So here's a story from the bus yesterday. It's hard to mind your own business on the bus because you are bored and there are wackies all around you. Sitting across from me was a mother and son -- the mother had an icepack on her face, obviously from a tooth extraction at the dental school, and the kid was sobbing/whining/faking unrelentlously. Another dear woman sitting nearby decided to try to engage the child in conversation. Apparently the kid was crying that he didn't have a certain McDonald's toy. So the woman said, "How about I give you a dollar so you can buy your toy...but just promise me that you will be good to your mom, she's hurting right now and she hurts more when you cry". So the kid swiped the money out of the lady's hand and quickly deposited it in his pocket. With the icepack on her face and probably gauze in her mouth the mother tried to get the kid to say thank you, and all he said was "but I think that toy was $2". Snot. Have kids always been like this? I feel like I'm starting to witness things like this more frequently than I used to. Maybe because up until now, I was the kid. I can think of a few ways that this has happened. First of course is commercialism and the kid's increased exposure to advertising and pressure to have the newest IPOD, Playstation 8, or giga-whatever. But I think I know what the bigger issue is -- and don't shoot me for this -- I think that it's the new parents. I think that the new generation of parents is more materialistic and acts more entitled than ever. Do we need all of these things to convey how we feel about our kids? I'm not claiming to know anything, because I'm not a parent yet. One of the things that scares me most about being a parent someday is that I will not know how to avoid producing a spoiled child. I guess one thing that is on my side in all this, is that Norm and I are super cheap. Suggestions are welcome.
7 comments:
Step #1: recognize that there is a problem. You are pretty smart Rachael. I am not worried about your parenting skills.
I know I am in the minority these days, but for times like you saw yesterday, I see no problem with a spat on the butt. At least that poor mom may have gotten some peace and quiet in jail.
don't worry sara, i'm on your side with the spankin. I'm also of the opinion all a child needs is a deck of cards. it will teach shapes, colors, tastes, numbers, gambling strategies, and how to deal with papercuts on the face (along with the dynamics of homelife, kings rule the queens, jokers are good to have around because they're wild, etc).
amen, motherpartridge. :) ha!
i love this specific phrase: "spat on the butt." double hA!
and then i loved when you wrote "snot." yes, that would call for a triple hA!
i'm not worried about you. i am worried about myself. so, once you figure it out, feel free to pass it along.
thanks.
oh, and you are going to be a great mom. just so you know. Yeah, i don't worry about you one bit.
ya, totally.... ***kate slowly/ guiltily backs away from conversation***
Smack um.
Amen... Take a deep breath, not all kids are like that and some are spoiled. There is a difference being a brat and being spoiled. My kids were spoiled, I was spoiled and my grandkids are spoiled and non of us ever behaved that way or we would have got NOTHING. You can give and love as much as you can and have nice respectful children. When they are not respectful and they do not honor their mother and father... They are BRATS. Sooo, make them mind at home and in public they will behave. You are going to be a good parent if you can see this.
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