Staying Positive During the Recession

As summer approaches, big ideas of extravagant vacations and destination resort trips with your children may be far away echoes of better times. Statistics report that this year, half as many families will be traveling as in the years past, due to the economic conditions now facing the world. People are learning to become minimalists again in a world where having and doing more have been in fashion for a long time. One of the key components to staying positive during this recession is to realize that the simple pleasures of life exist whether we can ‘afford’ them or not. The trick is remembering exactly what they are.

Definitely, families are hard hit by the economic times. While many parents are losing their jobs or having to take cuts in salaries, the old way of expensive and often indulgent living is becoming a thing of the past. It is easy to feel angry or cheated somehow about all the things that you can no longer do. However, passing this ‘victimized’ way of thinking onto your kids will in no way serve them throughout their lives. In fact, teaching them how to get by with more, to do more with less and to appreciate and truly feel grateful for things are one of the gifts that a recession offers us.

This year at ballparks across the United States, more and more families are packing coolers with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, popcorn, and home made treats rather than sinking dozens of dollars into concession stands. The family picnic is coming back and with that, kids and adults are not only able to eat healthier, but also enabled to spend more time together gathered around a grassy patch and a cooler. This can teach children to be thankful for the food they do have as well as teach them how to resist the urges of spending money when it really isn’t necessary. Sure, the ballpark franks may taste better – but the reality is that having fun shouldn’t be contingent on a hot dog. This can also teach children about saving money and that sometimes treats are special rarities that should be savored rather than expected.

Since you probably still crave a vacation, you may find that a positive turn of events has occurred in your life. Rather than paying through the roof for technological and commercial themed parks and accommodations, a simple camping trip to a local park that you have long overlooked may be just the thing. In the beginning, getting along without the Ipods, computers, and television may make for boring moments; however, you will see that kids and adults both adjust very well to the outdoors. Suddenly, your kids may be digging for worms, excited to fish with you off a pier or rejuvenate in midnight talks around a campfire. Often, when we think simpler for our kids we enable them to relax and can effectively turn off the outside stimulation of the world around them so they can just be children.

It is important to stay as positive as possible during the recession. Children especially pick up on the worries and strife of their parents and constantly damning economic situations or feeling overwhelmed by pressures to provide “the best” or “what is expected” can damper child like happiness and faith. As adults, having faith that things will turn around and that when they do, we will be in an even better position financially and as a family; our children learn that obstacles in life are both unavoidable and temporary. This empowers them to seek out the best things in life, many of which are free and puts them in a position where they will be confident and faithful that they too, will overcome hurdles large and small.

Another aspect of staying positive during the recession, especially when raising children – is that it gives us time to reflect on the difference between needs and wants. As a family unit, you can begin working toward mutual goals and start truly ascertaining the difference between what everyone wants and what is truly needed. This can make a family unit work together and can cause a deep shift in the amount of gratitude that is shown for all the blessings that you do have. While realizing that things could always be worse is not the best way to receive your bounty, it should be duly noted.

Married or not, with or without children, the recession should be looked at as a learning experience. The ones that make it through seemingly unscathed – who have perhaps decided that living above their means is not a desired state of being, will be taught many things about prospering in life now and in the future. Even more opportune is that the recession enables people to realize quickly that monetary success are not true markers of happiness or a life well lived. If your money was stripped away and you feel hopeless and destitute, powerless and defeated; your spirit of humanness needs some readjusting. Taking the opportunity to do this and remain in a positive, happy and faithful state of mind shows us firsthand that we are much more than how much money is in the bank and that we are resilient creatures who will weather any storm.

David Beart runs the Professors House. Our family based site covers everything from pregnancy to raising children, health, nutrition and marriage advice.

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