Couldn't she see that everything I was doing, from buying her that impeccably cute outfit, to picking it out this morning, to packing her a healthy lunch AND snack I knew she'd like (including a peeled, sliced clementine that she loves), to getting the Secret Santa gifts together for her class, all while feeling really sick...it was ALL for HER. Couldn't she see that the doughnut her daddy offered her for breakfast was a special treat, even if it didn't come from her favorite doughnut store??
When did my precious daughter become so, well, bratty? I feel like I'm going to look up and see her face on My Super Sweet Sixteen, bemoaning the poverty of the used car she's been given or something equally ridiculous. Maybe she'll announce at age eight that she simply must have an ipad or cease to exist. It almost makes me want to return all of their Christmas presents and make them eat pbjs for a week.
In these moments of exasperation, it was so clear to me. The root of their complaining is a lack of gratitude. The ingratitude manifests itself in a sense of entitlement and what-have-you-done-for-me-lately. And it didn't take long for that clarity to reach a mirror. I am guilty as charged.
I look at the opportunities, the things, the relationships I have, and I see the ways they don't meet my expectations. I complain. I wallow. I demand.
So before enforcing austerity measures, perhaps I need to reevaluate my own gifts and start seeing them as such. And in the meantime, I'm also on a quest to teach gratitude at my house. As Madame Blueberry learns, "A thankful heart is a happy heart..." So any suggestions you have for how to teach children to be thankful are more than welcome!!
I can completely relate to this! Lately, I have thought A LOT about gratefulness and enjoying our many current blessings. So often, I talk about things about our home that will be better when we get a bigger house, things that would be easier if we had more money, etc. And, I have been convicted about my attitude of thankfulness as I realize that A.J. will soon understand what I am saying and the attitude I say it with and will begin to "do as I do."
ReplyDeleteSo, you've got me thinking!
This plan will change and be tweaked, but when he is old enough (which won't be long), I want to do something around the dinner table each night (this will also challenge me to start cooking again!). Everyone can share something positive that happened to them that day or a blessing they received or whatever terminology works best, so "saying the blessing" can be a prayer of thanks for each of these things, led by a parent. OR, as they get used to this, I might have it BE the blessing--one adult start the prayer, thanking God for something from that day, circle the table and allow each child to thank God for their individual blessing, and have the second adult end the prayer thanking God for ALL of these blessings and others. Then, we can talk about the individual things they wanted to thank God for in more detail during dinner.
Again, with kids, Plan B is important! So, I'm sure this won't go quite as perfectly as it does in my head ha, and there will most certainly be other versions that develop! But, we'll see. I'm at least going to give it a shot, and I'll let you know how it goes!
Love you! Thanks for challenging me and getting me thinking!
Thanks for the comment, Liss! I have started trying to ask the girls what their favorite part of the day was so that they will focus on something positive each night. Sometimes they have to think for a bit! :) Can't wait to hear how your plan goes--it sounds like a good one to me.
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