The Culmination of Hard Work

Teaching Kyndal the lesson of working to receive something has not been an easy one, especially as she has sat by and watched friend after friend receive pretty-darned-new-and-super-nice cars on the day they turned 16 without having to work one moment for them. What 16 year old wouldn't prefer to get their car under those circumstances??

We required Kyndal to have a job before she got her license. We required her to save enough money to pay for her own insurance and roadside assistance and online defensive course (to save her insurance money) and gas. We were actually wanting her to save some money toward a car before we, and others, helped her buy one.

Her grandparents recognized how hard she had been working, with a good attitude, and wanted to reward her. So they bought her a 1997 Mitsubishi Galant as her first car.

It's not a brand new car. But to her it couldn't be any better.

And you know what? She is so proud of herself for how hard she has worked to receive it. It's hers! She doesn't owe anybody anything (but gratitude). She is proud of herself because she already has enough money saved to pay her insurance through the end of the year. And now any she makes through the end of the year is hers to spend as she wishes.

I am so proud of her. Seeing her drive away for the first time last night was surreal. But I was so excited for her!

I know that she will appreciate what she has received because she has worked so hard for it. And that was the whole purpose of this lesson. I know that it is a lesson she will take with her through her lifetime. Unfortunately not many kids have to learn that lesson anymore, and we wonder why our society is that way that it is.