Friday, June 12, 2009
Entitlement
Children often feel entitled to a life of privileges. As parents of school-aged
children, it is important that we instill in them a healthy concept of limited rights. Even though we try to teach our six-year-old son that the kid’s meal is a special treat, he feels he deserves the toy every time we eat out. Similarly, our four-year-old daughter believes that she should get a sweet treat from the candy aisle every time we check out at the grocery store.
We have to start out by curbing our own lavish appetites for our children. As parents, we want to shower them with every luxury: the perfect party, the idyllic vacation, and the newest model of every toy. Even though our intentions are good, if we don’t restrain ourselves, then our kids will model these unbridled hungers in their own lives. By modeling self-controlled appetites, we prepare them for real life and help them to develop good hearts and attitudes.
If our kids see us as altruistic genies, granting every wish they express, then they will eventually become untamed and spoiled. Restraint is the loving response to our children’s tenacious requests, even though this does not come naturally.
children, it is important that we instill in them a healthy concept of limited rights. Even though we try to teach our six-year-old son that the kid’s meal is a special treat, he feels he deserves the toy every time we eat out. Similarly, our four-year-old daughter believes that she should get a sweet treat from the candy aisle every time we check out at the grocery store.
We have to start out by curbing our own lavish appetites for our children. As parents, we want to shower them with every luxury: the perfect party, the idyllic vacation, and the newest model of every toy. Even though our intentions are good, if we don’t restrain ourselves, then our kids will model these unbridled hungers in their own lives. By modeling self-controlled appetites, we prepare them for real life and help them to develop good hearts and attitudes.
If our kids see us as altruistic genies, granting every wish they express, then they will eventually become untamed and spoiled. Restraint is the loving response to our children’s tenacious requests, even though this does not come naturally.
Labels: Entitlement, kids, moms
