Staying Fit
Chances are good that you know one or perhaps you were one: a self-absorbed, entitled teenager who’s convinced the universe exists for her. Amy McCready, founder of Positive Parenting Solutions and the author of The Me, Me, Me Epidemic: A Step-by-Step Guide to Raising Capable, Grateful Kids in an Overly-Entitled World, says that “The entitlement epidemic usually begins with over-parenting — over-indulging, over-protecting, over-pampering, over-praising and jumping through hoops to meet kids’ endless demands.” Similar issues can arise with boomerang kids, too. In both cases, we need to establish house rules for kids that make things better for everyone.
McCready, who has two teenage sons, acknowledges that our willingness to satisfy our children’s demands is motivated by a deep love. Still, it can backfire. “In our attempt to shelter our kids from adversity, we rob them of the opportunity to make decisions, learn from their mistakes, and develop the resilience needed to thrive through the ups and downs of life. Over-parented kids begin to believe the world revolves around their needs and wants, and the seeds of entitlement are sown.
“Relationships suffer as kids with a ‘me, me, me’ mentality lack empathy and a willingness to put others first. Employers struggle to hire teens and young adults with the people skills and work ethic to be successful. Entitled kids grow into narcissistic adults, demanding spouses and high-maintenance employees. That’s certainly not what we want for our kids.”
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