"Why Today's Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled-And More Miserable Than Ever Before".
This is a great read and perspective on our youth's feelings of entitlement to getting anything and everything they want at whatever costs, truly believing it is their given birthright to fame, success, wealth and fulfilling their dreams-no matter how out-of reach they may be. I actually don't see this is as a bad thing. I, myself, raise Alexis believing she can absolutely conquer anything she sets her mind to.
But the issue lies more in the attitude...
our youth are no longer willing to put in the sweat equity it typically takes, usually taking the easier route, feeling "above that", and becoming more and more accustomed to instant gratification.
Over the years I've noted a common theme when as parents we become resentful, disappointed and let down that our own children are not
This is a great read and perspective on our youth's feelings of entitlement to getting anything and everything they want at whatever costs, truly believing it is their given birthright to fame, success, wealth and fulfilling their dreams-no matter how out-of reach they may be. I actually don't see this is as a bad thing. I, myself, raise Alexis believing she can absolutely conquer anything she sets her mind to.
But the issue lies more in the attitude...
our youth are no longer willing to put in the sweat equity it typically takes, usually taking the easier route, feeling "above that", and becoming more and more accustomed to instant gratification.
Over the years I've noted a common theme when as parents we become resentful, disappointed and let down that our own children are not
- appreciating their personal belongings
- having little sense of money management skills
- disrespecting their families and authority
- simply acting as if the world revolves them
As parents, are we being proactive enough in teaching our children responsibility for their own lives?
Is it the parental habits of enabling these behaviors by providing them with the latest gadgets, video games, computers, cell phones only to be replaced with the latest model within a year's time after they're damaged or lost by the child? Or a parent doing the child's homework, cleaning up behind their every mess, just handing out money without teaching the true value of obtaining it themselves? All the while, the child is on information overload, never satisfied and left with wanting more and more
...and we wonder why there are more and more attention deficits, more and more depression. The solution starts with our parenting and the examples and boundaries we're setting for our youth.
Older Generations are complaining about the Newer Generations as if they had little to no part in this. I personally feel there is MUCH responsibility- starting with how we're raising our children from a young age---NOT enabling them being one of the key issues.
Naturally the parent is only wanting to give the child the best and make things "easier" than the way they had it...but who is this truly helping in the long term? It's the parent's responsibility in taking actions prior to the child reaching their teen or adult years. We wait until they're in their adolescence and then decide-"they're old enough now to get it", to start taking responsibility for their lives
...however, they're actually less willing to "get it" at this age and more importantly the patterns have already been created.
Start when they're young.
The best gift you can give your child is creating situations for them to conquer their environment-
Is it the parental habits of enabling these behaviors by providing them with the latest gadgets, video games, computers, cell phones only to be replaced with the latest model within a year's time after they're damaged or lost by the child? Or a parent doing the child's homework, cleaning up behind their every mess, just handing out money without teaching the true value of obtaining it themselves? All the while, the child is on information overload, never satisfied and left with wanting more and more
...and we wonder why there are more and more attention deficits, more and more depression. The solution starts with our parenting and the examples and boundaries we're setting for our youth.
Older Generations are complaining about the Newer Generations as if they had little to no part in this. I personally feel there is MUCH responsibility- starting with how we're raising our children from a young age---NOT enabling them being one of the key issues.
Naturally the parent is only wanting to give the child the best and make things "easier" than the way they had it...but who is this truly helping in the long term? It's the parent's responsibility in taking actions prior to the child reaching their teen or adult years. We wait until they're in their adolescence and then decide-"they're old enough now to get it", to start taking responsibility for their lives
...however, they're actually less willing to "get it" at this age and more importantly the patterns have already been created.
Start when they're young.
The best gift you can give your child is creating situations for them to conquer their environment-
Ultimately, a sense of accomplishment, pride and self-worth makes a much happier person than any amount of wealth, fame or materialism. Isn't that what we want the most for our children?
Happiness?
Set your child up for success. Would love to know your take on the book or this subject in general....Happy Reading!
Happiness?
Set your child up for success. Would love to know your take on the book or this subject in general....Happy Reading!
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