Our Children Should Be Entitled
Nowadays, the common thread that is heard from some parents, teachers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. is that most children feel they are entitled - entitled to everything without earning it. That children want what they want right now and they don't want to wait for it. That children think they should be given what they ask for with no questions asked and they are not going to work for what they want either. We must ask ourselves, why do some think that our children are this way? Whose fault is it? Did we raise our children this way? If we did, why get angry or annoyed with them? Let's look at the definition of the word "entitled." It means - qualified for by right according to law. For example, I'm a U.S. citizen and because I was born in the U.S. or for some, have become Naturalized U.S. citizens, my U.S. birth qualifies me to be entitled to certain rights according to certain laws in the U.S. So what is it that our children are entitled to? I have a different spin on what our children are entitled to. Check this out.
Things our children are entitled to.
- Entitled to pursue an education
- Entitled to share with others
- Entitled to do the right thing when the opportunity presents itself or when it doesn't present itself, and/or even when no one is watching
- Entitled to be successful for themselves and for others
- Entitled to teach others
- Entitled to be self sufficient
- Entitled to hold our elected officials accountable since they are supposed to work for us anyway
- Entitled not to let technological devices, reality TV, and movies distract them from what's going on in the world around them
- Entitled to participate in the world around them
- Entitled to keep themselves healthy for their sake and their families
- Entitled to show random acts of kindness
- Entitled to be respected
- Entitled to show respect
- Entitled to respect their parents even when they don't feel like it or when their parents don't show respect towards them (yes, this does happen)
- Entitled to walk in integrity
- Entitled to say "no" when it's appropriate and not feel bad about it
- Entitled to always set a good example
- Entitled to create a good working environment for themselves and for others
- Entitled to keep their neighborhoods and communities clean
- Entitled to speak a kind word
- Entitled to contribute positively to the household in which they live
- Entitled to read a good book
- Entitled to do what they ought to do, and not what they can or allowed to do
- Entitled to obey the law
This is just a short list of what I think our children are "entitled" to, and all require work, mental and physical. I say our children should be entitled, but entitled to things that will cause them to be better individuals.
