The Kids Are Alright

In a recent post about a child who doesn’t seem to have it all together, Molly McIlhenny reminded us that kids are likely more savvy than we give them credit for. That got me thinking about my younger self. Maybe my story can help in some small way.

I have always had a good work ethic. You can ask my high school sweetheart if you like. She would get so frustrated because I would often pick up extra hours at the supermarket and destroy whatever plans we had made. Perhaps that’s why she dumped me.🤔

School was a different story. My work ethic did not transfer to school work. I know you can’t tell by the brilliance of my posts, but I was in the bottom quartile of my graduating class. I once joked that I didn’t know the difference between a pronoun and a participle, an adjective or an adverb…. I actually don’t know the difference. 

I just wasn’t firing on all cylinders; I was a hard worker, but also a lazy student.

How would my life be different had I buckled down in school? If only I read the accounting textbook instead of eating the pages, I might have begun my tax business in 1975, rather than in 2005. I would have had an accounting degree, enabling me to expand my business beyond tax preparation. As it was, every time I had an opportunity to keep the books for a small business, I ended up referring them to my friend Julie, an Enrolled Agent (EA). I sent Julie dozens of good clients. I would have earned much more money and avoided the physical maladies from the more brutal occupation that I chose. 

Nothing would please me more than having my tale of woe help a youngin who is channeling my past. I eventually succeeded despite the obstacles I created for myself, still, the lack of a work ethic in school carried with it a 30-year opportunity cost. 

Twelve, sixteen or more years of school seems like a long time to a kid, but we know it is not much time at all. The long-term payoff of education can be difficult for a young person to see in the moment. Education equals opportunity, young people need to make the most of it.

I’m sure my folks worried for my future, but I turned out okay, your kids probably will as well. 😁