As the economy struggles to rebound during this economic downturn, parents who face losing their jobs and homes are struggling to find the words to explain the situation to their children.
"We don't talk to them about the economy, but about tightening our belts even more . . . they're pretty oblivious," said Sheila Hamilton, a stay-at-home mom whose husband works for the City of Ottawa.
Hamilton says her teenagers are like most kids their age -- they keep asking for more, even when their parents are trying to make do with less.
It's a situation that hair stylist Michelle Seguin says she hears all too often.
"It comes up a lot, not enough money for the family," said Seguin, who works on commission and admits times are tough.
Like Hamilton, Seguin says the financial squeeze is affecting how she manages her family's budget. Her husband is a public servant and recently faced the possibility of a strike. She says it's created a financial situation her two sons, ages seven and nine, are having a hard time understanding.
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Child psychologists, however, say the key to explaining financial hardships to kids is to reassure them their basic needs will be met and the grown-ups will take care of the situation.
"If the child says, 'What if you lose your job,' we don't give them the doom and gloom story, just say we'll have to find another one," Dr. Maggie Mamen told CTV Ottawa.
She says parents should use these difficult times to learn to say 'no,' and teach their children the difference between needs and wants.
"If we can learn that as children, then it will stand us in good stead as we take over finances on our own."
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Joanne Schnurr
