopping, sets our mind on wanting more things.
2. Talking about what other people have and wishing we had the same. “Our neighbors just got a beautiful new Lexus. We are stuck with our 1985 old clunker.” Sigh!
3. Buying the latest gadgets and newest styles. And ending up with lots of stuff in the house that is hardly used.

Since materialism is so pervasive in our culture, we have to make a conscious effort to go against the grain and teach our children that there is more to life than materialism.

Here are a few suggestions to put them on the right path:
1. Go places with your children that do not involve buying. Museums, parks, nature hikes, and fishing are just a few alternatives to the mall.
2. Have an attitude of thankfulness. Instead of dwelling on what we lack, we can say, “I am so glad for everything we have. We are so fortunate.”
3. Do not buy things for your children on a whim. Plan your purchases and teach your children to budget. If they want a toy, teach them to earn it by doing chores or with good behavior. If the toy cost them something, they will value it more.

Two weeks ago I visited my mother’s grave site in remembrance of her birthday. A visit to the cemetery always puts life into perspective for me. I want to teach my children that there is more to life than the material, so that at the end of our lives, we find satisfaction in having really lived the true meaning of life.