Don't Steal from Your Kids by Giving Them

You know it really does suck to be a parent sometimes. <sigh>

Children nowadays tend to have the gimme gimme disease or entitlement wart.

I hope I have not raised my children to have those afflictions.

I am very proud of my kids and while I think they have mild forms of these diseases, we really try to keep them in check.

Just ask them, they will tell you that they do not get everything they want. Life is hard isn't it. Wah!

 

Good luck raising your kiddo's. I am still waiting for the manual on that topic.

 

ºoº D

 

Don't Steal from Your Kids by Giving Them
too Much!
Weekly Tip from the Love and Logic^® Experts

Dear Friend,

 

I know a loving mom who does just about everything to make sure her kids are happy every second of the day. If there isn't the type of food they like in the fridge, she runs to the store to buy it. Whenever the newest electronic device comes out, she makes sure they're the first to own it.

 

Of course, she refrains from requiring any chores out of them, because she knows they work hard at school. Besides, it upsets them when she asks them to help.

 

Unfortunately, and unintentionally, mom is stealing from her children. They are two of the most miserable human beings on earth. They walk around; actually they sit around most of the time, with scowls on their faces. Because mom has stolen their self-esteem and gotten them hooked on stuff, nothing seems to bring happiness or contentment. Everything is "stupid" or "boring."

 

When we train our kids to believe that getting stuff is the key to happiness, might we be stealing their lifelong joy and sense of fulfillment? In our book, From Innocence to Entitlement, we teach that true contentment comes from earning things rather than being showered with them.

 

To protect your children from this type of insidious theft, experiment with the following:

• The next time your child wants something, ask, "How do you think you might earn that?"
  
  
• Instead of taking on the problem of affording the item, say, "You may have that as soon as you can afford it."
  
  
• Give them some ideas about how they might earn the required cash, and give yourself a pat on the back for not giving in.
  
  
• Notice how proud they are when they earn things through good old-fashioned perspiration.

Thanks for reading! Our goal is to help as many families as possible. If this is a benefit, forward it to a friend.

 

Jim Fay

 

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"All of your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them." -  ºoº Walt Disney ºoº