Your Child Is Not Entitled To These 10 Things
1. Children are not entitled to rewards for good behavior.
When you walk through the store and your child behaves while you are shopping, you don’t “owe” them a toy for good behavior. They behaved. That’s GREAT! Done deal. This one drives me nuts! I would say to my child, “Thanks for being so well-behaved in the store today!” They say, “You’re welcome, what can we get?!” After many lessons, they are learning. Life is not a hand-out. Sometimes you just have to do what is expected of you. Now, after teaching them, I can reward them once in awhile and not have to continually hear them asking for a reward.
2. Children are not entitled to be the best athlete in school.
Children walk on the field or the court and expect they will have the skills and talent of a pro-athlete. What they don’t realize is that good athletes work hard. If they work hard and practice their skills they will reap the rewards. The rewards do not necessarily mean professional sports though. Skill and talent [don’t] come automatically and it doesn’t come without hours of committed practice.
3. Children are not entitled to every possession they want!
First, let’s help them appreciate the things they have. Learning contentment is another hard but important life lesson. Next, let’s teach them the value of what it is they want. Teach them how to save their money for it. They can earn it. You don’t have to buy it for them because they want it now. Give them a chance to want it for a little while. They may discover if they wait that they didn’t really want it that desperately. They will also learn patience. Your children will appreciate the item even more!
4. Children are not entitled to popularity.
There is no rule that says they will or should have a playground full of friends. Everyone is different. Teach them that sometimes a few really good friends is better. Popularity is not the most important part of life to strive for. We would never wish for our children to be without friends, but they need to learn how to make friends and be a good friend in order to have them and keep them.
5. Children are not entitled to a gourmet meal.
We work hard as parents and there are a lot of aspects to running a home. You may not have time to make a [seven]-course meal when all that is said and done. Parents don’t have to feel guilty about that. Do the best you can to provide a healthy balanced meal for your family. Teach your children to respect that. Let’s teach them how to help make those meals! This is a win for everyone!
