It was late winter of 2009 and the frequent wet and cold was fraying the family nerves. The Global Financial Crisis which hit hard in 2008 was continuing to bit deep into every family’s finances and investments. A great angst swept through the middle-income families the most, having the most impacted through significant investment losses.  Ashwyn Robertson was one of the lucky few, but who was very anxious to change his young family’s views of finance as an insurance policy.

Ashwyn Robertson paced around the Rumpus room, occasionally pulling at his beardless chin or scratching his balding head. Then he would sit down, stare out the window, and give a deep sigh.  His intellectual mind, as a Lecturer in Mass Communications and the Media, at Sydney University, was on overdrive on a journey. The only problem; it was overheating and needed a safety valve to stop. There was an issue that had increasingly occupied his mind over the years, especially as his family size grew and the financial burdens increased.  He felt he was very close to a possible resolution, but he quite couldn’t get his fingers on that something, so vital to achieving the “viola! I’ve got it!” experience.

His wife, Jill, sat in the lounge chair breastfeeding their 6-month-old daughter, Lisa. She watched Ashwyn carry on for about 10 minutes but soon tired of it and wasn’t impressed with Ashwyn’s antics, especially since he was not communicating what was bothering him. During that period, she had already stopped herself five times, from asking what was bugging him just to give him space. 

She refrained herself by observing the two younger children, the four year old, son, Matt excitedly playing the Monopoly game with the help of her seven year old sister, Rhonda. Then there was Dotty, the dog, seated watching excitedly and wagging her tail.

The dear old thing, Dotty, she thought. She had brought so much joy over the years to the whole family. She was pretty old now, just dread the thought what we’d do without her. She was like the resident grandmother of the home. She was a Christmas present by the children’s grandmother, Betty. From the days when she was a pup until now, she had gone through all the life of the family like a sixth child, even eating at the table, thanks to the insistence of the children and herself. As she grew older, she became like a true grandmother doting over everyone whenever they came home every evening. She would seem to count them all one by one, as they entered the house. A kiss and a cuddle to welcome was the standard routine. If someone did not come in by her bedtime, she would pace up and down the house restlessly whining, inconsolably. She would go from person to person jabbing them on the knees with her cold nose, or putting her face on their laps if they were sitting down, as if to ask, “What has happened to the member of the family who was still missing?” Each person would have to rub her on the head and say everything was alright with the missing person, mentioning them by name, repeatedly. She would then go and rest her head on another person quietly for about 10-15 minutes, before starting the whining again and going from person to person. They all loved her for it. Her caring ways often seemed to surpass family squabbles and sibling rivalries. She would not hesitate to bark, as if to rebuke them whenever an argument started. She could quickly detect an argument brewing and begin to whine and growl while staring down the trouble causers. 

The children were carrying on, sometimes arguing, sometimes laughing.  After another 5 minutes, Jill could not help herself and blurted out, “What is bothering you Ashwyn? Stop mumbling and pacing about, you’re making me dizzy!” 

Ashwyn stopped in his tracks and turned around with a half worried look, and a half smile, and after a deep sigh, started what seemed like verbal vomit. It gave Jill such a rude shock that she wished she hadn’t asked him to speak. On and on he ranted, not in anger but with a sense of frustration and yet inquisitively.

“Everyone is on a journey!” he proclaimed. “You go and watch the movies and they are on a journey. You read a book - they are on a journey. You hear a hit song described by the composer, during an interview, as a journey of both the good and bad experiences of life they have gone through or are going through. Even politicians say the country is in an economic journey with not so good times now, the fault of the previous government’s policies, of course, they will add…but, but they will now take us to the good part of the country’s journey with their better policies. Kids don’t want to know about any journeys. Only parents and adults do journeys. If ever they even bother to think about it, they only ask “Are we there yet?” 

“Stop!” Jill interrupted “I’ve had enough. Time-out! I will leave you to mull that one. I will stick to the here and now. The baby’s plenty and at the moment her bottom has just completed a journey and needs a change of nappy” With that she got up and left. 

Ashwyn slumped to his chair and stared at the two kids playing monopoly for what seemed an eternity and then, his eyes got brighter and his face more relaxed as a broad smile swept across his face. He suddenly noticed his kids stopped playing and were staring back at him very quizzically. 

Matt blurted out, “Want to join our monopoly journey, dad? It is lots of fun!” 

“Yeah, you can join the journey to lots of moneys and houses and, and, hotels and, and..er..and, I know, airports! Wow!  I like this type of journey. It’s my type of journey,” Rhonda piped in triumphantly. 

Matt, however, wasn’t too happy about all these things that Rhonda has been able to name which to him meant she already owns them in the game. 

“What about me?” Matt protested, “I want some airports and I like aeroplanes in the airports and lions animals in the parks. Rooaarrr” 

Ashwyn came towards the kids and bent down staring them in the face. With eyes wide open, “You kids are fantastic! You have given me a great idea about a journey for the who-o-ole family. I need to go away and start organising for the journey right away! Isn’t that exciting!” 

“Oh, Oh! Dad a journey? We’re going on a journey. Can we go camping? Or go to Grandpa and Grandma’s house? Matt shouted.

“What journey, and where are we going, dad? quizzed Rhonda more thoughtfully. She loved the thought of going on a journey but wasn’t quite prepared emotionally for the packing up and cleaning her room. Something they always did before leaving. Bother! I hope it is a fun place. It usually is whenever dad springs a surprise trip away, like when they went to the Theme Parks at the Gold Coast. The joys of that journey brought a hopeful smile across her wary face. She stared up at her dad, waiting for a reply.

“It’s not that kind of a journey, darlings, this is a different kind of journey. A special kind of journey which will take years and years and, we will all-l-l have to help by doing different things at different times.” Ashwyn replied. 

“Sometimes, at night and sometimes in the daytime?” Matt checked with a suspiciously screwed up face. 

Ashwyn looked up at the ceiling with a serious, thoughtful and screwed up face and then in a flash replied with a serious look. “Yea-a-a-h, of course, Matt, of course! It won’t always be fun, but it will end will lots and lots of fun times, at the end, if we all work together to bring success in this journey. But, I have to go and workout how this journey will begin, what we’ll need, when do we begin and where is our first place to go and how we’ll know we have arrived there.”

“Will there be a MacDonald’s there, dad? Matt interrupted. 

“I don’t like Maccas, I prefer Kentucky Fried Chicken because it’s nicer” Rhonda rebuked. 

“It’s none of those,” Ashwyn responded bemused at their kids understanding of the word journey. 

“I’ll explain it more later when I have the details in my head, OK?”

“OK,” replied Rhonda. “Can Matt and I play our game now?”

“What’s “explain”? Matt asked half quizzically, but lost interest because he was back into the game since it was his turn to shake the dice. He loved the rattling noise and random number that it rolled to.

In the brief encounter with the children, Ashwyn realised three very significant perspectives about words, and the meaning of words in making this journey successful, as a family. Everyone must participate in whatever way and to whatever extent they are able.

They must knowas many of the financial words as possible that are important for the journey’s success. They must have the correct understanding of the words that are relevant for the journey’s success. They must know how to correctly translate these specific words into creative actions to produce the successful journey

Reflecting on his research at the University of Sydney, where he is Lecturer, he had learnt that there is a difference between when the poor and middle-class uses a term such as ‘invest for the long term’ to mean investing in Mutual funds, shares or bonds. On the other, the rich investor does not consider long term in the same way. They focus on the ‘exit strategy’ of any investment as the definition for the length of the term for the investment. When they are sure they can’t achieve the required rate of return, at that point, then they will cash-out or reallocate to a new investment.

Another significant difference between the rich and the poor or middle-class is the use of term ‘diversified’ investments. The poor and middle-class think of it as referring to spreading ones investments in small company shares, large company shares, growth shares, precious metal shares, real estate investment, trusts, etc. To the rich, on the other hand, see this is as a misguided understanding because all these investments are paper investments, so that when the stock market crashes one could lose most of their investments in so-called “diversified investments”. To them diversified investments mean a combination of shares, bonds, precious metals (such as gold, silver, and platinum), regular cash-flow generating real estate, mining, and exploration ventures across different geographical locations, physical markets, and legal jurisdictions. 

The big question he had to answer was how to get each member of his family to understand what the words meant, let alone apply it creatively. Fat chance with the baby, he thought dismissively.  As for Matt, at 4 years old, he thought, ruefully, scratching his thinning head; I will definitely need some help from Jill and possibly even Rhonda who plays a lot with him. Creativity will be required just to get him to understand anything. 

Rhonda at 7 years old could be helped by examples, so would Luke at 11 years old. Although, he has been vague a lot lately, pre-occupied with the latest electronic gadgets, and all the related websites on the Internet. Actually, on second thoughts, Luke, as a computer wunderkind could prove useful in finding useful materials for examples to help us all understand things better.

Bob, now there’s a young man rearing to go like a brumby eager to gallop towards adulthood privileges. At 175cm tall, he was tall for his age of 14 years and had the powerful athletic body of a well-toned swimmer. A responsible and level headed sensible kind of guy, but still requires more guidance then he would care to admit, with that teenage bravado of self-confidence and self-sufficiency.

“Daa-ad, can Dotty come on the journey too, dad?” Matt shouted out, still totally focussed on the monopoly game. “She can help us if we have to go through the bushes and trees and things and get lost. Cause she’s a dog and can like… help us find our way back…yeah. I like Dotty.”

Ashwyn looked at Matt and then Dotty, bemused.  He wasn’t so sure about Dotty’s abilities on this type of journey though. Looking at her in her sheep-skin bed lying on her back fast asleep with tongue hanging out and eyes half open seemed rather laughable. But, why not, let’s just see what Matt and everyone else can come up with creatively for Dotty to contribute towards this journey of a lifetime.

A thought came flashing through his mind, a reality check that obliterated all else as he remembered Jill’s earlier response. “Stop! I’ve had enough. Time out” She is smart and provides a good out-of-the-box perspective on things, so I’d better give my plans some clarity and critical review. If it doesn’t wash with Jill, then, might as well can the whole thing, he reflected uneasily. I’ve got some work to do, to bring long-term financial success and freedom to their family. 

Family

It was late winter of 2009 and the frequent wet and cold was fraying the family nerves. The Global Financial Crisis which hit hard in 2008 was continuing to bit deep into every family’s finances and investments. A great angst swept through the middle-income families the most, having the most impacted through significant investment losses.  Ashwyn Robertson was one of the lucky few, but who was very anxious to change his young family’s views of finance as an insurance policy.

Ashwyn Robertson paced around the Rumpus room, occasionally pulling at his beardless chin or scratching his balding head. Then he would sit down, stare out the window, and give a deep sigh.  His intellectual mind, as a Lecturer in Mass Communications and the Media, at Sydney University, was on overdrive on a journey. The only problem; it was overheating and needed a safety valve to stop. There was an issue that had increasingly occupied his mind over the years, especially as his family size grew and the financial burdens increased.  He felt he was very close to a possible resolution, but he quite couldn’t get his fingers on that something, so vital to achieving the “viola! I’ve got it!” experience.

His wife, Jill, sat in the lounge chair breastfeeding their 6-month-old daughter, Lisa. She watched Ashwyn carry on for about 10 minutes but soon tired of it and wasn’t impressed with Ashwyn’s antics, especially since he was not communicating what was bothering him. During that period, she had already stopped herself five times, from asking what was bugging him just to give him space. 

She refrained herself by observing the two younger children, the four year old, son, Matt excitedly playing the Monopoly game with the help of her seven year old sister, Rhonda. Then there was Dotty, the dog, seated watching excitedly and wagging her tail.

The dear old thing, Dotty, she thought. She had brought so much joy over the years to the whole family. She was pretty old now, just dread the thought what we’d do without her. She was like the resident grandmother of the home. She was a Christmas present by the children’s grandmother, Betty. From the days when she was a pup until now, she had gone through all the life of the family like a sixth child, even eating at the table, thanks to the insistence of the children and herself. As she grew older, she became like a true grandmother doting over everyone whenever they came home every evening. She would seem to count them all one by one, as they entered the house. A kiss and a cuddle to welcome was the standard routine. If someone did not come in by her bedtime, she would pace up and down the house restlessly whining, inconsolably. She would go from person to person jabbing them on the knees with her cold nose, or putting her face on their laps if they were sitting down, as if to ask, “What has happened to the member of the family who was still missing?” Each person would have to rub her on the head and say everything was alright with the missing person, mentioning them by name, repeatedly. She would then go and rest her head on another person quietly for about 10-15 minutes, before starting the whining again and going from person to person. They all loved her for it. Her caring ways often seemed to surpass family squabbles and sibling rivalries. She would not hesitate to bark, as if to rebuke them whenever an argument started. She could quickly detect an argument brewing and begin to whine and growl while staring down the trouble causers. 

The children were carrying on, sometimes arguing, sometimes laughing.  After another 5 minutes, Jill could not help herself and blurted out, “What is bothering you Ashwyn? Stop mumbling and pacing about, you’re making me dizzy!” 

Ashwyn stopped in his tracks and turned around with a half worried look, and a half smile, and after a deep sigh, started what seemed like verbal vomit. It gave Jill such a rude shock that she wished she hadn’t asked him to speak. On and on he ranted, not in anger but with a sense of frustration and yet inquisitively.

“Everyone is on a journey!” he proclaimed. “You go and watch the movies and they are on a journey. You read a book - they are on a journey. You hear a hit song described by the composer, during an interview, as a journey of both the good and bad experiences of life they have gone through or are going through. Even politicians say the country is in an economic journey with not so good times now, the fault of the previous government’s policies, of course, they will add…but, but they will now take us to the good part of the country’s journey with their better policies. Kids don’t want to know about any journeys. Only parents and adults do journeys. If ever they even bother to think about it, they only ask “Are we there yet?” 

“Stop!” Jill interrupted “I’ve had enough. Time-out! I will leave you to mull that one. I will stick to the here and now. The baby’s plenty and at the moment her bottom has just completed a journey and needs a change of nappy” With that she got up and left. 

Ashwyn slumped to his chair and stared at the two kids playing monopoly for what seemed an eternity and then, his eyes got brighter and his face more relaxed as a broad smile swept across his face. He suddenly noticed his kids stopped playing and were staring back at him very quizzically. 

Matt blurted out, “Want to join our monopoly journey, dad? It is lots of fun!” 

“Yeah, you can join the journey to lots of moneys and houses and, and, hotels and, and..er..and, I know, airports! Wow!  I like this type of journey. It’s my type of journey,” Rhonda piped in triumphantly. 

Matt, however, wasn’t too happy about all these things that Rhonda has been able to name which to him meant she already owns them in the game. 

“What about me?” Matt protested, “I want some airports and I like aeroplanes in the airports and lions animals in the parks. Rooaarrr” 

Ashwyn came towards the kids and bent down staring them in the face. With eyes wide open, “You kids are fantastic! You have given me a great idea about a journey for the who-o-ole family. I need to go away and start organising for the journey right away! Isn’t that exciting!” 

“Oh, Oh! Dad a journey? We’re going on a journey. Can we go camping? Or go to Grandpa and Grandma’s house? Matt shouted.

“What journey, and where are we going, dad? quizzed Rhonda more thoughtfully. She loved the thought of going on a journey but wasn’t quite prepared emotionally for the packing up and cleaning her room. Something they always did before leaving. Bother! I hope it is a fun place. It usually is whenever dad springs a surprise trip away, like when they went to the Theme Parks at the Gold Coast. The joys of that journey brought a hopeful smile across her wary face. She stared up at her dad, waiting for a reply.

“It’s not that kind of a journey, darlings, this is a different kind of journey. A special kind of journey which will take years and years and, we will all-l-l have to help by doing different things at different times.” Ashwyn replied. 

“Sometimes, at night and sometimes in the daytime?” Matt checked with a suspiciously screwed up face. 

Ashwyn looked up at the ceiling with a serious, thoughtful and screwed up face and then in a flash replied with a serious look. “Yea-a-a-h, of course, Matt, of course! It won’t always be fun, but it will end will lots and lots of fun times, at the end, if we all work together to bring success in this journey. But, I have to go and workout how this journey will begin, what we’ll need, when do we begin and where is our first place to go and how we’ll know we have arrived there.”

“Will there be a MacDonald’s there, dad? Matt interrupted. 

“I don’t like Maccas, I prefer Kentucky Fried Chicken because it’s nicer” Rhonda rebuked. 

“It’s none of those,” Ashwyn responded bemused at their kids understanding of the word journey. 

“I’ll explain it more later when I have the details in my head, OK?”

“OK,” replied Rhonda. “Can Matt and I play our game now?”

“What’s “explain”? Matt asked half quizzically, but lost interest because he was back into the game since it was his turn to shake the dice. He loved the rattling noise and random number that it rolled to.

In the brief encounter with the children, Ashwyn realised three very significant perspectives about words, and the meaning of words in making this journey successful, as a family. Everyone must participate in whatever way and to whatever extent they are able.

They must knowas many of the financial words as possible that are important for the journey’s success. They must have the correct understanding of the words that are relevant for the journey’s success. They must know how to correctly translate these specific words into creative actions to produce the successful journey

Reflecting on his research at the University of Sydney, where he is Lecturer, he had learnt that there is a difference between when the poor and middle-class uses a term such as ‘invest for the long term’ to mean investing in Mutual funds, shares or bonds. On the other, the rich investor does not consider long term in the same way. They focus on the ‘exit strategy’ of any investment as the definition for the length of the term for the investment. When they are sure they can’t achieve the required rate of return, at that point, then they will cash-out or reallocate to a new investment.

Another significant difference between the rich and the poor or middle-class is the use of term ‘diversified’ investments. The poor and middle-class think of it as referring to spreading ones investments in small company shares, large company shares, growth shares, precious metal shares, real estate investment, trusts, etc. To the rich, on the other hand, see this is as a misguided understanding because all these investments are paper investments, so that when the stock market crashes one could lose most of their investments in so-called “diversified investments”. To them diversified investments mean a combination of shares, bonds, precious metals (such as gold, silver, and platinum), regular cash-flow generating real estate, mining, and exploration ventures across different geographical locations, physical markets, and legal jurisdictions. 

The big question he had to answer was how to get each member of his family to understand what the words meant, let alone apply it creatively. Fat chance with the baby, he thought dismissively.  As for Matt, at 4 years old, he thought, ruefully, scratching his thinning head; I will definitely need some help from Jill and possibly even Rhonda who plays a lot with him. Creativity will be required just to get him to understand anything. 

Rhonda at 7 years old could be helped by examples, so would Luke at 11 years old. Although, he has been vague a lot lately, pre-occupied with the latest electronic gadgets, and all the related websites on the Internet. Actually, on second thoughts, Luke, as a computer wunderkind could prove useful in finding useful materials for examples to help us all understand things better.

Bob, now there’s a young man rearing to go like a brumby eager to gallop towards adulthood privileges. At 175cm tall, he was tall for his age of 14 years and had the powerful athletic body of a well-toned swimmer. A responsible and level headed sensible kind of guy, but still requires more guidance then he would care to admit, with that teenage bravado of self-confidence and self-sufficiency.

“Daa-ad, can Dotty come on the journey too, dad?” Matt shouted out, still totally focussed on the monopoly game. “She can help us if we have to go through the bushes and trees and things and get lost. Cause she’s a dog and can like… help us find our way back…yeah. I like Dotty.”

Ashwyn looked at Matt and then Dotty, bemused.  He wasn’t so sure about Dotty’s abilities on this type of journey though. Looking at her in her sheep-skin bed lying on her back fast asleep with tongue hanging out and eyes half open seemed rather laughable. But, why not, let’s just see what Matt and everyone else can come up with creatively for Dotty to contribute towards this journey of a lifetime.

A thought came flashing through his mind, a reality check that obliterated all else as he remembered Jill’s earlier response. “Stop! I’ve had enough. Time out” She is smart and provides a good out-of-the-box perspective on things, so I’d better give my plans some clarity and critical review. If it doesn’t wash with Jill, then, might as well can the whole thing, he reflected uneasily. I’ve got some work to do, to bring long-term financial success and freedom to their family.

It was one of those wet dreary weekends, when everyone is tired from the week’s activities and just did not want to do anything related to school. Apart from the normal house chores there was restlessness with meaningless arguments, and uncalled for angry responses. Stir craziness was building up.  Sensing the build-up Jill, as sharp as usual, turned to Ashwyn and spoke softly so that the kids could not hear, in a matter of fact kind of way.

“Darling, you better go and get a DVD for the kids to watch. Something that is full of action and funny.” Than, with her eye brows raised as added emphasis, on the sense of urgency, she continued, “And be real quick about it, too.” 

Ashwyn, looked around at the increasingly tense atmosphere, scratched his head as he usually does and proclaimed as if it was his own solution. “OK! Excellent idea! R-r-r-right! Everyone! I am going to rent a mo-o-vie. Anyone interested? Suggestions anyone?” 

The arguments stopped, there was a moment of dead silence and everyone stared at their dad, than at each other. Suddenly, it was titles of all types of movies from the gory, blood and guts recommendations from Luke just for the sake of it, to the more thoughtful, Robert, asserting his maturity and yet caring nature. 

“I recommend, A Bugs Life! It has both kids humour and adult humour. Besides, we haven’t seen it in a long time. I loved it when I saw it at the age of 7.”

Both Matt and Rhonda screamed in unison “Yes! Dad, Yes! please Dad! A Bugs Life! Awesome and very fun!”

Never mind that Matt did not know about the movie. It was a kid’s movie and that’s all that mattered. They both rushed towards Ashwyn grabbing both his hands and pulling him along. Matt shouted, “Let’s go now!”  Rhonda piled on the pressure. “Lets go right now, I am going crazy! Stir crazy.” She then proceeded to pull a face with tongue hanging out and shake her head like someone receiving an electric shock. 

Ashwyn turned round, smiled at Jill, and said. “You’re a gem darling, you’ve saved the day yet again.” Jill winked in acknowledgement of the praise. Then waived her hand, indicating to Ashwyn to get-a-move-on and restore the peace.

While Ashwyn took Matt and Rhonda to the video store, Jill went about her normal routines while musing over why of all the movies, A Bugs Life, had won out. Reflecting on what she could remember of the movie a passing thought caught her attention. The journey of life and struggles to be free from oppressive circumstances and/or people often begins with one or two people who decide they have had enough and take deliberate courses of actions that eventually win over a majority of sceptics to their cause.  In some cases, those individuals achieve their own freedom leaving the rest behind to remain forever in their misery.  A Bugs Life, she reflected seemed to be about how an individual brought deliverance to an entire community because he had a vision. 

“Mu-u-um, A Bugs Life, has some gory bits in it I think” Luke interrupted just for the sake of an idle chatter. 

“What do you think about that movie, Luke? What did you learn from it?” she replied, seeking affirmation from a child’s perspective. Was she reading too much into the movie as an adult? She thought.

“I reckon, it’s about LIBERATION! from tyranny by a bunch of losers who accidently fell into a great idea but only succeeded because their enemies were dumber than they realised” bellowed Robert triumphantly from his room. 

“Who asked you anyway, Bob? You’re always interrupting and getting away with it. Mum asked me” Luke protested, looking at Jill with an angry face.

“You’re right! I did ask you, Luke,” she intercepted to console him. “OK, what do you think?”

“I reckon it was about having the guts to stick to your dreams and doing whatever you can to bring it to success. It is also about fighting bullies who are trying to rip you off and beat you up. The trick is to understand that these bullies are fewer and that, if you can get most people to understand that by ganging up against the bully, you can defeat them and chase them away.” Luke replied with a sense of triumph, and confident grin, speaking as if he was the one bringing the victory. 

“Excellent possible interpretation of the movie Luke!” Jill replied, going into a parent/teacher mode. “It will be very interesting to find out what the others think after watching the movie again.” Then making fun of Ashwyn and lowering her voice and talking like one of those atypical lifestyle gurus she said, “I am sure your Dad will be seeing it as a j-o-u-r-ney of some kind, I suppose.” Luke laughed with a knowing nod.

“What’s that guy ant’s name? the airhead main character?” enquired Luke. 

“I can’t remember off-the-top of my head,” Jill replied scratching her head thoughtfully. “Hmm. Robert!”

“Yes! Mum,” Robert replied. 

“What is the name of the main character in A Bugs Life?”

“Flik! How can I forget him. I reckon, he’s the coolest ant ever! He gives us all a fighting chance in life. Talk about luck just when you need it!” Robert was now getting fired-up about this childhood movie that he had watched numerous times. He came out of the room in a very intellectual mood applying analysis to the movie. 

He continued, “When I think about the movie, even though it’s so long ago that I last watched it, the thing that struck me most and has stayed with me is that Flik was not afraid to apply whatever creative skills he had to improve not only his life but also of his colony of ants. It was his gutsy determination even against great odds that seems to be the main key to the colony’s final victory over the grasshoppers. So, it clearly seems to say that if we give up too soon just because of obstacles we will remain slaves to those obstacles.” 

He turned round and was about to go back to his room when he stopped at the door and turned around after suddenly discovering a passing event in the movie. He observed, “Flik and his circus friends were very forgiving to their enemies who recognised the error of their ways. Remember, Molt, the brother of the evil grasshopper emperor, Hopper? He was freely allowed to join the circus to fulfil his dream. There was no lingering bitterness after all the years he was involved in inflicting pain on the ant colony. That’s powerful stuff, if we are able to do it to help those criminals who need a second chance. At the same time it prevents past bad experiences from controlling our future.” 

“Fa-a-rout! Bob! That’s deep stuff. You should get an ‘A’ in Literature in the High School Certificate,” Jill responded. A deep feeling of pride washed over her at son’s intellectual abilities. “Catch all that?” Jill added, turning towards Luke with a cheeky smile. 

“Seems like there is going to be some deep discussions after the movie now that the discussion cat is out of the bag” Luke retorted going back to his computer game, envious at his brother’s ability to read more into the movie than himself. He decided privately to watch the movie and try to see what unique lessons he can get to prove that he was as good as his older brother.

Soon Ashwyn returned with the DVD and everyone wanted the obligatory popcorn and a drink. Sorry, only cordial allowed though. Jill had already anticipated this and had some ready. Needless to say, Luke and Bob had been helping themselves to some of them. Settling down in the Rumpus room with the massive flat screen HDTV there was a sense of excitement especially from Matt who had never seen the movie before. But Ashwyn had to spoil it a little.

“When you watch this movie can you try to see if there’re any lessons or things we can learn from it. It doesn’t need to be very deep.” 

“Wooo, Dad!” replied Luke, “while you guys were away, Mum asked us the same thing. This is spookie or have you guys got telepathy or something?”

“Tel-paty! Tel-paty! What is that big word Mum? Its a scary word, Mum? Oooo!” Matt interrupted. 

“Later, Matt. Lets watch the movie first, than I will explain it to you.” Jill replied.

“Press the play button, Dad!” Rhonda ordered, anxious with excitement to get started. 

Ashwyn pressed the start button shaking his head with a smile and a deep sigh forgivingly.

After the movie finished, it was too late for the discussion because it was getting late and dinner had to be prepared, the kids needed to have their showers so Ashwyn said they would discuss over dinner.

The Robertsons family had established a tradition to have a meal each day that was a favourite of a family member. That way everyone had a chance each week to eat their favourite meal. Today, it was Rhonda’s turn. She had made a request for a Beef Stroganoff. It wasn’t Matt’s or Luke’s kind of food. They both hated the mushrooms, and vegetables in the mix. Luke couldn’t get away with fishing out only the meat, but Matt being 4 years old, was given some slack to leave the mushrooms but couldn’t escape the vegies. Since he only had a small portion and had been ravenous he was soon finished. Triumphantly he raised both his hands up as soon as he had shovelled his last spoonful into his mouth.

“I’ve feenish’d!” he declared with bits of food coming out of his overflowing mouth.

“That’s disgusting, Matt!” retorted Rhonda. “Don’t talk with food in your mouth,” she added. 

Matt ignored her and looked to Ashwyn and then Jill for affirmation that he was a good boy for finishing his food. Never mind the mushrooms scattered on his plate and some secretly pushed under the curved edge of the plate on the side facing him. Ashwyn gave him a stare after scanning the plate and leaning over and noticing Matt’s crafty attempt with the mushrooms and vegies. 

“Hmm-m-m, good effort son” he replied nodding cheekily. “What’s with the escaped mushrooms and vegies hiding under your plate, e-e-h?” he added, pointing with his eyes and chin. 

Quick as a flash Matt responded in a devious diversionary tactic waving his hands and becoming animated, “They are bad like the grasshoppers when they were running away from Flint and the other ants. They just jumped away from the spoon to hide.” Everyone roared with laughter at Matt’s theatrical attempt to escape the rebuke. 

Matt then proceeded without any prompting from Ashwyn to give his personal understanding of the movie. 

“I don’t like the grasshoppers. Hopper the big bad, bad bully,” his face looking angry. “I‘m happy Flint won, Yay! I like Flint. He’s fun,” his face brightening up again in a flash. He then started to disjointedly talk about different scenes that were both funny and scary. Everyone, interjected excitedly about what they had enjoyed or didn’t like. 

Ashwyn, however, did not say anything just yet. He wanted them to review the movie in a free-flowing atmosphere so long as no-one was imposing their own interpretation on others. This went on for about 5 minutes until he thought it was time to get some more specific views from each person. He decided to start with the youngest, Matt. Starting with the oldest could impose too powerful a perspective over Luke and Rhonda and make them insecure to give their own views. Lisa, the baby, couldn’t jolly well start could she. She had her mouth full of dummy and was nodding off in her cot in the corner. 

Interrupting just as the excitement was waning is one thing but phrasing an intellectual question to a 4 year old can be problematic. You don’t want to go over his head and you don’t want to sound like a killjoy. Ashwyn asked, “So, what did you find good or bad about the movie, Matt?” 

Responding without a moment’s hesitation Matt replied, “It was good becos Flint and the princess and her grandma and a-a-ll the ants won, yay! The grasshoppers were naughty insects” while giving an exaggerated angry look. He then quizzed, “Grasshoppers, are they all bad? What about the green ones in the garden?” then in a rebuking voice, he whispered loudly as if he was in a hunt, “I am going to catch them and tell them not to be naughty to the ants.”

“You can’t talk to ants, moron!” retorted Luke.

Ashwyn snapped back gently, careful not to raise his voice because it would kill the atmosphere. “Hey! Luke don’t be so rude and insulting to your brother. He’s only 4. Give him a break. You used to talk to insects too when you were his age and even at 4 years old.” Rhonda, burst out laughing looking at Luke in a teasing manner. Everyone else joined in as well and so did Luke. He piped in with a sense of resignation, “All I got was a bloodied finger when I picked up an ant to talk to it and it bit my finger. There was blood everywhere. And it hurt real bad. Can you remember that Mum?” 

“Tell me about it!” Jill proclaimed. “There was real drama. Ants became the evil enemy number one that day. You wanted to squish any ant you saw. It was the grasshoppers who were the good guys. They were too scared and flew away much to your frustrations. And when Bob caught one and give it you, it gladly ate grass when you fed it.”

“Oh, yeah, I remember that too!” he replied sheepishly.

Taking control of the discussion and steering it towards getting some feedback on the movie, Ashwyn asked Rhonda what she thought was important for her in the movie. 

After a moments thought, having been caught unprepared, Rhonda replied, “Although Princess Atta was really mean and nasty to Flint, who really cared for her, she was able to eventually see that he was a really nice guy and really wanted to help. I think it is very important to work together when you have a big problem. Arguing and quarrelling will let your enemy win every time. It’s like being in a netball team. You can’t win if you don’t play as a team.”

“Thanks for that Rhonda! It was very good to recognise the importance of working as team to solve problems” Jill interjected encouraged by the response and wanting to encourage Rhonda.

Knowing he was next for the feedback, Luke was ready for an answer after having given his views earlier.

“Never give up so easily on your dreams even when people sometimes don’t agree with you. And Oh, the only way to defeat bullies is to realise that he is in a minority and that if you gang-up with a lot of other people than you can bash them up and get rid-off them once and for all.” He looked around with a triumphant grin to both Jill and then Ashwyn.

“Cool! Luke, that was great! The bashing bit, though son, I wouldn’t do that in school or anywhere outside school. You could get into a lot of trouble with the police. But we get the idea of what you are saying” Ashwyn cautioned. He then changed tack and threw a specific question to focus their thinking even more.

“What do you all think was the most important lessons or things in the movie that could help us as a family? There are no correct or wrong answers, just what you think.”

“If we help each other than we can do anything!” declared Rhonda with confidence. 

Luke jumped in with, “If you have a dream to do something then stick to it, don’t be a wimp”

“What do you think, Matt? What in the movie did you think would help us?” Ashwyn was doubtful if Matt could grasp what he was really asking. It was a difficult ask for a 4 year old, he thought. But any response was needed to keep him engaged. 

“Ummm, I like Flint. We should all be like Flint. He helped everyone to chase all the grasshoppers away?” Matt declared in sort of quizzical way seeking assurance from Ashwyn. 

“Fantastic! Matt, you’re a good learner, darling.” Jill interjected. She couldn’t help herself with a grin. Matt, beamed with pride as he turned around to everyone, and they all obligingly smiled back. 

“Why do we have to need so much money to survive? In fact, why do we need money at all? It is such a bother that human life is so dependent on money to get anything worthwhile done?” Bob exploded in a controlled tone but filled with frustration and looking restless. 

There was dead silence. Everybody stared at Bob. Rhonda and Luke gave a quizzical confused look. Jill’s mouth was wide open with shock. Might as well been talking to the wall as far as Matt was concerned. As for Lisa, she was sound a sleep in her cot; occasionally, farting. 

It was a bolt from the blue; but to Ashwyn it was a bolt from Heaven. Bob was the oldest and had a casual job. He was continuing the long held human tradition of coming to grips with the sometimes futile feeling about wage incomes. It seemed that the longer he worked at the local grocery store even with the extra hours, the more he found ways to spend the money. It seemed that there was a direct one-to-one relationship with money and new ways to spending. 

He had tried various ways to save money over the years, including a savings account but in the end there was the latest new mobile phone or movie. The hardest was controlling spending on social activities with his mates.  He also loved swimming and was in the school team as well as the local swim club competition. This was expensive because the competitions meant regularly travelling to other clubs locally, to the countryside as well as interstate. Being a fierce competitor, he wanted to get the best swim gear that he could afford. His parents could not afford that luxury. 

Then there is every teenagers dream; their own car. Ashwyn had gone through the required financial commitments with Bob many times over, since the age of 10. He wanted his own car, when he turned 16, to learn to drive in, not his parents. It gave him a sense of independence and confidence he argued.   Smart though Bob was, with a bright future and a level head, nevertheless, the money management issue seemed like grasping the wind.

As these thoughts flashed through Ashwyn’s mind, he understood the brilliance of the underlying analysis that Bob had done with the movie, ‘A bug’s Life’. It was clear that the insect kingdom and indeed all other species had no need for currency to live and thrive. Look at the ants, their lifestyles and quality of life was totally fulfilled as long as they had their food and shelter. Why do humans have to make life so complicate by creating ever more complicated lifestyles with ever rising costs to provide for those lifestyles? Just the thought of it made him feel depressed. There has got to be a better way irrespective of how complicated life may get. The fact that there are many people and families, even though they are a minority in the global population context, who seem to be able to adapt to any new financial challenge made Ashwyn envious and somewhat angry. Some have all the luck, he thought despondently. But we must work out a way to join that minority of financially free families. There’s got to be a way. There’s just got to be a way, some how, he sighed loudly.

To the rescue of the discussion; looking round the table, Ashwyn replied, “And what has that got to do with Dad’s question you all ask?” Before Bob could respond he continued, “A lot actually, but I will put it to you in a more interesting way by changing the subject for the moment. What is money? What do you think is the point of money? Why bother with it? Where does money come from?”

Matt blurted out, “Money comes frommm… the bank! frommm… the tooth fairy!” A few giggles rang out from Rhonda and Luke but everyone else couldn’t help but smile. Matt continued confidently, “frommm…ummm mummy and daddy, frommm…grandma, grandpa,…ummm from Santa?...if I’m a good boy I’ll get lots of moneys from Santa. Ummm….I got lots of moneys in the piggy bank” 

“Looks like you got all of them covered, Matt. Good boy!” Luke interrupted with a patronising voice and sly smile. Matt beamed with a broad smile looking around for assurance from everyone; who gave the obligatory smile and nod in return. 

Jill began to feel uncomfortable with the direction of the subject of money because it seemed too heavy a subject for Matt, Rhonda and Luke. She decided to throw a distraction focussing on talking about another movie. It was obvious to her, talking about movies seemed to produce a more free flowing discussion atmosphere. She also did not want to have to deal publicly with her own money worries in case it became a heated argument with Ashwyn. He had from time to time wanted her to develop a better understanding of financial matters but it was all too hard. Besides, she already had enough with the daily family activities and Ashwyn understood that. He had never pressured her but, however, did not hesitate to provide information at the slightest hint of interest from her. She always made sure it was as little as possible and on as few occasions as possible. It was his problem and responsibility as the head of the family.

“Lets talk about another movie instead,” she said firmly much to both Ashwyn’s and Bob’s dismay. Ignoring their reaction she continued. “What did we understand about Toy Story?” as she looked around at the blank faces staring at her.

“Oh! In Toy Story 2 the fat guy, Al McWhiggin, I think his name is, is so greedy about making a lot of money if he could get Woody, Bullseye, Stinky Pete and Jessie and sell them as a pack to the Japanese. He knew the value of rare toys. He could get more money than he was earning as a man in a chicken suit. At least he knew about how important it was to have lots of money.” Rhonda replied with an air of analytical confidence and a beaming face as she looked at Ashwyn for affirmation.

Ashwyn was stunned at her quick thinking in circumventing her mother’s attempts to change the subject. Bob gave a quiet sigh of relief looking away from his mother with slight annoyance. 

“Brilliant!” exclaimed Ashwyn, “Just fantastic! We get to talk about another movie and yet can better understand the power of money in our lives as humans.” 

Jill looked resignedly at Ashwyn and, needless to say, annoyed at his triumphalism and decided to become an observer. She did not want to leave in protest because she knew Ashwyn was trying to educate the family on the matter of money. It was important for her to support him in order to ensure that the kids learn personal financial responsibility. She would clench her teeth if need be to avoid an argument. 

“We all watched the movie last weekend. So, Luke how about you, what are your thoughts, darling?” Ashwyn asked.

“I’m supposed to be first, because I am the youngest at the table, Dad!” Matt protested, slamming the table for emphasis.

“Okay then! Matt go ahead” retorted Luke a little annoyed at his brothers tantrum.

The discussions then continued for another 10 minutes before Ashwyn thought it was enough for the day. Besides, it was getting late and the kids had to get organised for bedtime. Very satisfied with the discussions, Ashwyn knew he could now use this platform at appropriate time in the future to build on the family’s financial literacy. Turning to Jill, he thanked her for having been patient and tolerating the discussion.  She smiled with clenched teeth and gave him the “evil eye.”