In this thought-provoking Suburban Burnout podcast episode, Megan and Laura delve into the pervasive issue of entitlement that has taken root in our modern world. They explore how entitlement has grown significantly over the past few decades and, more crucially, how we, as parents, can nurture a sense of gratitude and a willingness to put in the effort required to thrive in life.
Entitlement is defined as the belief in deserving special treatment without having done anything to earn such privileges. Remarkably, it's even considered a facet of narcissistic personality traits. Everyone knows an "askhole" — the friend who constantly seeks advice but never acts on it, often because it entails hard work or change. The prevailing trend today appears to be a quest for quick fixes, where people shy away from the rigors of true effort.
Our grandparents, often referred to as "The Greatest Generation," were raised during World War II, a time marked by genuine fears, struggles, and hardships. When it came to raising children, they cherished the simple joys of life. While each generation strives to offer more opportunities to the next, eliminating struggles from a child's life can have unforeseen consequences.
Consider the millennial generation, for instance. Not long ago, children didn't have access to the instant gratification that today's technology provides. Summers were characterized by boredom, requiring significant creativity to find entertainment. Fast-forward to the present, and technology offers instant satisfaction at any time. Consequently, many young adults harbor unrealistic expectations in the workplace concerning how much effort they are willing to invest, and many children have lost the sense of working towards and patiently waiting for something they truly desire.
It's important to acknowledge that the hardships faced by our grandparents are not something we aspire to relive, and a return to such a world is undesirable. However, we can draw valuable lessons from the past and integrate them into our parenting for the future.
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Here are some practical steps we can take to counter the entitlement mentality and instill the values of hard work and appreciation in our children:
Make your kids work for something they want.
Allow your child to exercise their "struggle muscles" by facing challenges.
Encourage your teen to get a job, teaching them the value of earning money.
Involve your kids in activities larger than themselves, such as sports, church, music, or other hobbies that require dedication and practice.
Provide lessons on money, including how hard it is to earn, principles of taxation and expenses, savings, and interest rates.
Allow your child to make choices about their money, teaching them about both buyer's remorse and satisfaction in making purchases.
Engage your child in working towards a big gift or purchase to cultivate patience and gratitude.
Take time to instill gratitude for experiences and encourage them to savor moments before rushing to the next.
Limit screen time: Research shows that video games and social media, both high dopamine* activities, can alter brain chemistry over time, resembling the changes seen in substance abuse.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is the brain's pleasure pathway.
In a world increasingly characterized by entitlement and instant gratification, it falls upon us, as parents, to ground our children and impart the invaluable lesson that hard work is indeed a virtue. By implementing these practices and values, we can help guide our children towards a brighter, more balanced future. Tune in to the Suburban Burnout podcast to explore this essential topic in greater depth.
Listen now by clicking on any of the podcast platforms below.
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