by Barbara Stanley

Created on: April 13, 2009

Does the act of earning money take precedence over time spent with family? In some families, money is the most important issue. Children raised with privileges that young adults did not have in the past, have become accustomed to having the newest, best, and most innovative of everything. Children who are given "things" to assuage the guilt of working parents, will eventually perceive that "things" are more important than spending time with family. When these children become parents, many more of them will continue the same pattern.

Some parents would prefer to work longer hours at their job than to put the needed effort into developing strong interpersonal relationships within the family. A few people believe or would prefer to believe that they are so important to the job that they must work longer days. More than a few are struggling to work two jobs for the money necessary to provide the basics for their family's needs. Far too many young families are obsessed with earning enough money to buy the latest adult toys such as ATVs, boats, new cars, motorcycles, and large screen televisions. Whatever the reason, money has become more important than the families who benefit from the extra money.

Because of America's love for money, children suffer from a lack of active participation from their parents, We are sacrificing the children for whom we claim to be earning the money. As the desire for more and more money increases, children will view themselves as insignificant. More marriages will fail due to husbands and wives seeing less of each other or arguing about how to spend the money. Until everything crashes around them and families are destroyed, many people will continue to believe that money is the most important thing in their lives'.

Everyone needs to make enough money to provide the basic needs of his own family. Having enough money saved for emergencies gives families a feeling of security. When the desire for more money over-rides the need for the parent to spend time with the family, money has become too important and a finance counselor may be needed. Sometimes people lose their focus on what the most important things in their lives should be in order to create a healthy balance. Money is necessary to survive and thrive in our society, but excess in all things carries a painful consequence.

When you see that money is becoming your all in life, it is time to examine your lifestyle and make changes that relieve you from the feeling that work must be your entire life. Children grow up and spouses leave and money cannot offer love to you. It may make you happy for a while, but it brings no interaction and is not a fitting substitute for love.

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