Kids who don't have responsibilities...

[Miss Z]

It is becoming a worry that kids are becoming lazier, more arrogant, less educated and more overweight, and it is a serious issue. At 14 and not yet old enough to be on minimum wage, of course my parents still provide for me. Heck, they spend over £7000 a year on my education, never mind everything else I must sap from them. I am truly grateful for what I get from my parents.

Yes, they do buy me expensive gifts too, such as designer wear and accessories, I'll admit, and whilst I do like having these things I don't EXPECT my parents to buy that kind of stuff for me when I snap my fingers. At my school, there are some VERY rich kids who do practically nothing at home nor make a great deal of effort in lessons, but have the latest phones and iPods and everything else. All I can say is they'll have a nasty shock when they learn that money is not everlasting.

[Catlady711]

I think it all boils down to: Entitlement and Accountability.

It doesn't matter if someone's parents buy a young child a bicycle for say $50 or an older teen a car for say $12,000. Either way if the child is not taught to appreciate the gift, realize it's a gift and not ENTITLEMENT, and does not accept that they are ACCOUNTABLE for their actions of responsibility for and care of the item, whether it's a car or a bike, it's still a lack of the parents doing their jobs. Let alone the fact there is a huge difference between WANT and NEED that is frequently not recognized today. You may NEED warm clothing for winter, but having the latest fashion is a WANT.

Seems with what I see day in and day out around here, that more and more often parents are not 'raising' their children, but:

1) buying themselves some down time (ie. here go play with this and leave me alone)

2) trying way too hard to be their childs' friend (ie. I got this for you to prove how much I love you)

3) thinking they can protect their children from every bad thing/feeling in the world (ie. here's the latest play station 14 and 100 games, I don't ever want you to feel like you're not part of the 'in' crowd')


I think too many children, and their parents too, have a sense of ENTITLEMENT about everything. Think about it, that is why there's so many lawsuits over dumb stuff? People not only don't think they need to be responsible for anything, but also that somehow the world OWES them something.

It's an age old problem that just gets worse every year. And it's certainly not helping when our politicians and governments allow laws and regulations that help people not be accountable and allow them to sue for things that at one time would have been thrown out before it ever hit the courtrooms....

caution coffee may be hot
do not use hairdryer while sleeping or bathing
if someone breaks into your house and gets injured, you are liable
caution drinking alcoholic beverages can impair your ability to drive
if starbucks won't take your coupon you can sue for millions
you are not liable for your own actions
etc, etc.

As long as society, and our courts, are allowing things like this to happen, it just lends to their sense of ENTITLEMENT and those adults in turn train their children that 'this is how life works'. And with the media making such a big fuss with publicity over these things, people think that not only are they not responsible for their own actions, but if they do something stupid they can get millions and be on the front page of every newspaper in the country!

I agree that parents need to 'raise' their children, but at the same time, if adults are allowed to not be accountable then why would they train their children to do so?

[Argranade]

Remember its usualy not the childs fault if there getting what ever they want..

I belive its the parents as they have the right to stop buying them things, and to tell them to have some responsibility in the house or get a job they have a mouth its time they start using it I hate it when the kid gets blamed for things there just getting spoiled for ,also most kids take after there parents.

So if you see a kid who complains about the wrong car colour blame the parents for buying it and not giving them enough discipline or jobs (I would never complain over a new cars colour lol).

[Karen]

I do belive that, while you are still in school, that is a huge responsibility, your primary responsibility. Kay's original post was about kids she knows who have dropped out of school.

Personal responisbility is a big issue, and some people never do "get it," no matter how old they get.