Giving Your Child The World
I have had a gnawing feeling in my gut for some time that something is wrong with how we are raising children in our society, and now I'm starting to read about studies that support my suspicions.
Parents who give their children everything are raising a generation obsessed with wealth and material possessions.
A recent article in the Savannah News cited studies showing teenagers and young adults are more obsessed than ever with material things. They also believe it is critical to become wealthy when they grow up. And, of course, when they become adults and things don't come as easy as when their parents handed it to them, they become greatly disappointed, leading to something called a "quarter-life crisis."
Moreover, these young adults eventually find out that obtaining all things shiny and new doesn't make them happy.
It may seem harmless now, at the infant and toddler stage, to indulge our children, but it is crucial that parents today show some restraint - no matter what their income level is. (That goes for grandparents, too!)
What's important to realize, I think, is that we project the values that one day will become instilled in our children. If we are obsessed with money, so will our kids. But, dear readers, we are fortunate. Our babies are young, and we have plenty of time to change our focus. We can show our children a world that exists outside the mall, away from the cul-de-sac lined with starter castles, and you don't need a gas-guzzling SUV to take them there.
When my husband and I started dating we spent many weekends hiking in the woods of North Jersey. He took me to the mountain top and we looked down on a verdant world that was only the color of money. Along the trails and free from the distractions of how a corrupted society measures happiness, we focused on what really mattered - our faith and each other.
That's how we built our relationship, and that's how we hope to raise our family.
Here's the link to the article: http://savannahnow.com/node/245635
Parents who give their children everything are raising a generation obsessed with wealth and material possessions.
A recent article in the Savannah News cited studies showing teenagers and young adults are more obsessed than ever with material things. They also believe it is critical to become wealthy when they grow up. And, of course, when they become adults and things don't come as easy as when their parents handed it to them, they become greatly disappointed, leading to something called a "quarter-life crisis."
Moreover, these young adults eventually find out that obtaining all things shiny and new doesn't make them happy.
It may seem harmless now, at the infant and toddler stage, to indulge our children, but it is crucial that parents today show some restraint - no matter what their income level is. (That goes for grandparents, too!)
What's important to realize, I think, is that we project the values that one day will become instilled in our children. If we are obsessed with money, so will our kids. But, dear readers, we are fortunate. Our babies are young, and we have plenty of time to change our focus. We can show our children a world that exists outside the mall, away from the cul-de-sac lined with starter castles, and you don't need a gas-guzzling SUV to take them there.
When my husband and I started dating we spent many weekends hiking in the woods of North Jersey. He took me to the mountain top and we looked down on a verdant world that was only the color of money. Along the trails and free from the distractions of how a corrupted society measures happiness, we focused on what really mattered - our faith and each other.
That's how we built our relationship, and that's how we hope to raise our family.
Here's the link to the article: http://savannahnow.com/node/245635
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