"My husband and I (we are older parents of an 8-year-old) have been lucky in our careers to make the salaries we now do. We haven't had an unfair leg up in our lives and have worked hard for what we have, and can now afford to move our son to a private school where he will get so many more opportunities. It won't come without its sacrifices; we will have fewer trips away,"
"Explaining that money is a privilege is a great way to go. You can even frame it as you did in this letter: Being able to work certain kinds of jobs that pay higher salaries is a privilege. You can also talk about how privilege exists in different ways that have nothing to do with money. At 8 years old, kids can generally handle conversations about race, abilities, gender, and other ways we show up in society."
Explain that financial advantage is a form of privilege and name that being able to work certain jobs that pay more enables choices like private schooling. Acknowledge the smaller sacrifices that come with that choice, such as fewer trips and continued frugality. Distinguish between hard work and structural factors that affect wealth so children understand that effort does not guarantee income. Introduce other kinds of privilege, including race, ability, and gender, in simple, age-appropriate terms. Keep conversations brief and open to build a safe space for deeper talks as the child grows and to foster empathy for differing life experiences.
Read at Slate Magazine
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