How do I talk to my kids about money when we're struggling financially?

Rabia al-Adawiyya teaches us something fierce about this: love isn't measured by what you can buy. When money is tight, you're actually in a position to teach your children something most families miss—that belonging comes from presence, not purchases. Start small and honest. Kids sense when we're pretending anyway. You might say, "Our family is being careful with money right now, and that means we think differently about what we buy." Not shameful. Factual. Here's what matters: involve them in the thinking, not just the restrictions. Let a child help decide between two options at the grocery store. Ask an older kid what they notice about what their friends have versus what they actually play with. These conversations build financial literacy and empathy at the same time. Rabia lived in devotion without attachment to material things. That's not about deprivation—it's about clarity. Your children watching you navigate scarcity with dignity, creativity, and love? That's a legacy worth more than any toy. They're learning what real security actually feels like: knowing they belong to you, no matter what.