So Yesterday, I was out on my regular shopping and I came across this kid who looked like she was 6 or 7 years old and her mother in the same aisle. I was looking at stuff and all of a sudden the kid sees something she likes, and then all of a sudden she says Mommy can I have this? The mother said no you cannot have that, the kid started to make a huge fuss and ask why? I want it now, and treating the mother terribly, then the mother said no again and the child started to cry and scream out, I was just watching this whole thing from afar and I was about to intervene, but I said you know what? I am not going to do anything. The Mother said, that’s it were going home and she said your punished, and I am taking away your cell phone. So they took off without buying anything in the store. The mother got so furious. Never mind all that, but cell phone at age 6-7? You have got to be kidding me right? I was at a loss for words that such a young child who barely got out of playing with baby toys and plastic and in the colouring phase that has a cell phone. I cannot believe how spoiled children have become. They do anything to get what they want, but I really commend this mother who kept saying no to her child. I guess the mother came to a point and put her foot down and not let her have that, but the cell phone thing really turned me off.
I just cannot believe it, I never had my first cell phone until I was 18 years old. I was so happy with my crayons, I was so happy playing with my little dolls, I was so happy with the creativity, and imagination I had when I was a kid. I did crafts, I created so many things, I drew things, I did arts and crafts with glue, coloured paper, and so much more. Now kids rely on technology to do the thinking for them and now everything revolves around keyboards and they cannot do a day without them which is pretty sad. Before I would see a lot more kids outside playing, riding bikes, playing road hockey and doing outdoor things, but now the residential streets are more quiet and kids are inside playing video games or are on the computer or texting with cell phones to other friends. If the parents keep saying yes for the kid to have the latest gadgets and if they parents don’t say no, the child obviously becomes spoiled so much and just one day when you say no, they make a big stink about it in the store, they start to threaten the mother or father at the store, they start to make a big scene, but how will we teach our children about saving money? How will we teach our children about not getting everything their classmates or friends have? How kids should not copy other people and be their own person.
I remember there was so many things that came out, and my parents always taught me just because somebody else has something it doesn’t mean that you should have it too. My parents taught me a lot when I was growing up, and I was content and happy with what I had. They told me that kids in the world don’t have toys to play with, food to eat, and other things in life, and a lot of those children in impoverished countries and places where they don’t have running water, create their own games, create their own toys and play with their friends, relatives, siblings. Its very important to realize that when kids are too spoiled and the parents always say yes to their children and they don’t get what they want, the parents need to sit down and talk to their kids, they need to teach kids values, lessons and tell them to watch videos on how kids live in third world countries, get them to realize that these kids have it so good, they have a roof over their heads, food to eat, and necessities of life. Kids should not complain that they don’t have an Ipod or the latest gaming console, or the latest cell phone or something. They should be fortunate enough and always be thankful to their parents for giving them a good life, for giving them more important things in life rather than material things. Materialism is unbelievable and when kids grow up to be spoiled and always get what they want, then they will do that to their kids and their kids will do that to theirs.
Sit down with your kids, talk to them, do something that will benefit them in the future. Kids should work more on their personalities, morale, quality, and start gaining responsibility. When kids learn at a young age, the future will be bright for them, and when they exercise the good things in life and stop making a big fuss in a store because they didn’t get what they wanted, should be a good lesson. Yesterday when I was shopping like I said with the mother and child who had a cell phone, that did it for me, and I just had to write about it, in today’s blog. I am so concerned on how spoiled kids have gotten and it needs to stop. I cannot stress it enough. Parents give their children a lot of freedom, they give them way too much than they can really handle. It’s time to say no and teach kids that having everything others have is not a great thing. don’t copy other people, be your own person and so what if other kids laugh, it all begins with the big figures in their lives which are their parents. Try it out. spend time with them and teach them. It’s the best way to go.
Talin Orfali Ghazarian 