First of all I must offer a sincere apology to my parents - I am so sorry for ever acting or being ungrateful for everything and anything you did for me.
now onto my soap box...
My kids are making me crazy!! No matter what I do - it is never enough! Just today alone I have been ready to scream (and probably have) at least 5 times. Just as a background, we have never been well to do, so getting the kids the latest and greatest things has not been in the cards. I have often felt guilty about that and try to do what I can, but it ends up never being good enough and making me so mad that I want to take everything away and never give another gift, or buy another article of clothing, do another fun activity etc. because no matter what it is - it isn't right or good enough. Maybe I am not explaining it well, but I am venting at the moment.
I sit wrong of me to want a little gratitude? I guess it is as we should never do anything expecting the gratitude for it, but because we want to do it. But I fear for the attitude my kids are growing up with. The only ones I ever hear thank you from are the younger 2.
My kids sound like spoiled brats - yet they don't have a whole lot. Maybe it is just me missing the boat here. I really don not remember being that way as a kid, but in case I was, I again sincerely apologize! Anyway... I am running away for an hour to calm down! And it looks like I just bought myself a new MP3 player!!
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6 comments:
When our children are not grateful it is very frustrating. It is a difficult thing to teach them. It's very frustrating when they think they are grateful and you realize they are not.
Hugs. I hope your getting away for awhile helped.
I hear ya girl! With my 12 year old I have started making him tell me 20 things he is grateful for every time he complains! The first time it took him 45 minutes! This parenthood thing is SO fun!
I think gratitude is a very mature thought process. I know plenty of adults that haven't learned that choosing to BE GRATEFUL makes you a lot happier than choosing a covetous thought process instead. It may look like your kids are ungrateful, but I'm sure they are still learning. Maybe consider countering an "ungrateful attitude" with a very calm comment like,"Well, I'm sure grateful to have you as my son/daughter. You teach me a lot. Let's talk about this some more in Family Home Evening this week during your lesson on gratitude/prayer/coveting, etc."
We can't force gratitude, we can only model it.
Yea! You have a new MP3 player!
Love you!
That is a hard one. You want to work hard and give your kids things they want and need, but the gratitude has to be there too.
Love you my friend. You are an amazing mom. Really! See you tomorrow.
James just lost all of his electronic privileges today for the entire week! Hang in there, they don't need the latest and greatest thing. I heard on a show one time that "there's a lot of love in the word NO". You can put that up in Vinyl in your house and point it out to your kids every time you tell them no and they argue. Then they'll know you love them every time you tell them "no".
Your title picture of the two kids is so endearing. I have found gratitude to be very powerful. And expressed before hand in prayers does something to my faith, and usually results in the blessings I ask for much more readily. I am grateful for you and our family ties.
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