Money Money Money

Lately I have been hearing the following word often: money. A popular phrase that goes with money is “money can’t buy happiness,” yet it seems that is the answer to everything. Listening to Betsy Devos talk about funding and put money towards charter schools, listening to the debate circulate almost exclusively about costs and money and funding makes it seem that money is the backbone of worries. Children need to have access to resources and proper care, but we need to also acknowledge that a lot of the issues today stem from home life, even when that home is financially stable and capable of proprt child care. So many children experience abuse, neglect, and/or a dysfunctional household. Money may help with some of these, but what children need is support. They need to know that their are poeple who care about them.

Knowing that so many children go to bed hungry or feeling unloved is saddening. But knowing that so many adults, and people with the ability to take care of these children, do not seem to care is both heartbreaking and infuriating. A child, while they may want a new toy or a piece of fancy tech, want love and support the most. Knowing that so many families have the money they need, yet still struggle to have healthy and happy children, goes to show this.

I am by no means saying that children living in poverty are fine and do not need help. I am saying that all children should be taken care of, and it seems that when that it said, a lot of people think that money is the first and only answer to the problem. But its not. Children need support, exercise, time outdoors, time to play, friends, and adults who they know care about them. Without these things, and so many others, a child is not being set up to succeed in their life.

Money is necessary. It is needed to pay for shelter, food, even water. But take a look at Maslow’s heirarchy, and you will see that first is psychological needs, such as water, food, and shelter. Next is safety, which can include jobs, resources, and security in your position. But the very next part needed for optimal survival, is love and support. Feeling connected or a sense of belongingness can make all the difference between a child who is thriving and one who is lost. Let us take a stand to help as many children thrive as possible.