Learning

They spent the afternoon varnishing the deck.  F. said he’d pay them. He’s usually the more generous of the two of us.

He grew up wealthy. I grew up poor.  His parents paid for his college education. I scrubbed toilets to pay for mine. This informs much of the difference in how we parent. He’s easy. I’m tough.

But truthfully, I don’t see how making their life too easy helps them, in the long run.

Not that varnishing a deck on an 80+-degree day is easy. On the other hand, when will they learn that growing up means working harder than they ever imagined?

Maybe it’s my own childhood grudge. But, between the money we spend on gas getting to and from E’s lacrosse tournaments, lacrosse camps and equipment, train fare to and from internships in the city, not to mention voice lessons, acting lessons, Iphones, and first and last month’s rent on a new apartment….

…must we really pay them for varnishing the deck?