I’m in education and one of the things I see often in our youth is a sense of entitlement. I hear it from my friends and colleagues as we discuss our experiences. I hear it in my church, in the malls, out and about in life- I hear it. Kids today have strong sense of entitlement. We owe it to our kids to teach them how to survive on their own, to teach them life skills beyond what they get in school, to teach them to be appreciative of people and of what they have. I live in the U.S- the greatest country on Earth because we are FREE. Our kids should walk around knowing they are free and what a price people have paid and continue to pay for that freedom. They should not walk around oblivious to this freedom and allowed to think that they deserve to be spoiled and given an iPhone 5 “just because”. I mean, where did this start? Who started it? It is detrimental. The students say they do not need to learn because “My parents will buy me ____”, “My parents will pay for my ____”, etc. When will it end!? It won’t, unless WE do something.
I’m not saying we shouldn’t buy nice things for our children. I’m saying we have a problem when our children value those things over people, over relationships, over gaining knowledge, over us. So what if your child is not happy or throws a temper tantrum, we are called to shape them, guide them, grow them up to be responsible adults. We were not called to spoil and make them absolutely lazy that they depend on us far longer than they should. You know, the “failure to launch” kids. Those kids are at home because momma and daddy, mommy, or daddy did not lead them in the way that they should go. I am simply saying that teaching our children to value hard work is a necessary not a maybe. Teaching our kids to do their best ALL THE TIME is a necessary not a maybe. Teaching our kids respect is a necessary and not a maybe.
We owe it to our kids to be the best we can be and to teach them that working to be their very best has honor, has value, is their destiny. Doing anything else is mediocrity at best. I cannot stand mediocrity. Growing up lower class (catch that), I had a problem with mediocrity. I knew that just because I didn’t have the best of everything did not mean I wasn’t capable of doing my best (My grandmother instilled that early on). I pass this on to my boys. I refuse to let my children lose by temporarily allowing them to think they’ve won by wearing a certain brand of clothing, driving a certain car, or wielding a certain phone. In my house, my boys will learn true worth is more than what they possess.
Parenting is tough. Single parenting is tough. Do It Anyway!
I couldn’t agree more! Great post!!
Thank you! It has been on my heart, and I hope it changes soon.
I couldn’t agree more! Great post!!
Thank you! It has been on my heart, and I hope it changes soon.
I couldn’t agree more! Great post!!
Thank you! It has been on my heart, and I hope it changes soon.
Thank you for putting into words what I’ve been feeling. As a parent, I try to practice and instill gratitude, appreciation, and ethics. We have the means but try to practice reduce, reuse, recycle. We unplug, get dirty, and play no tech games. Great job practicing and teaching your sons values that will carry them way further than money!
Hi! Liane, I am glad you like the post. Yes, we must do all we can to make sure our children are well-rounded, respectful, good people. And I love that you get dirty playing with your kids. I do my best to play sports with them or even do a movie night. They love that. Let’s keep doing our best! It’s making a difference.
Thank you for putting into words what I’ve been feeling. As a parent, I try to practice and instill gratitude, appreciation, and ethics. We have the means but try to practice reduce, reuse, recycle. We unplug, get dirty, and play no tech games. Great job practicing and teaching your sons values that will carry them way further than money!
Hi! Liane, I am glad you like the post. Yes, we must do all we can to make sure our children are well-rounded, respectful, good people. And I love that you get dirty playing with your kids. I do my best to play sports with them or even do a movie night. They love that. Let’s keep doing our best! It’s making a difference.
Thank you for putting into words what I’ve been feeling. As a parent, I try to practice and instill gratitude, appreciation, and ethics. We have the means but try to practice reduce, reuse, recycle. We unplug, get dirty, and play no tech games. Great job practicing and teaching your sons values that will carry them way further than money!
Hi! Liane, I am glad you like the post. Yes, we must do all we can to make sure our children are well-rounded, respectful, good people. And I love that you get dirty playing with your kids. I do my best to play sports with them or even do a movie night. They love that. Let’s keep doing our best! It’s making a difference.