I haven't got kids, but many of my cousins/friends do and I admit, I'm a bit horrified at the sense of entitlement I'm seeing in these children. They seem to feel that the best of the best, and the latest and greatest is owed to them, and it had better be the right brand! They are a "me" generation, indeed.

It simply wasn't like that when I was a kid - and that's not all that long ago! Our family Christmas just wasn't about the gifts, and we had rules, chores, responsibilities and standards of behaviour every day of the year. My parents simply wouldn't have stood for the kinds of behaviour I'm seeing from some of my friends' kids.

And yet, I can't help but feel that we, the adults, are responsible for creating this culture of materialism. Our children are bombarded by advertising and the message that you must "have" to be of worth from a very young age. We as a society measure success by wealth rather than personal and spiritual growth, and material items have become the status symbols for which we are taught to strive and by which our "worth" is measured. In a way, our kids are only the mirror reflecting what we have presented to them. Perhaps we all need to step back and readjust our priorities to give our children a better example.

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People are wacky. An iphone5 for a nine year old? That's appalling and tacky. And dangerous. My DD is 17 and in a few months she's going to get my hand me down iPhone 3G. I didn't want her to carry around the Internet with her before she was old enough. Not necessary and dangerous for the kid. Makes me grumpy to hear this kind of stuff.

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Kathleen, mom to one human, age 17, three canines, and a bunch of fish.

She got an iPad from Santa when she was 6 1/2 to help with her reading!! I teach preschool in a wealthy town and don't even want to tell you how many. 4& 5 year olds have their own iPad at home! Me... Ive been saving with the idea of getting one! What the heck do you buy these kids for gifts when they are 15? They ready have EVERYTHING!

And then there are the ungrateful grown kids. I have 2 sons and 2 stepsons, ages 26, 25, 23 x 2 - my 2 sons plus one step son are very humble, ask for little, appreciate everything they get throughout the year alot, and expect nothing more at Christmas. The other is engaged to a young lady from a well off family and live across the country from us. In 4 years, not a Christmas card, not a gift, not a visit, not a thank you. This year we sent gifts, didn't even hear from them except that they were celebrating at "her" parents home. When my DH texted finally last night and asked if they liked the gifts that we sent the response was only that they already have something similar to one of the gifts. No comment about the other half dozen things we sent to them. No thank you. No Merry Christmas. No what did you guys get. Nothing!
I refuse to compete with the soon to be in-laws and as far as I am concerned my step son and his fiancee seem to be 2 peas in a pod and made for each other. He was honestly not like this until he got caught up with her and her family - she seems to be a lovely girl but very "entitled". Makes DH sad - me I don't spend much time worrying about it. Their day will come .....
On the other hand we have a great niece who is 10, and is the most giving and appreciative little girl - it is a pleasure being with her. She would much rather give than receive.

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Carol, Seger and our Angel, Oakley

we have gone from the great generation to the baby boomers and to the entitlement generation.
Out of my daughter's friends there are darn few who are not brats. Since she was little we decided to teach her to give. We would choose a weekend before Christmas and go thru her toys and clothes. She would choose what to give to the less fortunate from what she already had. Now, for her birthday she does not ask for presents for herself but instead she asks for toys, food and contributions to the animal shelter in town. When she was 14 she got her own checking account - if she wants something she has to work (extra chores around the house, neighborhood dog walking, cleaning my office etc). At 15 she was able to buy everyone presents and buy her own supplies to make her cards and gifts.

Honestly, maybe that would be good, i think kids get too much.

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What a wonderful job you have done raising your daughter. It's very heartwarming to hear of such a responsible, caring young lady you have.

We did go thru a tough time with her - everyone at school had this and that, everyone at school was allowed to have ten hair colors in one and makeup and ****ty clothes... and I was the monster mom for not allowing those children at my house. We did go thru the "I wish you weren't my mother!" statement to which I replied to go find herself one that she likes and I shall pass on custody over, followed with her crying that she didn't mean it. It took her a year in middle school to realize that they were not her true friends. It took awhile but it paid off - and I am so glad it happened in middle school and not later on such as highschool which would have been much harder to correct.
On her 15th B-day she had several friends over. My rule was all cell phones stay in the kitchen. One brat decided she was not going to listen. While my daughter was opening presents that girl was texting. I stopped her and advised her to put the phone in the kitchen, she refused. So I said if it is so important go in my daughter's room and we will wait for you. If it was a life and death situation I was more than glad to call her parents or giver her a ride home. All the other 7 girls pleaded with her to put the phone down - which she finally and rudely did. The next day my daughter posted on FB about her B-day time and tagged each girl except that little brat. The girl replied that she was there too! My daughter's reply was - yeah you were here too and spoiled my B-day by giving my mom an attitude. I did not get into their conversation but at the end of the day my daughter made that girl send me an apology for her behavior. Due to her apology we asked her to come with us to the animal shelter to give away the presents.

For many kids these days, it's "ME, ME, ME, ME, ME!"

Reminds me of the commencement speech given at Wellesley H.S. back in June:

http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/...nt-speech.html (controversial commencement speech)

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Wendy

Now the proud Mom of Renny, gotcha-day 10/19/2012.



My beautiful Lacey, always loved, never forgotten.
- Gotcha Day April 28, 2008 at @3 years old
- Crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, at the age of @8 years old, on Sunday, August 5, 2012