Are You an ATM Parent?

I definitely DO NOT want to be an ATM parent! And I better make sure husband is not one either!

Are you an ATM parent? Am I an ATM parent? http://www.gatherlittlebylittle.com/2009/05/are-you-an-atm-parent-am-i-an-atm-parent/

ATM Parent Checklist

ATM parents allow $5’s, $10’s, $20’s and $50’s to flow freely without accountability.

Children of ATM parents often know their holidays and birthday presents in advance. The prospective toy is always something fantastic and ATM children love to proclaim it loudly at the lunch table or on the bus. There are times when I wonder if the future gift is something that the parent promised to the child in order to get him to behave.

ATM parents want to make everything in life as fair as possible for their children.

ATM children grow up thinking that tanning, facials, designer jeans, summer camp and expensive basketball shoes are not luxuries.

ATM parents are not necessarily rich, but most seem to struggle financially - whether or not they make $30K or $250K annually.

ATM children do have piggy banks, but they are empty.

ATM parents rarely say no, but they often make a counter-offer.

ATM children know that money does not grow on trees, however, it does bloom whenever they tug on a parent’s sleeve.

ATM parents feed the instant gratification habit rather than delayed gratification.

ATM children believe that saving up for something means telling their parents what they want a month in advance.

Does your child know that if ATM father says no, that ATM mother might be willing to contribute?

ATM children carry credit cards for which they never see the statement.

ATM parents assume that the automated teller machine should also pay for college and then room and board after college.