Five Ways to Fight Entitlement in Your Kids

Five Ways to Fight Entitlement in Your Kids


I was so thankful to come across this article (click link above) posted via a Facebook friend.
Everyone has a pet peeve or two, and I would say one of mine is entitled kids/people.  From personal experience  entitlement really does not have a lot to do with economic status and certainly does not apply to just those who "have".

This was on my parenting radar from day one.  I always wanted to raise kids that were grateful for what they have.  Kids who understand you work for what you get. Kids who aren't rolling on the floor in the grocery line in a mega tantrum when they don't get the chocolate bar that's not on the list. Kids who take no for an answer, and realize the answer is often "no" more than it's "yes." Kids who say "thank you" without being asked, and mean it.

Lately,  I've been having trouble striking the balance that I thought would come easily with my parenting efforts.  We implemented a chore/allowance plan with the kids.  We most likely weren't as consistent as we should have been, but the basic idea was that we chose some simple jobs and tied it to a small money reward.  With that reward, we wanted them to give/save/spend some.  Well, once they got a taste of spending some on things of their choice (namely, a Muppet poster and Super Hero Mini Muggs) it was like an obsession started.  "Mom, can we go to Target?"  "Mom, do we have enough for ____"   It was not what I had in mind.

I did chuckle with their urgency of their chore-doing when they got an idea in their head of something they want, but then we had to discuss the fact that there are things you do simply because you live here, and are part of the family.  Things like picking up your plate, making up your bed, wiping the toilet seat (boys!!!!). 

I've had my days where we plan some thing special to do as a family, or have a treat just because, and it backfires in my face when the kids ask for more or complain (for instance, on a family canoe ride at a really nice campground my son is asking "when can we swim? this is boring", or at the bowling alley- when bowling was not enough- the kids were begging for snacks and games- to the point where we left early!)

I like this articles' 5 steps, and feel good that I we were already doing some of them.  I know that it's a work in progress.  I think we're on the right track.  I think there's some things we will change, too.  I know with my children's ages, a lot of this understanding will come with time, and what we're dealing with is normal.

(And, we will be sticking to Netflix for TV time- no commercials = no toy ads= no "mom- can we get that??")