Are Your Grandkids Buttering You Up Via Social Networking Invites, Cellphone Calls, and Texts?
Not long ago I was talking to a grandparent, a nice lady who noted that one of her older teenage grandkids kept calling her every day.
He hadn't called in years, but now he was calling every day, she knew we wanted something, but he didn't come right out and say it, but she figured it was about money.
I didn't mean to pry, but I did ask because she was having a conversation with me prior to getting on the phone with him, noting that it was her grandson, and that it could be an emergency, although I think she doubted that it could be anything but just another call during the week.
After she got off, I asked her what that was all about, she told me that; "I think he's feeling me out," and I asked what she meant; "is he trying to see if you are up for sending him money or something?" "Exactly," she told me, "he is buttering me up, and he's been sending me invites to his social networking website, and text messages more frequently these days.
" This wasn't a naïve grandparent, she had noted that her granddaughter did the same thing when she was in trouble and needed money.
Apparently, their parents had told them no, and they were looking to bank of grandma for some much-needed funds.
Many grandparents just like the attention, and they know exactly what they're grandkids are doing before they ask for money, but since they like the attention they just prolong the process, almost as if they are leading their grandkids on, who somehow expect that they will send them a check or wire the money if they were to ask, or when they finally do ask.
Generally, the wiser grandparents do not send money, but rather words of wisdom on how to do better life planning, why it's important to work hard, work smart, or perhaps go out and get a job in the first place.
These are important life lessons, probably more important than money to get the child out of a jam.
After all, it's not wise to give free fish when you can teach people to fish, right? Indeed, I'm glad you think so, and it is up to not only grandparents, but parents as well not to fall into this trap, and to create responsible adults in our society.
Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.
He hadn't called in years, but now he was calling every day, she knew we wanted something, but he didn't come right out and say it, but she figured it was about money.
I didn't mean to pry, but I did ask because she was having a conversation with me prior to getting on the phone with him, noting that it was her grandson, and that it could be an emergency, although I think she doubted that it could be anything but just another call during the week.
After she got off, I asked her what that was all about, she told me that; "I think he's feeling me out," and I asked what she meant; "is he trying to see if you are up for sending him money or something?" "Exactly," she told me, "he is buttering me up, and he's been sending me invites to his social networking website, and text messages more frequently these days.
" This wasn't a naïve grandparent, she had noted that her granddaughter did the same thing when she was in trouble and needed money.
Apparently, their parents had told them no, and they were looking to bank of grandma for some much-needed funds.
Many grandparents just like the attention, and they know exactly what they're grandkids are doing before they ask for money, but since they like the attention they just prolong the process, almost as if they are leading their grandkids on, who somehow expect that they will send them a check or wire the money if they were to ask, or when they finally do ask.
Generally, the wiser grandparents do not send money, but rather words of wisdom on how to do better life planning, why it's important to work hard, work smart, or perhaps go out and get a job in the first place.
These are important life lessons, probably more important than money to get the child out of a jam.
After all, it's not wise to give free fish when you can teach people to fish, right? Indeed, I'm glad you think so, and it is up to not only grandparents, but parents as well not to fall into this trap, and to create responsible adults in our society.
Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.
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