What is wealth?
I recently had an interesting discussion with my children. One of them commented about how much their friends have at their houses, compared to us. For instance, big screen TVs with huge numbers of videos and games, big toys like air hockey tables and ATVs. These kids seem to be so much more priviledged and wealthier.
So I suggested we think about why that is. I asked them to imagine what it's like in a house with 2 working parents and only one other sibling. You HAVE to have all those toys - it's downright boring. No one to play with, talk to, etc.
I pointed out that in our house, there's always someone to do something with or to talk to. When conversation runs dry (very rare here) or when you're ready to move on to a new activity- there's always something eles to do - or someone else to talk with! The kids started to understand that most 'little' families spend all their income and time together buying something to do - purchasing ready-made fun.
Don't get me wrong, we enjoy doing outside things together. We just don't need big expensive fun - a recent trip to Quabbin resevoir proves that. It was free and we got to see lightening over the water during a passing thunderstorm - truly magnificent. We saw a doe and her fawn - just as curious about us as we were about them. We climbed 7 flights of stairs to the top of an observation tower that, on a clear day, offers views of NY, NH, CT, and VT! We picnicked on an overlook where bird watchers keep a sharp eye out for the many nesting pairs of Bald Eagles. We went to the visitor's center and looked up family members who had given up their farmlands for the resevoir - and got a superb history/science lesson about the Great Depression (the time when the resevoir was built) and the engineering involved in such a huge project. The kids admired the stuffed critters - examples of the type of wildlife to be found there.
I pointed out that their friends probably look at some aspects of our family life with admiration. Our family stays home all the time together, homeschooling and working. We always have homemade meals. We know how to do pretty interesting things that they don't know how to do like knitting, sewing, building, gardening. We have time for charitable works like making baby hats for the local NICU and make rosaries as gifts. Other parents always comment on how well-behaved and well-educated our children are - lamenting what public school is doing to their own children. Still, they cling to their conventional ways and wonder how on Earth we can afford these children.
We have learned the art of living simply and finding pleasure in the ordinary. We don't require artificial stimulation - though small doses are fun. So often, we are told by society that if we have a large family, we can't afford to do or have certain things. Well, to an extent that is true, but we have all the necessary things - big TVs, weekly outings to amusement parks or movies are not necessary. Learning how to live together, love and support each other, appreciate all that God has given us - those ARE necessary. And we have that in spades - making us far wealthier than most.
So I suggested we think about why that is. I asked them to imagine what it's like in a house with 2 working parents and only one other sibling. You HAVE to have all those toys - it's downright boring. No one to play with, talk to, etc.
I pointed out that in our house, there's always someone to do something with or to talk to. When conversation runs dry (very rare here) or when you're ready to move on to a new activity- there's always something eles to do - or someone else to talk with! The kids started to understand that most 'little' families spend all their income and time together buying something to do - purchasing ready-made fun.
Don't get me wrong, we enjoy doing outside things together. We just don't need big expensive fun - a recent trip to Quabbin resevoir proves that. It was free and we got to see lightening over the water during a passing thunderstorm - truly magnificent. We saw a doe and her fawn - just as curious about us as we were about them. We climbed 7 flights of stairs to the top of an observation tower that, on a clear day, offers views of NY, NH, CT, and VT! We picnicked on an overlook where bird watchers keep a sharp eye out for the many nesting pairs of Bald Eagles. We went to the visitor's center and looked up family members who had given up their farmlands for the resevoir - and got a superb history/science lesson about the Great Depression (the time when the resevoir was built) and the engineering involved in such a huge project. The kids admired the stuffed critters - examples of the type of wildlife to be found there.
I pointed out that their friends probably look at some aspects of our family life with admiration. Our family stays home all the time together, homeschooling and working. We always have homemade meals. We know how to do pretty interesting things that they don't know how to do like knitting, sewing, building, gardening. We have time for charitable works like making baby hats for the local NICU and make rosaries as gifts. Other parents always comment on how well-behaved and well-educated our children are - lamenting what public school is doing to their own children. Still, they cling to their conventional ways and wonder how on Earth we can afford these children.
We have learned the art of living simply and finding pleasure in the ordinary. We don't require artificial stimulation - though small doses are fun. So often, we are told by society that if we have a large family, we can't afford to do or have certain things. Well, to an extent that is true, but we have all the necessary things - big TVs, weekly outings to amusement parks or movies are not necessary. Learning how to live together, love and support each other, appreciate all that God has given us - those ARE necessary. And we have that in spades - making us far wealthier than most.
posted by Nissa at 10:00 AM
3 Comments:
I like your question. What is wealth? I like how you relate it to family. I like the fact that you put having a large family in a very good light. I like the fact that you practice home schooling.
It does concern me that people take a view that having a large family impoverishes people. Also that you must sacrifice wealth to have a large family.
A point of view I like is using family to build wealth.
Are you familiar with the family history of Frank and Lillian Gilbreth? They are credited with pioneering many aspects of modern life. They practiced home schooling, were both accomplished in business and worked from home.
http://gilbrethnetwork.tripod.com/front.html
Hi Dominic! Thank you so much for your kind words.
Yes, I know about the Gilbreths - Cheaper by the Dozen, Belles on Their Toes... I admire them so much. We view our children as wealth, not to be pollyanna, but because we see our worth in what we can contribute to this world through raising good children who serve others. That is what we feel we're put here to do, it's our calling as a married couple.
The fact that it's so pleasurable is a bonus!
I agree wealth is not found in our stuff or in being constantly enertained. Having a larger family (we have 4) makes you more creative and appreciative of what you have.
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