Interesting Article

I came across this interesting article on a blog this morning titled "Generation-too-big-for-their-britches?"

"You can do it!" "You can accomplish anything if you put your mind to it!" "You're the best!" Is there such a thing as going overboard in praising our kids? A new study claims that many teens are "over-confident" and the study's author is pointing the blame at parents and teachers. According to an article on FOXNews.com entitled, "Many Teens Overconfident, Have 'Wildly' Unrealistic Expectations," the "self-esteem" movement may have gone too far.

Top 10 ways to brat-proof your child:

1. "Authoritative parenting" assumes the grown-ups in the house are behaving like parents rather than friends. Kids need boundaries and rules and when you don't provide them, you set your child up for heartache on down the road. And let's not fool ourselves. No teen really wants to be best buds with mom or dad--they want freedom and if they can gain it by soothing a parent's low self-esteem with an elusive bff status, they are willing to play the game. Oh, and guess who'll be left with the tab in the end should fallout occur? That's right, bff mom and dad!

2. Don't rescue your child from the consequences of their poor choices. If they get caught drinking at the Homecoming dance, don't march up to the school to argue about the punishment that has been doled out. Resist the urge to throw them a lifeline--if you do it once, they'll expect you to do it again...and again...and again.

3. Don't try to fix things when your child doesn't make the team or argue with the coach when they sit on the bench. When they enter the working world, they will be better equipped to deal with real-life experiences such as as undeserving co-workers who get raises, bosses who are not qualified to lead, and other common injustices. Sometimes, life just isn't fair and our kids need to know that.

4. Don't provide for your child's every whim. When you shower your kids with the latest and greatest electronic toys, designer jeans, new cars, and the like, you give them an unrealistic picture of what life will be like when they set out on their own. Don't be surprised if they come a-knockin' on down the road when they're suffering withdrawals from the standard of living you provided.

5. Resist telling your child that he/she can be whatever they want if they put their minds to it. How do you explain that one to the multitude of grown adults who have discovered the hard way that they simply don't have what it takes to be President or make it to the Olympics? Help your child discover and cultivate their God-given talents, but don't set them up for disappointment by misleading them. If your child wants to be a popstar but can't sing a tune, do them a favor and tell them now before they find out this way (click here).

6. When your child is old enough to hold a job, require that they work during the summer months and earn money toward expenses. They will have a greater appreciation for their belongings and privileges if they play a part in earning money toward gas, car insurance, college textbooks, etc....

7. Do not make your child the center of your universe. Have your own outside interests and prioritize your relationship with your spouse. We don't do our children any favors when we drop everything and pour our entire energy into checking every homework assignment and shuttling them to countless after-school activities. Consider having a limit of one sport or outside activity per child, per season.

8. Teach your child common courtesies that should be displayed toward others. Require them to hold the door open for those passing through, surrender their seats to women and children, help the elderly and women who are struggling to load their bags in an airplane overhead bin, resist the urge to check a text message when talking with someone, etc... If you teach them to be on the lookout when it comes to helping others, it will deter them from thinking about themselves 24/7.

9. Teach your child to respect their elders and do not allow for rude and impolite behavior. Require them to answer with "Yes Ma'am, No Sir" and look someone in the eye when speaking to them. Teach them to initiate conversations by asking questions about the other person rather than expecting that the conversation will center around them.

10 Involve your child in mission causes. Volunteering at a soup kitchen, taking a mission trip, adopting a needy family at Christmas time, etc... will help them take the focus off themselves and teach them the joy of giving to others. At a minimum, make sure they do something on an annual basis that would help those who are less fortunate.