Just out of curiousity, when your children were young & wanted something, did you tell them that you couldn't afford certain things, or present it in some other way?

I wonder if that makes a difference, in how those children grow up & treat their own children. If they believed they didn't get things as children, primarily because the family couldn't afford it, then they may think that if they can afford things they should buy whatever their children want now. However if parents explain to children that bigger, newer, more expensive things are wasteful .. rather than unaffordable .. those children may grow up without that need to compensate their own children for things that their parents couldn't afford.

I remember as a child wanting a Barbie doll. My Mom said it was a lot more expensive than a similar no-name doll, and asked me what the difference was between them. Other than Barbie being the one advertised on TV, I sure couldn't see any difference .. so I got the no-name doll, and probably had as much fun playing with it. So now, when money isn't any object, I look at people like they're nuts, when they insist on getting a designer or name brand, unless they've done their homework & can identify differences that make it better.

Well, I tried to raise my kids right, and two out of three ain't bad!

My oldest, and my youngest, are people anyone would be proud to own up to, my middle one,,,, well,,,, we keep hoping!!

But my Grandkids, are the ones I worry about,  they are spoiled, and have everything their little hearts desire! So much so, they don't have time to appreciate all they have, they have nothing to look forward to, they get it, before they have even had a chance to know if they want it!

My kids did not have everything they wanted, I couldn't afford it, but they make good money, and think nothing of over indulging their kids. I wish they could see what they are doing through my eyes.

Unfortunately, I think my kids are typical parents today, most  of their kids are either overindulged, or ignored, one is as bad as the other.

walter, chet and david . . . was there anything greater? :)

but are we now any different in our thinking than our parents or grandparents were when we were young ?  elvis, hoodlums, the beatles, hippies, woodstock.  we turned out pretty okay, didn't we ?

i taught my son right from wrong and sorry we can't afford it, work for it.  i'm hoping he will teach his son the same.

there is some good left in this world, one just has to dig a little deeper i think to see it.

Like Greek food too, but have never been there.

I have been to Greece 3 times.  A wonderful countryside to view.  I love Greek food!

Probably back in the 1980s when "MBA" became the pinnacle of business studies, the idea of "risk & reward" was born. Now people apply it to life in general, sometimes productively, but other times deciding that if the reward is great enough, it's OK to do something inappropriate/illegal & risk punishment! Why bother doing "the right thing", if you can make a lot of money, and only get a $1,000 fine for something?!

Absolutely things start at home with parents, and what they model. If everything focuses on "winning" and "being better than" at all costs, children aren't going to grow up with a sense of "honor". I guess they don't get that sense of satisfaction, from having accomplished or earned something on their own! Reality shows just prove that people will do ANYTHING for money, rather than get a job & earn it the old fashioned way.

I agree with your points of "entitlement" and "end justifies the means".  Our generation was taught right and wrong.  Taught not to lie.  We were disciplined.  We were taught to care and show compassion.   If we wanted something bad enough we worked for it and earned it.  We didn't throw temper tantrums until we got what we wanted.  We might ask " Who's responsibile for the death of Character?"   Maybe it starts at home???  Look at the shows being put on television.  They call some of them comedy... they show airheaded people.  Is that how society is viewed?   The news shows... what news?  Just give me the news and stop with the personal interpretations.   The schools teach our children that they can get big salaries and start at the top.   We were taught to work our way up the ladder.  There was so much more fulfillment that we felt knowing that we earned our way. 

A glitch is taking place.  Last night, I could not log on to the group through my search  engine.  I had to use Internet Explorer.  I called AARP to find out what is going on.  I was told that for the last week they have been working (piece by piece) on the AARP website.  I posted this article via the internet last night and found I made a mistake in typing.  I cannot edit it today.  The edit button is missing.

I will contact the Community Forum for help.  Edit just plain disappeared.  Is anyone else having this difficulty.  Sorry for the typos.