Of course I would love to share this.

My kids love money; lolol, most kids do. I don't have tons of money but its what I have taught them about money. Its hard to come by and people work very hard to provide their families or if by themselves, to provide the life they want.

So the incentive has to do with money but not just that simple. My kids have bank accounts that money has been deposited by their grandparents, myself, and what they have contributed. They are very proud of watching this grow: and its locked in for when they turn 18. So this incentive is not for this account. This is for what they feel or think they may want to use it for. My kids have wasted money before, I let them make these mistakes as they are intellengent. When its all gone, its gone. So they have learned to "stretch" this money as it does not grow on trees.

This money that they work for is for the effort they put in. I told them that we have been talking about a vaction for a long time and if they work hard in school, earn some money for our plans, they will see that this hard work has paid off. It has taken a few years for us to work together in efforts that they should be thank-full for what they do have. It has been tough at times as kids are kids. They want what they see on TV, what their friends have etc. But my kids can pass a charity set up in the mall, or a store and they stop and ask me what this is for. I tell them as best as I can and my kids have put their last five dollars in this as they know that they have much to be thank-full for: many unfortunte people suffer, not knowing where their next meal will come from.

At Christmas time there was a charity set up at the store. It was for our residence here, the Christmas fund for kids that would not be able to celebrate this holiday as their family is struggling. So I stopped, reached in my purse, and put $40 dollars in the "dish". (lack of better words). Both of my kids asked why I had put this money in. I told them what this was for and they too placed $5 each inside. I had to hold back tears as my pride could not have reached any higher just looking at those two.

I thought my kids would leave it at this. But when we got home my son started to cry. I was puzzled and questioned him to his sudden upset. He said that he keeps thinking about those kids and families. He asked me if the money we gave was for "gifts". I said yes. But it is not just for the material things that they will receive, this money also goes towards a meal that they also deserve. He asked what would happen if other people did not give. I told him that there are many people that try to give as much as they can. That others want to see these people have what they should, until hopefully oneday these families can recover and are able to live without worrying where the food, bill money, where they will live, and all that we have, pray that they will have this as well. He looked at me with those big blue eyes, smiled and said, "I love you mom."

So its not just the money. Its not my way of "bribing" my kids into working hard. I want them to know that in life, hard work will pay off. And not just for their pocket book, but for the others that we try to help. And at the end of the school year, the reward will be great, but the bigest reward is looking at how far they have come. It may be small, just a little climb, but not to be dismissed. As not just in school do my kids work hard to succeed but in all aspects in growing into the people that they are.

I am sorry for this loaded response. But without the explanation that I gave, it would not hold the meaning behind it.

Good luck in your journey with ur little man. Frustrating at times, but we sure learn a lot from our little ones. They teach us just as much, as we teach them. Oh, and what my kids are not aware of: 3 years ago, at Christmas, I had to go for help as well. I did not have the finances to make any kind of special day for them. I received help from those others who stopped to think that they do make a huge difference in others lives by placing that "donation" in this dish. And it did not just help us through this difficult time: it helped me grow as well. I now too stop and think about these people who need help as it is still is close to home.

Justy