Good Intentions

Do you have good intentions? I believe that most of us have good intentions in mind with a majority of our actions. However, where do good intentions get us? I am reminded of a certain road that is paved with good intentions.

Do you have good intentions? I believe that most of us have good intentions in mind with a majority of our actions. However, where do good intentions get us? I am reminded of a certain road that is paved with good intentions.

I love to ask dads this question. “Do you want your kids to leave home knowing more about money than you did when you left your parents home?” Every dad answers in a similar fashion. Of course, absolutely, you bet or in some other affirmative way. The problem comes when I get to the next question. “What are you doing to make that happen?” The answer is not so quick, not usually answered positively and the mood moves from hope to guilt. I have been amazed to realize this pattern and watch it develop over the last three years.

A biennial survey of high school seniors illustrates, to some extent, how dads and moms of our country are full of good intentions. The survey evaluates high school seniors ability to demonstrate financial literacy basics. According to the 2008 Jump$tart Coalition survey press release, ” high school seniors correctly answered only 48.3 percent of the questions. This mean score is a decrease from those posted by the senior class of 2006, which correctly answered 52.4 percent of the questions.” Not only are the students failing but the scores are actually declining!

Somewhere in our culture, both in churched and non-churched families, a huge disconnect lives. It is the divide between what every parent wants/desires for their children versus the effort/follow through that actually occurs. I am very aware of the challenges in our country with time, school, activities, work and anything else that fills our time.

Some questions I want to pose:

1. Why is there a disconnect between the parent’s desires and follow through?

2. What is your greatest stumbling block in achieving what you desire with your kids?

I would love to hear any thoughts you might have as to why this phenomenon is occurring.