Challenge Your Kids: Why We Encouraged Our Tween to Pay for Her Trip to Israel Teens Parenting Money

"Mom, if I earn $1,000 can I go to Israel with you next year?" Our then 12-year-old daughter asked us this after we decided to return to Israel in 2018. I looked at her – she was dead serious. Wow! I was super impressed. That was a huge goal for someone with no job outside of babysitting!

By fall, she was over halfway to her goal. That was a lot of babysitting, lawn mowing and extra paid chores for us and others. Today we sat down and counted her money so we could write the trip check. She had $1,177 plus a piggy bank full of change. She was glowing with pride at the accomplishment. I was grinning ear to ear as well.

We could have easily paid for the trip, but at what cost? It is not the money; it is the experience that counts. She never doubted she would make her goal. In her own words, "I feel proud, I never realized that doing what I love to do would earn me money."

Challenge your kids to do hard things. Help them to create goals and encourage them to achieve them with hard work. Dream with them! Nothing will ever replace the shining look of pride in our girl's eyes. She did it!!

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