Financial Impact In A Hug

I was recently blessed to travel with some amazing 8^th grade students to discover the financial footprints of their home state.  This bank-sponsored Financial Education Georgia Studies Tour afforded many students from all walks of life and socio-economic backgrounds the opportunity to enjoy a “first”!  For many of these students this was their “first” trip to their state’s Capitol.  As each student sat down on the lawn after enjoying their time at the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame for a picnic lunch, the majority stated this was their “first” picnic.  For a few, this was their “first” time to stay in a hotel, and it was even a “first” time traveling more than 30 miles away from home for a couple.    

While I personally was completely blown away that sales-traveler expenditures contributed close to $350 million to Macon, Georgia’s economy and supported 3,400 jobs not to mention the tax relief and benefit to the local economy, I wasn’t quite sure the students “got it”.  I mean this was their “first” time hearing this information.  However, in spite of the excessive talking and blank stares, I continued to tell the story of the economic impact each new adventure afforded us.  I also tried to relate real life examples of how it ultimately impacted them personally.

On the last day of our tour as we walked into the Martin Luther King, Jr. Historical Museum, my heart was touched as one young man walked up to a statue on the “freedom walk” of an elderly lady and just indiscriminately hugged her. With my cellphone in hand, I captured the moment, and I instantly became the student.  What hit me was not the economic impact of the money the museum brought to the city of Atlanta, but the future economic impact this young man will have within his own community all because of someone else’s sacrifice. I was further assured of this young man’s potential as we stopped at the final rest stop on the way home, when walking in to see all the cherry blossom displays, he asked the attendee, “So what is the economic impact of the cherry blossom festival?” And I’m sure by the look on her face that was her “first” time being asked that question from an 8^th grader.

Dear Younger Me,

"Mrs. Lorenda, how do I put money on my card?”  This was a question I received this week.  Though this may not seem like a strange question to you, I found this statement to be like I had been hitting my head against a wall.

This very brilliant senior had been in my basic banking 101 presentation and the perplexity of this statement made me shake my head. Especially due to the fact that I knew she had a checking account. Henceforth, the reason she was issued a “card”!

This young lady was not even thinking in terms of having a checking account.  She only equated that she used a debit card, was able to track it on her phone and up until now more than likely family members had put money in her account.

As I stood there, with “where did I go wrong” running through my head, the song “Dear Younger Me” from one of my favorite groups, “Mercy Me” came to mind. One of my favorite lines says, “If I knew then what I know now, condemnation would’ve had no power”.  

Given the same circumstances, would the “younger me” have known the answer to that question? Probably not, so no condemnation here. So how do we teach this generation basic banking 101?  We don’t!  We kick-it up to banking 10.1 and stop talking about writing checks and signature lines. Better yet, we explain “how the money gets on the card” and how to keep that card and their information safe.   

Finally, note to “Dear Younger Me”, the video chat between George and Mr. Spacely, (if you’re not sure…google the Jetson’s) is called Skype and facetime…buy stock in Apple now.  

What Are Panty Hose?

I’m awakened at 6am with a text that says, ‘Hey, when you get up call me”. HUM…well I’m up now. I close my eyes and think, I have another 30 minutes before I get up. Second text, 6:10am.  “I need to be at doctor’s office at 8am, going to try and get girls ready for 100^th day of school dressing up”.

Even though I knew my son-in-law had to be at work early this week, I’m still thinking, “ok”. Third text, “baby is sick and I’m worried”.  Well, forget that you think I might overreact, why didn’t you just say that to start with?

I Jump in shower and rush to the house, arrive at 7am greeted by the girls with baby powder in their perfectly secured hair buns, to make their hair look gray and dressed like two little old ladies for the 100^th day of school. The baby is playing on the floor and smiles as I walk in.  I can’t do anything but smile.

However, I am also thinking what am I missing?  Within less than 24 hours, our daughter and son-in-law “The Millennials” were stating their aggravation by the last-minute notification from the school desiring the girls to celebrate the 100^th day of school by dressing up. “They need to give people more notice”!

This is also the same “Millennials” that left our house at 7pm for their family bicycle ride, only after one of the girls rushed in the house in dramatic fashion declaring they “needed a bicycle pump fast for their tires”. The same “Millennials” that by 8pm had made calls and obtained the girls eye-glasses with the lenses out and secured two walking canes for their attire. Now 7am, after being up with the baby during the night, and texting me, was standing there in her bathrobe just chilling.

Now truly my only contribution other than being woke up was, when asked to give her ideas to dress the girls up, to which my reply was “OH, they need some knee-high panty hose”.  With that both girl simultaneously stated “what are pan-tee hose”?      

My point...Go on dreaming you know what this generation wants or thinks and then let me sell you some stock in Panty Hose!

OOPS…I did it again.

Every year I say and I quote, “I am not going to spend this much money on Christmas presents next year, we have totally missed the whole reason for the season”.

But every year, to quote the song, “I played with your heart, got lost in the game”.  When you have five children, their spouses, 12 grands, parents, brothers, sister, sister-in-law, nieces, nephews, friends and this list goes on, it’s so easy to get lost in the game and what’s a girl to do?

Then there is the whole “most wonderful time of year” thing that plays with my heart. Am I the only one that gets caught-up in the spirit of giving?  I mean, I can’t forget about my hairdresser, and then there is the less fortunate that I know baby Jesus is pleased with me doing a little something for them.

The truth is “'I’m not that innocent” (yes that is another quote from the song). I know full and well that I don’t have that kind of money. I also know that spending more money than I should is definitely not going to determine how those that I love judge me. Furthermore, it doesn’t add one ounce of reasoning for the season.  Finally, I know when I intercept the credit card bill, that I am not doing it because of my concern for my husband’s health. Although I realize it would give him a heart attack, and I would be left a widow.

I do it because it makes me feel good in the moment and I am a fool in so many ways (I can’t get the song out of my head ok). But just like the Christmas cookies that I had one too many of, the after affects have consequences. So, I am putting all my family and friends that read this on notice…Oh Baby Baby, I’m taking control.    

The Measure of Wealth

Recently while sightseeing in the affluent green hills of Brentwood, Tennessee, I was a little surprised when the tour guide spoke about the amount of involvement the rich and famous had in the local community. While many of them had high fences to maintain privacy, these celebrities’ children attended the local public schools and could frequently be seen at school plays, and even at the local Publix’s shopping for groceries.  While I totally “get-it” that these are simply real people, I found it quite fascinating. I also began imagining what the interaction between these family members over Christmas dinner or simply life after school would look and sound like behind the walls.

As soon as we returned home, we drove to be with family members that had recently lost their patriarch.  This brother, father, husband and grandfather was a gentle giant and was truly loved by so many. I listened as my husband, this sweet man’s children and grandchildren spoke of their times together. The stories of the private moments they shared laughing and enjoying each other seemed to paint a picture of his life I didn’t know existed. It also seemed to be some of the best times for this sweet family.  Now while this home was far from the green hills of the affluent neighborhood in Tennessee, for some reason the stories my husband’s family told resembled some of the same pictures I had imagined for the life of the Rich and Famous.

How could this be? Could it truly be that the measure of one’s wealth was not summed up by an outward appearance or by zip code?  Was one life style better than the other? I left resolved that neither was right or wrong and at the end of the day, behind all walls: high and low, lies our greatest assets.  Merry Christmas 

A Letter To My Girls

Your mother/grandmother has been identified as a “Generation X”, the lost generation slammed in between the boomers and millenniums. While I do not completely agree with this “X” identity, I did google it and find out a few things. Apparently the majority of my generation is not very confident in several things; one being making financial decisions. Furthermore, google showed that your generations will feel more financially confident and for that I am thankful.

So it is with great pride that I say, “You’re Welcome”! For you see, I now realize that even though I experienced financial challenges, my surviving made an impact on you. I also know that even though my generation saw the divorce rate climb astronomically, and I worried about the impact it might have on you, you will survive. Also, by being identified as the “Latchkey” generation, I was forced to invent multi-tasking. You see I found ways to manage my career without leaving you out of the equation.

You are also welcome because my generation didn’t know a life without de-segregation and women’s rights. You were raised that all men and women were created equal. You were also taught that no matter what your parents had or didn’t have, that you would ultimately determine your own wealth and lifestyle even as a female.

Finally, I hope that no matter what your checkbook looks like (since you will possess all of this financial confidence), I pray that you will always be a lady by showing professionalism in your conduct, with a kind heart, dignity, poise, and grace.

In closing, don’t feel like you have to “thank” me for your creative spirit, your great dance moves and your love for music. Just remember my generation was also the first to watch MTV!  BUT …You’re Welcome! 

Toothfairy Has GPS

Recently while our youngest daughter was in the hospital for a minor surgery, we had the privilege of taking care of our youngest set of twin grandgirls.

On the ride home from the hospital we began to talk about the tooth fairy as both girls had discovered that their O & P teeth (the other grandmother is a dental hygienist) were loose and they were excited about the possibility of a visit from the tooth fairy.

Of course the discussion of money was the hot topic.  What seemed like a reasonable amount of money when their mother lost her first tooth, seemed almost like an insult to these girls.  However, I was overtaken with the thought that our daughter and son-in-law might feel slighted if their Pop Pop and I got the first visit from the tooth fairy.

So, I simply said, “girls if you lose either your “O or P” tonight, the tooth fairy might not know where you are.  We might need to save the tooth and let your mom and dad put it under your pillow at home.”

Without skipping a beat both girls informed me that they were sure the tooth fairy had a computer and a tracking device.  WHAT?  Who Knew? Furthermore the “wand” probably had GPS. 

Well there you go!! Not only will this generation never write a check or have the privilege of signing the back of a check in cursive, the tooth fairy will probably send a snapchat showing her holding O & P with a message that says, “A deposit has been made to your debit card”.