“Working to help parents raise money-smart kids.”
Hello, friends!
Did you hear there was a big game yesterday? 😉
The Super Bowl has turned into an extravaganza where the game can sometimes take a back seat to the halftime show and the endless stream of commercials.
So I’d like to kick off (Pun intended!) this week’s “3 Ideas to Share & Save” with those ads.
— 1 —
Our Kids in the Arena: Just before the game, I talked with my brother. He sighed and remarked how exasperating the Super Bowl could be for folks interested in the game itself.
All. Those. Commercials. 🙈
Ads bring opportunity, though. Of course, the marketers who created the unceasing assaut hope for an opportunity to pry open our wallets.
But I’m talking about a different opportunity.
Super Bowl ads, like any family television viewing, offer us a chance to talk with our kids about marketing messages.
Our kids are in a Super Bowl of their own, a kind of gladiatorial combat with the forces of marketing. And we are in the arena with them. I wrote this essay to help you help guide them.
For example, we can emphasize to our kids to assume that all endorsements are paid endorsements. And although it might be fairly obvious that mini John Hamm and little Brie Larson were paid to endorse Hellmann’s mayonnaise, it isn’t always obvious to our kids that social media influencers are being paid for what they might be hyping.
Just as a good general sends her troops into battle with favorable odds, conversations with our kids about what we’re seeing on social media, television and even billboards (Heck, is there anywhere ads aren’t?) can help us help them win the marketing battle.
— 2 —
Winners and Losers: Of course, yesterday’s game was more than a sideshow. The NFL’s top teams, the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, didn’t disappoint, entertaining us down to the final minute.
And while I know championship games are played to be won or lost, it’s hard to call a team like the Philadelphia Eagles losers.
Losing certainly stings. I’m a Seattle Seahawks fan, so around this time of year, I get to relive their infamous goal-line interception loss to the Patriots. Over and over. 😬
Although the Seahawks lost the game, I don’t consider them losers. In fact, they’d won the Super Bowl the year before in dominating fashion.
Winning is a temporary state, and “winners” don’t always feel the elation that we might assume they do.
For example, when talking about winning a major tournament, tennis player Naomi Osaka said that rather than euphoria, she experienced a different emotion:
“I feel more like a relief.”
So even for so-called “winners,” winning isn’t necessarily what it’s cracked up to be.
Labels like “winner” and “loser” are problematic in sports, just as they are in parenting.
For example, I’m guilty of thinking of my kids in broad terms. It’s easier to label one as more of a “spender” and the other as a “saver.” But the labels distract me from what really matters — helping each of them learn individual lessons on their money-smart journeys.
Rather than labels, perhaps this advice is more useful:
“You never really understand a person … until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”
-Atticus Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird
Here are some examples of how Finch’s advice might be used in practice:
- For a child who seems to have a hole in his pocket, incentivize him to save by matching any money he puts in his Save jar. 💰
- For a child who regularly saves for goals and doesn’t seem to need help in this domain, focus on her Share jar money and finding causes for her to support. 🫶
- For a child who is accumulating money in his Spend Smart jar, offer a one-time incentive to transfer money to his Save jar. 🔀
So while labels help us try to make sense of the world, they don’t always help us make sensible choices.
— 3 —
Your Box of Chocolates: Enough about the Super Bowl. Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day! 🥰
“Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know which one you’re going to get.”
-Forrest Gump, Forrest Gump
I appreciate that you read this newsletter week after week. And I particularly appreciate it when you make it to this third idea to share and save.
So this week I’m gifting you a box of chocolates, albeit a metaphorical one. 💝
Here are the sweet treats I’m offering up today:
One of you will get a signed copy of my book, The Art of Allowance: A Short, Practical Guide to Raising Money-Smart, Money-Empowered Kids.
One of you will get a signed copy of your choice of one of my three picture books for kids.
And for everyone else, I’ll answer any nagging question you might have about raising money-smart kids.
To be eligible for one of the sweet treats above, just email me back to say that you received your box of chocolates. (And don’t forget to include your question!) I look forward to hearing from you.
Have a happy Valentine’s Day!
And congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs. 🏈
Until next week, enjoy the journey!
John, Chief Mammal
P.S. Please consult with a financial or investment professional before engaging in any decisions that might affect your own financial well-being.
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