Where has personal accountability gone? Though they are the leading experts, lacking accountability is not reserved for just children and teenagers. (Was that redundant? Teenagers are children right?)
"It wasn't me" says the 5year old through a chocolate stained smile.
"It's not my fault! You distracted me when you asked about my day and then I forgot!" says the 10year-old who's Friday lunch leftovers are found decomposing in her backpack Sunday night.
"I can't make people stop texting me and I can't be rude and not respond." says the teenager who has wasted 5hours doing 30min worth of homework. (And I'm sure it was some virus that kept Facebook open the whole 5 hours too....)
"Kids!" right? Wrong...
"It's a special occassion so I can splurge a little." Sounds innocent enough unless 'splurge' means sharing a plate of mozerella sticks with me, myself and I before the Bacon-Double Onion Ring and lard burger with double chili-cheese fries entree.
"I can't pay for the new transmission because I have to pay for my vacation next week." I'd be lying if I didn't admit I live dangerously close to such a scenario.
"I'm too busy to read, exercise, play with the kids or cook healthier meals." Quilty.
I could lecture (and hope to follow my own advice) but instead I will simply translate the statements above into the truths they hide:
"I'm sick of pretending to have the discipline or dedication to eating healthy."
"I only plan to pay for what I want, not what I know I will need."
"I am oblivious to how much time I actually spend on Facebook, XBox, texting and catching up on the 50shows a week I have DVR'd."
Now don't get me wrong, if that's where you WANT to budget your time or how you WANT to budget your money, then so be it. Nothing says you have to change anything. Might as well quit reading this and get back to watching Jersey Shore. Just realize you relinquish your right to bitch and moan when you don't get what you want or more importantly, what you need, down the road.
Instead, try accepting the fact that you put yourself in your current situation. Skate by or work around the problem. But if you don't want to face it again, cut the excuses and make the required changes.
It starts with facing the hard truths about you and your choices. If you can't be honest with yourself, you'll continue to come up short every time.
