“What’s in it for me?”
Any beginning marketer will tell you this is a question you absolutely must answer in order to get people to respond to you.
Sadly, it seems our children are asking the same question. Instead of asking, “how can I help?” they want to know what’s in it for them. Instead of accepting responsibilities that are a natural part of belonging to a family, they try to avoid being responsible and instead employ a “me first” approach to life.
As parents, a big part of our job is to make sure our kids get rid of their sense of entitlement. We must instill values, respect for the truth, confidence and a sense of responsibility in our children.
This is not an easy task. Most modern families sorely lack time. Modern life is fast-paced. Parents work many hours to provide for their families; kids’ schedules are busier than ever with school, homework, and after-school activities. Slowing down, sitting together and communicating – all keys to a happier family life – seem almost unachievable.
Another big challenge of the modern family is lack of structure. Families used to be patriarchal, and very structured. Rules were very clear: each family member used to have a clearly defined role in the family, a set of responsibilities and obligations that had to be followed.
While I wouldn’t want to go back in time to the way families used to be – for instance, I think fathers really missed out in previous generations when they were uninvolved in their kids lives – I do believe structure is extremely important to a healthy, functioning family.
My own family problems, and my own struggle to instill values in my kids in an age of entitlement, have resulted in “Your Family Constitution”: a down-to-earth, practical parenting guide that offers a modern approach to instilling family values and creating household structure, consistent boundaries and family harmony.
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Scott Gale’s book, Your Family Constitution, offers parenting tips to help you create a happier, healthier and more productive home life.
Photo credit: sugarpond