Health & Fitness
Parenting Generation Y Kids: More is Not Always Better
We are raising kids known as "Generation Y" . We want them to be happier and more successful and more privileged than we were at their age. But maybe we shouldn't want that for them. Here's why.
Every generation of parents hope that their children will have a better, more stable childhood and a more prosperous future than what they had themselves. While I agree in theory that we want our kids to have more experiences and not want for anything, in the process we might be creating monsters.
Even in this recession, where saving money is becoming increasingly difficult and if we are able to invest money through IRAs or 401K plans the market is volatile at best, it seems like the average Town and Country or Manchester child is not feeling the impact. Or maybe I am just projecting how I feel about my kids. Take my 6 year old daughter Elise as an example.
Enter Easter 2011. The "Easter Bunny" had given her a basket 90 percent full of chocolate. Skipping the ill-fated jelly beans and soon-to-be stale malt balls, the Easter Bunny recognized that chocolate was really the most desirable treat to find among the green grass. Hershey kisses, peanut butter cups, and Cadbury Eggs were neslted around Peeps and a few other non-chocolate items.
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But just a few days later I found Elise rummaging through the kitchen pantry, reaching for my chocolate; My expensive Trader Joe Pound Plus bar. The following conversation ensued
Me: "What are you doing? The Easter Bunny just gave you a basket full of chocolate. That is MY chocolate."
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Her: "But, Mom....the Easter Bunny gave me milk chocolate and you know {emphasis added}, I prefer dark chocolate."
She was right. She will also pick dark chocolate over milk chocolate--every time. But I don't know whether to find that amusing or disturbing. After all, she's 6. Since when does the average 6 year old develop a taste for something so refined? (Truth be told, I still prefer milk chocolate!).
Am I creating a foodie? By the time she is a teenager will only the finer things in life be sufficient? But it didn't stop there.
Enter Halloween 2011. She and I were in the car last week when the following conversation took place.
Her: "Mommy, I don't get Halloween. I mean, what are we celebrating exactly? It's not like Jesus's birthday or anything. We dress up and get candy. That's just weird."
Me: "Don't you like Halloween? Isn't it fun to dress up and get all the candy your heart desires? You want to go Trick or Treating, right?"
Her: "I don't know. I'll think about it."
Aghast, I did not know how to answer. Again, what am I doing wrong that my daughter would even think about not celebrating Halloween? It's the third most gimmee-ist holiday of the year. (behind Christmas and birthday). Am I over- indulging her taste buds throughout the year that the thought of unlimited suckers, candy bars, Nerds, and other sugary delights are not a temptation? She knows whether or not she goes out on that one night, we will provide her with unlimited sugary snacks?
Either I am a bad mom who allows too much candy or my daughter is an anomaly, who clearly does not understand the way a typical 6 year old should act or think. Or maybe it is a sign of the times and conversations like these are happening all around me. Our kids are privileged, whether we want to believe it or not. Please can I get an AMEN from fellow parents?
(And just so you know, she picked out a costume and is planning on Trick or Treating. Whew.... Maybe she is normal after all.)