In a well publicized cross-generational study, researchers asked 355,000 high school seniors about their feelings on wealth, material goods and work. They discovered that, compared to older generations, today’s teens expressed a stronger desire for the finer things in life but less of a desire in working to acquire them.
Wanting nicer things is nothing new. Undoubtedly, Cro Magnon man wanted nicer tools. However, expecting those things without putting forth any effort, and then upon receiving them, failing to show the appropriate degree of appreciation, well now… that’s the burgeoning sense of entitlement that is driving today’s parents (as well as teachers, employers, etc.) absolutely bonkers.
This recent article appearing in Forbes highlights this research and brings to the surface the feelings many parents have, especially at this time of year when kids’s Christmas lists have grown longer and more audacious than ever before. That article suggests that if parents start to assign age-appropriate chores when a child is 2 or 3, provide a consistent structure to encourage diligence in doing chores as they grow older, and consider compensating their preteens and teens for the work they do, they will learn fiscal responsibility and have a much deeper connection between effort and reward before they leave and go out on their own.
I couldn’t agree more. These are simple steps, but ones that don’t come naturally for youth and aren’t easy to initiate and maintain for parents.
Today’s parents give excessively to their kids, often asking little in return, and then wonder why their kids aren’t more appreciative, often expecting things to continue be handed to them on a silver platter.
Brings to mind the 1970 Pogo cartoon strip where the characters are totally dismayed by a mess that they, themselves, created, so Pogo turns to his friend and says, “We have met the enemy — and he is us.”
As a father of three, step father of two, father-in-law of three, and grandfather of five , I confess that I occasionally find myself muttering Pogo’s words. In one of those moments, I was inspired to write a poem on behalf of other parents who share those feelings.
This short poem is titled Do They Know and it’s captured in this video.
