The Me Generation

This morning on The Today Show, they will be talking about the "Me Generation." I already know what they are going to say...

We are raising our kids to think they are special, basically entitled. I believe we are raising our children to believe that they are entitled to the good life without working for it. Parents protect their children from failure, but they also protect them from well earned success. Failure is an opportunity for a child to learn and grow, so why do we, as parents, rush in at every opportunity to save our children from these opportunities?

There are several myths out there concerning children. Our children are not fragile, and we do not need to save them. We can help them grow through their failures, and learn through the difficulties that are inherent in this life.

Self esteem is getting confused with esteem. To esteem means to value worth, but not just in your self. It means to see value in others...parents, teachers, friends, and that little old lady down the street. When the emphasis is on self, we are robbing them of confidence, worth and happiness.

Caretaking Parents, Entitled Kids expands on this.

Help your kids deal with their failures, don't prevent those failures from happening.