Destini Davis, a mother of two, went viral on TikTok after telling her followers about her nontraditional parenting skills where instead of giving her daughter an allowance for chores, she gives her daughter money in exchange for her hobbies.
“I want my daughter to know and have a positive association with money and feel like I can choose something that I feel good about,” Davis said.
@destini.ann Chores and Money! #positivediscipline
#positiveparenting
#positiveparent
#momtips
#mominspiration
#adviceformoms
#peacefulparenting
#parenttips
“I incentive her passion so that she can be more disciplined in it. But, I do not incentivize with money things that she does not enjoy doing. Is that weird?” she continued.
Davis is aware that her way of parenting is not common and when she shared the video on TikTok she knew it would be met with opposition.
“And I knew that it was going to be controversial. A lot of people are like that’s a good idea and some people are like they don’t think that’s a good idea. It’ll take away her joy for the sport and just the difference between internal and external motivations and stuff like that,” Davis said.
Davis, however, received support from people on Twitter.
this is genius, money for passion projects, not for chores, not for good grades, not for the basic things your supposed to do and learn in life. you want money you do extra or we can help you write a resume and practice interviewing so you can earn your own money independently.
— xicanikkei ???????? (@xicanikkei) May 25, 2021
I don’t see it as weird. I actually think it’s a good move. And chores will be the thing that better get done anyway because this is OUR stuff and we ALL have the responsibility of chores. Nobody gets paid to do them, not me, not u, not them. ????????♂️
— Warren Pughsley (@CoachPugs426) May 25, 2021
Yes! We’re doing this. So far he doesn’t understand money yet so we do this with privileges and treats.
Also whenever he does well in school, like getting praise from the teacher or helping his friends with tasks, etc.
— STOPHeatherTime ????️???? (@STOPHEATHERTIME) May 24, 2021
But some Twitter users weren't too fond of Davis' parenting skills.
So she want her to stay somewhere she don’t like for money? Is that what she’s teaching?
— A$AP Richy (@Gud2BRicH) May 26, 2021
I think it’s weird to pay children to do anything ?? Let them be kids and not be thinking about doing things in exchange for money
— Joey???? (@J_Cisneros34) May 26, 2021
In the video, Davis said by giving her daughter money for her hobbies she gets to show her the “value of spending and making money.”
“I try to make sure that we are doing things to actively build that love and joy for gymnastics because it’s what she wants to do. I didn’t ask her to get into gymnastics. I don’t ever push or force her to stay into gymnastics, it’s what she wants to do because there’s no right or wrong way to do a lot of the things we do as parents,” she continued.
Davis concluded her video reminding people that this is what works in her household.
“So, I’m just sharing my toolkit and if people like it great, if not, that’s okay too,” she said.
