Entitlement issues

I do not know exactly how or when this happened, but it seems to me that over the last several years, I’ve been noticing more and more that some people have begun to think that they are owed something. It is as if they believe that simply because they want something,  they should be able to have it. I am unsure if it is human nature, learned behavior, or if it is peer pressure. I know I dealt with this, to some degree, with my own daughters. I used it as an opportunity for learning. I explained to them over, and over again a few important facts about life:

1. Life is is not always fair
2. The world does not owe anything, you work for and earn things
3. Your actions have ripple effects, so think about what you do and say, before you do them
4. Treat others as you would want them to treat you aka The Golden Rule

Sure, there will be times when something happens, or you receive a gift and you really hadn’t done anything special to deserve it, but those times are the exception, not a rule. My husband and I strove to teach the girls that if you worked hard, you were rewarded. We gave them an allowance, and we also gave out rewards/treats for when they did something special, or even if they were just really well behaved for an extended length of time.

So, does this mean that some parents are just giving everything to their because the kids want them? If that is the case, and I’m not saying it is, are they doing so because it is just easier? Regardless, of how or why, it is an issue. and it is one that anyone that has to deal with teenagers and young adults on a regular basis, is painfully aware of.

Ok – I’ll stop with the ranting now…