Your children need your ‘presence’ more than your ‘presents’…

His big brown eyes look at me as they drown me, hypnotize me and make me forget what I was even saying! What was I saying again? I take a few seconds to recall what my son was asking me before I spaced out…. Oh yes! “No!” I say a little more sternly this time, ” you absolutely cannot have the new Lionel Messi soccer tog”!  And there he does it again! No words, just a look and he has me toppling over with guilt! Why do I even put myself through this when I know that ultimately he’ll win, he’ll get what he wants…..

Parenthood better known as the parent trap today! We find ourselves doing more than we need to do for our little ones simply because we never had many luxuries growing up and simply because we can afford them for our kids. But what is the real price that we’re paying with each yes? Are we breeding a generation that values what they have or are we breeding thankless  individuals who expect to get without compromise? I often wonder what adults will this generation, our kids generation, make….

I come from a time and a household where if I wanted something I didn’t know that I would get it just by asking for it. There was no such a thing as demanding for something as that would make your chances of getting the desired thing even lesser! I grew up on fresh air playing outside more than inside! I grew up feeling loved just by my mum making me my favorite treat! I grew up and I turned out just fine!  Then why do I feel the need to allow my kids cellular  phones, gaming consoles and whatever other whims they fancy? Perhaps we need to ponder over this and wonder what type of individuals are we breeding for the future and what type of parents are we breeding for our grandchildren?

Children will grow up and life will never pause, no matter how tough it seems at times or how thankless the task of parenting seems to be. The key is to remain grounded! Instill in them what you wish for them to value! You don’t have to live your childhood through them by giving them everything that they ask for! After all the things that you were denied, I think you must have turned out pretty fine with a plethora of valuable lessons to tell as tales to your little kids! Kids need your ‘presence’ more than your ‘presents’ and that’s a true tale….