Hubby and I were comfortable because we were both drawing teachers' wages but we still tried to instil responsibility into our children. They each received an allowance but it was not a wage for doing chores. Even if we had nothing to give them they would still have had to contribute their share to the family and home in the form of chores. When they had the opportunity to go on a major school excursion they each had to save some of their pocket money towards it to emphasise that nothing comes for nothing. When each finished high school and before entering tertiary education they were both expected to get a temporary job because I wasn't having them loll about the house for three months, waking at noon and awake half the night.
They were both lucky to receive good educations but both have had to weather difficult periods raising their own children. I'm proud to say the grand children have all grown up to be fine young adults who should be resilient enough and well prepared enough to pass the important lessons on to the next generation.
But what of the children whose parents are incompetent or worse still, negligent? I believe that we, that is society in general, owes them something too. We owe them the best opportunities to build a worthwhile future for their sake and for the sake of us all. That's why schools, youth groups, welfare workers and neighbours are so very important. And grandparents more than anyone. No child should ever be written off or thrown early onto society's scrap heap.
