One of the biggest challenges our children and families face today is instant gratification. I know that you are asking how is instant gratification a challenge?
Our society, especially or children have a “We want it now” attitude. We are not willing to invest the time to achieve maximum results. Our children are growing up with an entitlement mentality. I want it now, it is owed to me, everyone has one so I deserve one too.
Many of us when surfing the web, will click on the first, maybe the second page of a web site and if it is not peaking our interest, we move on quickly. We do the same with television. We surf channels like a tsunami wave, fast and furious.
We are literally teaching our children to be quitters and followers. If you do not like it, then quit. This is the biggest mistake you can make with your children. Our children do not have any idea what life skills they will need to be successful as an adult. I regularly have parents come in and say you know I can see where this program would really benefit my child, but I do not want to force him to come. Children learn very early on, what they can get away with, if you set a level of expectation for their development, they will follow your lead.
What if your child came to you and said, “You know what, I am bored with school and I want to quit”. You would put your foot down and say this is not an option. In addition, what if your daughter came to you and said, I want to be like Brittany Spears or Lindsey Lohan, again you would try put your foot down.
We need to lead our children, not let them lead us. Parenting is a full time job, and it is frustrating and sometimes very tiring, but what do you want your child to be like when they grow up?
The best thing you can do for your children is find programs that will assist in their development. Additionally, you need to set the tone that once we sign up, they need to attend, without fussing or complaining and there will be no quitting until the goals set were accomplished. The only exception to this rule is if the instruction is sub par and completely inappropriate. Then you will need to find a more appropriate program.
One more tidbit of wisdom. How many times have you had your child signed up for a program and right before you are about to leave, they say, I do not want to go to __________ today? You immediately interpret this as they do not like whatever program they are in, this is not the case. Many times, children cannot project themselves into the future and realize they are going to have fun. They are having fun right now or they are involved in what they are doing right now, enjoying it and they do not want to leave what they are doing.
