I Blame Dave Ramsey
Normal education is broken. Now weird wins.
I blame Dave Ramsey. My kids sold vegetables instead of going to school. My son started cutting grass at age 7.
By 9, our kids managed their laundry, had full run of the kitchen, and prepared meals weekly. Our expectation was that they could — and must — contribute to the household according to their ability. Not because we needed their help, but because they need to feel their own power of production.
When they started driving, they paid for gas and milage at $.55/mi. (They learned the true costs of transportation and also met the backbone of Houston: the men and women who drive and ride the bus every day.)
The Results:
My son: valedictorian at his public high school.
My daughter: full-time employment as a marketing professional since age 18.
My youngest: a professional actress, the 4th highest rank in #CivilAirPatrol, and is self-funding her pilot training.
All are financially literate, live modestly, and have been mostly self-governing since age 14.
This is all Dave Ramsey’s fault because, 25 years ago, Ramsey Solutions taught me how to take control of my finances. The principles involved also showed me how to help my kids take control of their education and lives. Yell #freedom!!!!
This is possible for all kids — ALL — but it requires parents who have two things:
- Hope.
- An On-Paper-On-Purpose plan.
In a world of social media, ChatGPT, and rapid chane, it also requires that you radically reimagine their educational journey.
My kids were first home schooled, then self-led. They did not learn to comply to standardized tests or to live with external pressure to perform. Their drive is internal — as it must be in a rapidly changing world.
Parents: Hope and Plan Help
If you have lost hope or have no plan, then ping me to get started. All my services are free (also thanks to Dave Ramsey).
The path will not be easy, but it will be worth it.
matt@mattcbarnes.com
