Nov 04 2008
Children quote #5
“It is not giving children more that spoils them; it is giving them more to avoid confrontation.”
–John Gray
What a wonderful, concise quote! I agree 110%. These days, it is so easy for parents to avoid interacting with their children by providing them with toys and gadgets to keep them entertained. In addition, spoiling children with material possessions sends them the wrong message (as can be seen by the large cars and houses that are prevalent everywhere!).
This isn’t to say that we cannot give our children things, as mentioned in the quote. However, they need to appreciate these gifts and the hard work we put in as parents so that they can have these things. Also, helping our children distinguish between wants and needs is very important.
As parents, we also need to be role models for our children - how important are material possessions in our lives? How often do they see us giving away things to the less fortunate, or volunteering, or just taking the time to make a positive difference in another person’s life?
2 Responses to “Children quote #5”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Not A Member? Register for Free!
There is too much materialism in this country. A family member of mine offers her children cash to do well in school. I always found this to be a bit disturbing as it seems like a bribe. Your thoughts?