To the parent who can't give their kid everything...

some comfort for when it's hard to provide ❤️

It hurts. It hurts so much to see what all the other parents seem to be able to give to their kids…when you just can’t right now. Maybe it’s always been a struggle, and it’s always been apologetically telling your kid one “no” after another. (Maybe this isn’t even about money, but about not being able to give your kids enough time or attention due to your job or multiple siblings. Or maybe it’s all of the above.)

The guilt piles on as you think of all the if-only’s.
They’d be so much more confident if only they had cooler clothes. They’d excel more in school with a faster laptop…or, if you could afford to send them to private school or forest school, their education would be better altogether. Vacations, summer camps, or a pass to the children’s museum would give your kid something to look forward to and help them get through a hard season.

All those things could very possibly be true, but can I encourage you about a way that limitations—financial or otherwise—can do wonders for a kid’s growth and happiness?

Limitations help us be resourceful. You are giving them a gift.

Limitations are a chance to teach your kids how to thrive even when they don’t get exactly what they want.

Limitations unleash the brain to a new kind of freedom.

This is crucially important for them to learn because when they become adults—no matter how much money they’ll make—they won’t get everything they want.

Teaching our kids to be resourceful is also teaching them to be optimistic, grateful, creative, patient, persistent, and good stewards. Learning to make do with what we have helps us be kinder to the earth, too, and to use our resources with purpose and care. An education like that can’t be bought!

As a kid, resourcefulness might look like playing with cardboard boxes or turning old jeans into a cute purse. However, as an adult, it might look like bootstrapping a startup, making delicious meals out of leftovers, or even just finding a way to stay committed to a relationship that isn’t immediately rewarding.

Learning to respond well to lack is a crucial life skill.

I hope you prosper financially. I hope you get to do amazing things with money and that it doesn’t have to be a big stressor in your life (because life already has enough of those.) I hope you find all your needs met.

May your kids be confident regardless of their possessions. May they be lifelong, humble learners, no matter the formal schooling they have access to. May they find fun and enjoyment anywhere they go. May nature, stories, and strong relationships help them feel rich¹. May the security of your love be stronger than any scarcity.

It’s okay if you can’t afford everything. Missing out on a good thing can be the path to a better thing. ❤️

Warmly,

Hope from Family Scripts

P.S. Reminder: the local library is a shopping spree. Invite your kids to ask for things, and you’ll be able to say “yes!” and “yes!” and “yes again!” The price tag will always be $0. Bonus if there’s a fun activity/event going on at the library, too. You’ve already paid for this with your taxes. Enjoy.

1. Remember that people make life rich ❤️