| April is National Financial Literacy Month, and you love to talk about money, but I think it should be called National Financial Intimidation Month. After all, most of us “mere mortals” find personal finance intimidating. And boring. And tedious. |
| Are you done? Besides, I thought you got over that years ago. |
| Being forced to figure out the basics doesn’t make personal finance any more interesting. It’s like getting my teeth cleaned. I know I need to do it, but that doesn’t make it any more enjoyable. |
| Great analogy, especially as getting you even to think you could “do” personal finance was like pulling teeth. |
| Fine, is this where you’re going to remind me how I freaked out when you first mentioned financial statements? Or when you told me that if I could add and subtract, I was qualified? |
red head
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Black
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| Actually, it quickly became obvious that a big part of the problem was the terminology, which is why I simplified it. |
| I remember. Especially since you love to tell people how emphatic I was that I couldn’t deal with assets and liabilities until you told me we were going to talk about “what you own” and “what you owe,” and I said I could do that. Neglecting to tell me those were the definitions. |
| My version is technically accurate. But, making it a funny story makes the topic relevant and relatable. And, memorable. |
| Like when you used to ask auditoriums full of eighth graders how many liked math, and only a handful raised their hands. But when you asked how many liked money, they ALL raised their hands! |
| Exactly. The difference is focusing on practical applications versus terminology and theory. Many people will think they are not good at math when, in reality, they are not good at theory. |
| Do you remember when you took the girls and me to Central Market? Back when Natasha was in high school and close to failing math. She had a store gift card and a basket full of items. Sawyer and I watched as the cashier entered each item, and we were betting on how much Natasha would overspend. Instead, she came in slightly under! |
| She seemed to know exactly where she stood. And, was doing it in her head. Which did not surprise me as she was always good with numbers. It is why business plans for bars, not just the creative concepts and drinks, but the numbers, come so easily to her. Natasha often struggled with the supposed “correct order” of the mathematical steps, but she understood the application. |
| But I’ve always thought of math as being very structured. With right and wrong answers. |
| Ok, if something is $7.84 and I give you a $10 bill, how will you figure out the change? And, you cannot use a calculator or smartphone. |
| Easy. Subtract $7.84 from $10. How else would you do it? |
| Add $0.16 to get to $8. Then $2 more to get to $10. I can get to the “correct” answer of $2.16 faster using addition than subtraction. |
| That’s really interesting. When you asked me how to figure it out, the straight-A student in me defaulted to how I was taught to do it. But your approach is a much easier way to get to the same answer. |
| Basic algebra. |
| Don’t even think of going there. But it does explain the trick Mommy taught me years ago about calculating the cost of something with tax. Rather than figuring out what 8.25% of the price was and then adding it to the price, I’d just multiply the number by 1.0825. |
| I doubt Mom realized the mathematical equation behind solving for “x,” but she knew why take two steps when you can take just one. Whether in your head, on paper, or using a calculator. |
| So, just like you made me realize being open to “trying” to do personal finance is about mindset, so is math. Using your logic, why not teach math, at least to those who aren’t into theory, in a practical way? And by using money examples, you also could be teaching personal finance. After all, kids may not like math, but they sure do love money. |
| Mom used to say that I excelled in math because, as a kid. I would substitute “dollars and cents” for “apples and oranges” in word problems. Although, looking back, putting me on a clothing budget when I was in middle school is what probably taught me the most. |
| I still can’t believe you never realized it was intended as a punishment, not a life lesson, until you were trying to explain budgets to me while I was in the midst of my “crisis”. |
| I still can’t believe you never learned about money until you were in your 40s, and it took your husband getting fired. But, the bottom line is that you are never too young or too old to learn. |
| About math. About money. About life. |
Want to read other columns? Here's a list.
Since we first ran the conversation below, autism awareness has become more commonplace, but there’s a big difference between that and acceptance. (Which is why April is now Autism ACCEPTANCE Month.) Not to mention assumptions. Labels aside, don’t we all have something of value to contribute? Think about your different abilities (Black calls them “diff-abilities”), and you may find a new way to look at others, especially those with autism -- with respect, empathy, and a desire to better understand their situations, strengths, and challenges.
| Did you know that April's Autism Awareness Month? I wasn't aware (pun intended) of it until I read our local homeowner's monthly newsletter and it caught my eye. |
| Actually, last month the founding organization, the Autism Society, changed "Awareness "to "Acceptance" to foster inclusivity, as knowing about something is very different from accepting it. But I am guessing that is not the point of this call. |
| Although it isn't autism, it reminded me of years ago when we found out that Natasha has learning disabilities. |
| I think you mean DIFF-abilities. |
| Of course, that's another thing I remember. I was focused on the negative aspects of her diagnosis until you asked me, point-blank, "Why are they called disabilities?" And proceeded to explain that everyone has different strengths and weaknesses. |
| Exactly! Imagine the world if everyone excelled at math, but flunked English. Or, a world of lawyers, but no musicians. Some people are better at social skills, while others excel at handling technical data. Why not just say that people who have different skillsets and abilities have DIFF-abilities versus making them feel like they have shortcomings? |
| I know that you completely changed my way of thinking, not only about Natasha but about the concept of "disabilities" full stop. It opened my eyes – and my brain – about how just because someone has challenges or limited abilities in some areas, that doesn't mean they don't have different gifts and strengths in other areas. |
| Exactly. Although autism is a "spectrum condition" meaning it affects people differently and to varying degrees, it is a complex developmental disorder that can affect a person's social skills, and ability to communicate and interact with others. However, autistic people usually possess some extremely valuable traits that are rare in non-autistic people. |
| Which is why it frustrates me that so many people feel like those with disabilities, excuse me DIFF-abilities, are "lesser" people. When Natasha was diagnosed, she was in her teens and already had a very strong personality (no doubt inherited from you) and, luckily, seemed to have an innate understanding that she was just different, not better, not worse, than others. I guess one of the biggest challenges is to get others to see things with the same mindset. |
| We are a story-telling society, and there are countless stories of people with DIFF-abilities, including those with autism, that are eye-opening and more powerful than anything we could ever say. |
| Funny you say that, as I was curious to learn more about autism and found some inspiring quotes (including a wonderful Tom Hanks clip) that not only gave me great insight but made me smile. One of my favorites was how Paul Collins, an author and parent of an autistic child, said, "Autists are the ultimate square pegs, and the problem with pounding a square peg into a round hole is not that the hammering is hard work. It's that you're destroying the peg." That's such a great way to describe not only those with autism but any disability. |
| Well, technically, it will fit, but it requires that the diameter of the circle be larger than the diagonal of the square. Basic geometry. But, I understand Paul Collin's point. |
| Talk about DIFF-abilities! Couldn't you just agree with me? |
| The thought never crossed my mind. |
Design by Sawyer Pennington, Underlying photo by Ye Jinghan on Unsplash
We’ve all wanted a “second chance” at some point in our lives. A “do-over” for a mistake we made, a bad decision, or something that didn’t work out well. An opportunity to show (to ourselves and to others) that we learned our lesson.
Now imagine that second chance being life-changing. For many people who’ve found themselves on the wrong side of the law, a second chance might be all they need to turn their lives around. Which is why April was designated Second Chance Month and why we’re rerunning what changed Red’s perspective on second chances …
| I had no idea that April was “Second Chance Month” until you sent me the official proclamation. I find it interesting that in the midst of juggling our usual million and one Red & Black things, your interest in criminal justice, which I know you consider a “passion project”, is as strong as ever, maybe even stronger. |
| It is not intentional, sometimes “ passion projects” find you. And, when you least expect it. |
| Or where you least expect it! Only you would take a “field trip” to a men’s prison. |
| I will not get on my soapbox about how our education system contributes to the criminal justice problem. I will never forget a friend of mine who was formerly incarcerated telling me, “Rehabilitating people makes the assumption they were habilitated in the first place.” |
| When you stop and think about that statement, it’s pretty powerful! But I have to smile as once upon a time you, and I, used words like “offenders” and “prisoners” until we learned how our choice of words could be dehumanizing . |
| Says the woman who once believed in the idea of “lock ’em up and throw away the key”. |
Black
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| That was before! I know you told me that just because someone made a bad decision, it didn’t make them a bad person, but it sounded like a cliche. Now, my opinion is based on our experience and the impact we’ve seen . The feedback has been eye-opening. Unfortunately, life doesn’t come with “do-overs.” |
| Exactly. None of us are perfect. We have all made bad decisions. Second chances are about opportunities to show we have learned from our mistakes. |
| Well, I know I have. Obviously, not anything illegal. But it made me determined to teach my daughters what I had learned. Probably one of the most heartwarming parts of the feedback we’ve received is that so many people on the inside want better – not only for themselves, but for their children and grandchildren. |
| Yes, which is why having a second chance is so critical. And, helping set people up for success, not failure, because it is about more than changing the lives of the formerly incarcerated -- it can change the lives of their families and, in turn, our communities and our country. |
| A ripple effect that could mean more people may get it right the first time and not need a second chance. |
| True. Maybe we should look at it as giving society a second chance … |
Maybe Skin Cancer Advice, But Don’t Expect A Compliment From A Sarcastic Sister
I'll never forget the day. It was an "almost" ordinary day out on the golf course with my mom and dad during the heat of a Long Island summer. Now, if "Long Island" conjures up images of stately manors on the North Shore (think "Great Gatsby") or beachfront mansions in the Hamptons (think Robin Leach and his popular show "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous"), you can put those out of your head. I'm not talking about some fancy country club golf course, just a regular public course.
I loved the game ever since I learned to play as a teenager, and although I never got to play while at college (Wake Forest, which was renowned for its golf program, with its most famous alumni being Arnold Palmer), I'd try to get out as often as possible when I was home. I wasn't a phenomenal player but had a decent game and natural talent. And most of the time, I hit it pretty straight, so one of the things I enjoyed was walking down the middle of the fairway, pulling my clubs along (no fancy golf carts on this course), appreciating the day and the sport.
On one (very rare) occasion, my sister came back to New York to visit, as she moved out of state as soon as she graduated from business school. She also played golf, but unlike me, who relied on natural ability and played for fun, she worked extremely hard at her game, was overly competitive, and played "business golf". The result was that she was a far better player than me, although I was holding my own on that day.
As Black often says, the scorecard contains only numbers, no editorial. And it would ultimately show that she'd beat me, but as we were each walking up one of the last holes toward our respective balls, in the heat of a late summer afternoon, with the sun at our backs, I was secretly hoping that she'd be proud of me. So, after I hit my fairway shot onto the green, I heard her call out to me, and my hopes were high,
I wasn't sure whether to laugh, cry, or be angry. Or to just roll my eyes as it really was something only my sister would say. And to this day, I'm not even sure if she had even noticed how close I came to beating her and how well I played – "upping" my game driven by her much better game.
But I also know that I can never look down at my very pale legs without laughing just a little at how a lifetime ago (or so it seems), she was so right. Recently, when she treated me to my first pair of Birkenstocks, I stood in the store trying them on, and before she had a chance to say it I told her … Yes, I do look like I have on white hose.
P. S. – I feel it only fair (pun intended) to have a P.S. for a P.S.A. – Long ago, the harm of the summer sun wasn't as well known, but in the years since, we've learned how important sunblock is. Year-round. So, whether you're a redhead who never tans (I used to cycle between being extremely pale and burning red and back again) or someone who does tan, take care of your skin!