Don't Be Realistic!

How often have you heard people say,

"Be Realistic,"

right after you have told them all about one of your dreams?

These lovely people are called, "dream stealers" and although they may think that they are being helpful to you to keep you on the ground and be 'realistic' what they really are doing is damaging your beliefs, your visions.

It is so incredibly important to surround yourself with possitive people who honestly believe in your visions and goals and truly want to see you succeed.

These are the people who will help you achieve your goals.

Unfortunately in your life, you will find them all around you and your child, you will come across these 'dream stealers'.

They are in your close circle of friends and family and they are hard to avoid.

It is very important to keep you and your child motivated towards your own true goals and to put up an imaginary wall between your "well-meaning loved ones" and yourself and your own family that you wish to protect.

It happens to me daily. I constantly get told by well meaning family members or friends that my visions and dreams are 'unrealistic' and that I should be 'real' and just live my life the way that they think I should.

If you've viewed my 'mind movie' then you will already know some of my own personal goals and dreams and you will know that homeschooling my own children and teaching other children about money are two very important and personal goals of mine.

Yesterday, my father-in-law, although in his mind "meant to be helpful and supportive", told be straight out that my children should be in school and that he had already noticed that my children were falling behind socially because of this 'lack' of socialization that homeschooling brings.

Now had I not had the supportive friends that I am blessed to have and also had I not had an incredibly supportive husband, then I may have taken my father-in-law's remarks straight to my heart and felt that I was doing harm to my children by following my dreams etc. etc.

Instead, however, solid in my goals and visions and constantly surrounded by possitive and inspirational, supportive friends, I was able to look past this remark and see what was really behind it.

Here are some points about his remarks that I will share with you so that you too, may be able to look past the remarks of your own 'well-meaning' friends and family and know that there are other people out in the world just like you who also need support and that you are not alone in your dreams.

1. Firstly, I must tell you that my father-in-law is a teacher and so must take it at some level personally that we chose not to send our chidren to school.

I can fully understand his concern. School is what he knows, this is what he feels comfortable with.

I am confident that if he took the time to really get a full understanding of all that is involved with homeschooling socially then he would change his perception.

2. Secondly, his perception of my children's lack of socialisation skills was also affected by the fact that he had only ever observed their social behaviours in a country where they didn't speak the native language.

Had he seen how they react socially in an English speaking society instead of the Dutch speaking society of his island then he would have been better able to see that my children were a little bit at a disadvantage.

Most children would feel slightly out of place in a country where they do not speak the language.

Ironically, the beauty of us taking this trip to this beautiful Dutch speaking Carribean island, is that my children are now learning to speak Dutch and are making many new and interesting friends.

Again, had I not had that solid background of exceptional support people in my life then I'm sure I would have found it incredibly hard to deal with these types of negative comments and would surely take most of them very personally.

Now, however, even though it will still never feel nice to have 'dream stealers', I am able to take a step back out of the situation and see their comments for what they really are.

You have a support network here. We truly want to see you succeed.

I look forward to reading your comments on this post and reading your own experiences to share with our readers so we can continue to build a strong possitive support group for each other as we follow our dreams for ourselves and our children.

Cheers......Amanda van der Gulik......Excited Life Enthusiast!

Why Should We Teach Children About Money?

Dear fellow Concerned Parent,

I am constantly asked why is it so important to teach our kids about money?

Shouldn't we just let our kids be 'kids' and let them worry about money after they grow up?

These are very good questions and I completely understand why concerned parents ask this.

We assume as parents that our schools will teach our children everything they will need to know to be able to become independant young adults but we forget that 'teaching children about money' is not in the curriculum.

Now let me give you statistics that may shock you:

1. Did you know that the number one reason that young couples divorce today is because of money stress?

2. Did you know that the majority of bankruptcies today are applied for by adults 25 years and younger?

Do you want your children to end up as one of these statistics?

No, I didn't think so, and neither do I.

That is why I now am actively teaching my children about money.

So where do you begin?

I simply suggest you begin by encouraging your child to come up with a creative way to earn their own money, so they will feel the pride they deserve from their own efforts.

Then I suggest you encourage your child to split their money into four categories (or piggy banks):

1. Savings (for that rainy day emergency)
2. Investings (you can start them off with simple small stock investments in quality stocks)
3. Charity (teach your child now while they are young to give away some of their money to help others so they won't turn into Scrooge! AND they will get an incredible sense of responsibility toward humankind and nature, and that will only strengthen their characters and help them in their day to day struggles in life)
4. Spend the rest, FAST! (let them feel the rewards of their harded earn cash quickly so they stay excited to continue along this entrepreneurial path.)

I hope this has been helpful and look forward to hearing your comments or other suggestions.

Cheers....Amanda van der Gulik.....Excited Life Enthusiast!

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For '50 FREE Money Making Ideas for Kids' click here.
Help your kid find some easy ways for kids to make money.

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Cash-Smart Kids - Teaching Kids About Money and Business

Hello Parents,

I've just come across an amazing site. These parents have three young girls and all three of them started their own businesses in elementary school!!! Not bad, eh?

Here's a small exerpt from their site, click the link to read the full story.

Cash-Smart Kids - Teaching Kids About Money and Business: "more and more parents are realising the importance of providing their kids with something better than the standard basic school education about money and business.

In today’s economy, we need to raise our kids to be self-reliant. Getting a good job in this day and age is no longer the passport to financial security it once was. Employees, even highly skilled ones, face an uncertain future, hoping and praying that the environment is kind to their employer, their geographical area, and their industry."

Cheers....Amanda van der Gulik....Excited Life Enthusiast!
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FREE ebook, "50 Money Making Ideas for Kids"
http://www.teachingchildrenaboutmoney.com/

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The Money Mammals - Teach Children About Money Through Music!

I have come across a great site with incredible tools for teaching children about money.
They are called The Money Mammals.

Here's what kids are saying about money.


And here's an example of how The Money Mammals can help teach children about money.


Here's to our continued success in teaching kids about money!

Cheers....Amanda van der Gulik....Excited Life Enthusiast!

Nine Ways to Teach Kids That Money Doesn't Grow on Trees

"(Especially Right Now!)

With inflation on the rise (gas prices, grocery bills, health insurance premiums, etc.) and many companies being more conservative, more American families are feeling squeezed. So if you're feeling guilty because you can't buy your child that video game system he desperately wants or send him to that trendy summer camp, Eric Tyson has one word for you. Don't. In fact, he says, now is the perfect time to teach your kids some valuable financial lessons.

"Kids are surprisingly aware of what's going on in the world," says Tyson, author of the new book Let's Get Real About Money! Profit from the Habits of the Best Personal Finance Managers. "And if they don't know that times are a little bit tough and Mom & Dad are having to watch their spending, it's time to tell them. Sheltering kids from financial realities does them no favors."

Indeed, the opposite is true, says Tyson. A good grasp of personal finance is one of the most valuable life skills a person can have. And while previous generations may have been raised with the constant admonishment that "money doesn't grow on trees!," too many of today's parents neglect that lesson. It's time to change that-and the economic slowdown we're in now provides a great incentive for doing so.

"In many ways, a slower economy can be a blessing in disguise," admits Tyson. "It leads families to make a budget and stick to it. It forces them to be conscious about how they handle money. That's good for kids. It shows them how the world is supposed to work."

To read more of this article click here.

Cheers...Amanda van der Gulik...Excited Life Enthusiast!

How Can You Avoid Spoiling Your Kids?

Is your kid a spoiled brat?

"Instead of an iPod nano, give your kids the tools they need to be financially independent adults.

October 6, 2005: 11:33 AM EDT
By Jessica Seid, CNN/Money staff writer

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Last year you caved and bought your kid an iPod, now they want a nano. Where does it end?

"Just say no," said Janet Bodnar, author of "Raising Money Smart Kids"

Many parents struggle with not buying their children what they desire when they can afford to do so. But "it has nothing to do with whether you can afford it," warned Neale Godfrey, author of "Money Still Doesn't Grow on Trees." "It has to do with the values you want to raise the kids with."

Let your child in on your spending decisions and convey the reasons behind the choices that you are making. Explain that "we are saving money for a vacation or something else," Bodnar said, who believes the biggest problem parents have is not talking to their kids about money.

Here are a few other suggestions to keep your kid from becoming a brat.

Give them an early start

Starting when your kids are young, give them a simple lesson in finances. "Explain to them that the bank is a big piggy bank for Mom and Dad," Bodnar said, make sure they realize that the money you have in the bank is not limitless, but only as much as you have put in.

Even as early as three years old, your children begin to understand that money is the medium of exchange, which means that's when their financial education should start, according to Godfrey.

"It's easier if you start them at three than at 18," she said. But if you are already faced with disillusioned teens, it's not too late to teach them money-smart lessons."

This is an amazing article I just found through Google Search that has an incredible amount of practical and extremely effective information for parents on how to make sure that you don't end up with a spoiled dependent child. Click here to read more of the article with all of their tips on how to make sure you don't end up with a spoiled child.

Cheers....Amanda van der Gulik....Excited Life Enthusiast!

Kids Business Ideas - Highly Recommended eBook

Hello Parents,

I have just come across an amazing resource guide with 83 Ways for Your Child to Start Earning Money Right Away! Similar to my own "50 Money Making Ideas for Kids" ebook, this "Kids Business Ideas - Money Making Inspiration For Kids And The Parents Who Love Them" ebook is a must read for kids who would like to find some ideas for ways that they can earn money during the summer and beyond.

Hope you enjoy it and if you have any feedback on the ebook please do let me know so I can publish your thoughts on the book and let us know how the ideas helped your child.

Cheer....Amanda van der Gulik....Excited Life Enthusiast!