Dear Parents: Love your kids enough.
The recent “college admissions scam” is a reminder that there’s a big difference between wanting the best for your child and risking a lifetime of hard work and your reputation to deliver such. To that end, presented are a few thoughts for the parents who aren’t doing their children any favors by indulging them. Consider it a sequel to this blog’s most shared post of all times, “The Epidemic of Entitlement.” See that post, linked below.
Dear Parents,
Love your children enough.
Love them enough to say “no” rather than giving in to whining or temper tantrums.
Love them enough to provide guidance with homework, and understand that there’s a big difference between assisting with homework and doing it on behalf of your child.
Love them enough to make them work for what they want rather than indulging their every whim. It will teach them the value of a dollar and a good work ethic.
Love them enough to teach them how to respect others rather than feel superior and entitled. And teach them compassion for those less fortunate.
Love your children enough to teach them there are consequences for inappropriate behavior instead of bailing them out for such actions.
Then, even though your heart tells you otherwise, ensure they actually face and deal with those consequences on their own.
Love them enough to allow them to fail. It’s in doing so that they will learn invaluable life lessons, including humility and the ability to get back up and try again.
Love them enough to lead by example. Your actions will always speak louder than your words.
And lastly, love them enough to make them earn their way into the world, even when you have the means to afford a fast pass to cheat the system. Otherwise, you’re contributing to the continued epidemic of entitlement that is rending our children helpless and dysfunctional in the “real world.”
Love your children enough to be the parent they deserve. It will teach them how to be parents when that time comes.
Love them enough.
