I think it might be time for an overall parenting makeover, on my part at least. True, my children are kind, polite, gentle and say please and thank you...BUT they are also acting a little entitled as of late. Here's how the story goes. I let my children open up one gift today. I usually let them each open up one gift early. My older son got an I tunes gift card. My daughter got a pair of cowgirl boots. The baby just some bath toys (he didn't really care, he was more involved in the paper.) Daughter: This is all I get? How come I didn't get something more fun? Son: Mom, We really need to upgrade the gaming system we have. We have something way cooler at our dads house. I shot them both a Medusa look. Me: Are you kidding me right now? You griped all fall about wanting these cowgirl boots. You think we need a gaming system update? What you both need is a REALITY CHECK. Do you know how many children don't even get ONE Christmas gift? Do you know how many children just want a hot meal? Walk away...followed by a count to ten, which ended up being a count to 50. How did these children get this way? Then it dawns on me. Oh yes....I'm part of the problem. So are their grandparents (many sets with divorced and then remarried parents.) Those poor kids..Let's make up for it by buying them every gift under the sun so they never have to want for anything. I'm guilty of it as well. I know. Fixing the problem. Hmmmm. This is a hard one. Teaching them the act of being appreciative needs to come from me. I need to model the virtue of a grateful heart. In my head I do this. I am very grateful. Actually, the word that I am going to use regarding the whole year of 2012 is THANKFUL!!! I'm not sure why they're missing the message. I realize that some of this behavior is normal and that comparatively to their friends they are pretty appreciative. I have seen one of my daughter's friends have a full course melt down when she didn't get the right color of shirt at her birthday party. I couldn't stop staring...It was unreal. In my head I kept envisioning those little ingrates on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. However, that doesn't do anything to help my cause. It just shows me that I need to definitely take action now. So here's what I'm going to do.
1) More volunteer work, with kiddos in tow. Soup kitchen, Elderly visits. There's got to be some sort of volunteer with your kids program.
2) Reinforce good behavior. Manners, kindness etc. Give credit when credit is due.
3) Buy them less, and instruct grandparents to do so as well.
4) Spending budget? ( Maybe, those words don't flow well out of my mouth)
Conclusion: That's all I have so far. I am going to start this after the new year. I will post about how it goes. I'm hoping for the best. I can't exactly go all "Swiss Family Robinson" and move them to a deserted island and catch our dinners and build our home. We all know how that would turn out. Bottom line. Saying does not go" Give your kids a fish so they can ask for a PS3," but I might be wrong :)
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