To understand this week’s topic, you have to consider the alternative:  resources.  If someone has “resources,” he doesn’t really need to be resourceful.  For instance, if a child wants to be Iron Man for Halloween, and his parents have lots of money or access to a costume closet, then the child is Iron Man for Halloween because of his parents’ resources.  However, if money is tight and no friends are employed in the costume industry, a mom will have to become resourceful.  She gathers materials and makes the cutest Iron Man costume ever!

     Probably one of my biggest complaints about kids today is their lack of resourcefulness.  It’s no wonder, though.  I’ve got students who break a brand new iPhone, and their parents replace it by the next day.  This age group has resources beyond each member’s age because mom and dad feel guilty for not saying “yes” to every whim.  They become the port through which the child gets almost whatever he wants.  Mom and Dad become a “resource.”   Because of this, the children do not become resourceful.

    How can you guard against stealing your child’s resourcefulness potential?  Stop solving everything for him/her.  It’s when we cannot solve something that we become resourceful.  How is your child supposed to have opportunities to become resourceful if he never has a problem to solve himself?  This is the time when you watch your child work from a distance.  If saving needs to occur, you’ll figure that out.  But nine times out of ten, the child becomes resourceful if you’ll just give him time to quit complaining and begin thinking. 

-          Michelle