Replies to '10/31 "Spoiled and Entitled?"'

I can't tell you whether your kids are spoiled or not.  I do think it should throw up red flags if people close to you are telling you that you are spoiling your kids.  I also think an attitude of "sorry lady, it's not my problem" is a horrible attitude and one easily picked up on by kids.  There are so many constructive responses to a mother "whining" (in your words) about how much your child has.   

I think too much spent on toys develops an unhealthy expectation.  If your daughter has over 50 puzzles she will eventually be sick of those and expect more and based on her current inventory, she may expect 50 more.  I don't neccesarily think that the amount is a problem if you are not buying her everything and anything she asks for. 

As for the families on the show, 250 DVDs??  Big Srceen TV?  $1200 in toys so one wouldn't feel jealous of the other??  And then the nerve to say her kids won't end up like Evan!  Lauren?  Over her limit and writing bad checks... one of two things will happen, her parents will bail her out or her credit will be in shambles in 6 months.  I see these kids at college as a Dorm Supervisor.  I hear them telling each other, "oh my God, did you see what she was wearing?"  We have parents who drop their kids off at the beginning of the year with a case of beer.  We have a donation to local homeless shelters at the end of the year and have clothes with the tags still on them, computers,  calculators, textbooks... generous?  I thought so until I heard one student telling another, "If I come home with all theses clothes, my mom won't buy me new ones"  And you wouldn't believe the excuses I hear when students don't want to take responsibility for their actions.  I can't tell you how many students have lawyers for parents, or have informed me that their parents will sue me for trying to make them accountable.   

Love your children.  Absolutely.  Make them your number one priority.  All for it.  There's nothing wrong with having things, but the message kids recieve when they get too much can be as bad as the opposite extreme--sometimes worse.