Are Your Kids Grateful or Entitled?

When we look at the youth of today, it's difficult to imagine that they will one day be the doctors, managers, lawyers, judges, manufacturers, or inventors of tomorrow.  Look around you .... They have poor social skills, manners, initiative ... When was the last time you saw a young cashier know HOW to count back change?  A young girl hem her skirt?  A young man repair his own bicycle?  It seems as though they have a strong sense of entitlement, without the strength of character, responsibility, skills, discipline, and productivity to earn anything.  This is fairly prevalent in the USA now.  Why?  In the Bible, Galatians 6:7 says, "A man reaps what he sows."  So, let's briefly explore a few obvious events (simplified) in this country's past to reveal some REALities we're facing today ....
As America transformed from being primarily agricultural to an industry-driven nation, the economy changed. Once things became massed-produced, people no longer grew and made what they needed; they bought it.  America was no longer subsisting; we were producing, exporting and importing.  As the nation grew, technologically and economically, we became consumers; we would buy well-crafted items and "use them up" - replacing them when they were no longer useful.  Gradually we came to rely on many of these inventions.  Eventually, people began to purchases big-ticket items, usually appliances or furniture,  "on time"  (today's  "lay-away").  This is when there seems to have been an enormous shift in spending habits .... people were spending money they hadn't yet earned; and not only for what they needed, but also for what they wanted.  What followed was the charge card (MasterCharge, which had an annual fee  and was required to be paid in full at the end of the month) and then the revolving credit card with interest AND fees ..... One of the most destructive things that happened in American society is the modern day credit system, because it follows Satan's logic:  "Satisfy the desire now, and pay for it later."  What happened to the spending habits of American citizens?  We went from consumers to treating everything as if it is disposable ... we no longer use it up and wear it out ... we enjoy the novelty and discard it when we tire of the pleasure .... it's on to the next thing!    The Declaration of Independence of 1776 stated:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Somehow we've indulged and entertained the most recent generations to the point that they're only internalizing select parts of this historic basis of American society:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

How does that resonate?  How do we stop this trend?  How do we raise our children to be grateful, instead of entitled?  How do we teach responsibility?  How do we make sure our kids to understand the reality that no one should have to work harder for what they want than them?  How do we train them to be productive, instead of manipulative?

START HERE:

1. STOP!  Pay closer attention to what your kid(s) expect of you.
2. LOOK! Make a list of the privileges your kid(s) enjoy at only your expense.
3. LISTEN! What "buzz-words" do you hear your kid(s) use that smack of entitlement?
4. CONSIDER THIS:  What do you think they expect of themselves?

Look for my next series of posts, to find out more!

Thanks for reading,
Ruth - Keeping it Real!