A Spoiled Child...

My kids are spoiled.  I admit it.  Am I proud of that fact?  No.  Do I wish I could undo some of the spoiling I've done?  You bet.  It's very hard to try and change that fact, though.

Robbie was an only child for his first six years.  Reuben was self-employed and made good money.  We always had a pretty good cash flow.  This combination resulted in Robbie being spoiled before he was even old enough to understand what that meant.  We lived in town at the time and made several trips to the store per week.  I don't think we ever left the store without him getting a new toy.  The child had enough toys to fully stock an entire daycare center.  It was ridiculous!  He wasn't snotty about it, though.  He knew no different.  So, he didn't know it was something to brag about.  For that, I am thankful.  I think he just thought everyone had mountains of toys. 

Life changed when Brady was born.  Reuben had to take a job at a local factory, and we were barely staying afloat.  Robbie never seemed to really notice a change.  We still managed to keep him supplied with all of his needs and most of his wants.  I did learn that buying toys on every trip to the store wasn't necessary or possible.  So, Brady has never known that same level of "spoiledness." 

Reuben's work as a boilermaker has definitely helped us financially.  Most of the year, the funds are flowing pretty well.  However, I've never reverted to the extreme of pouring presents on my kids.  Still, they somehow manage to get most everything they want.  I'm not really sure how it happens, but it does.  I'm getting to the point where it's driving me crazy.  When a special occasion does arise, the boys are unable to come up with anything they really want.  This is ridiculous to me.  I think kids need to know how it feels to want something and have to wait on it. 

I am resolved to try to change.  I want my kids to learn to truly appreciate their belongings.  I want them to know how it feels to not get everything  you want when you want it.  I hope this instills in them the value of working for something and the appreciation of having something.  I don't know if it's too late to teach these lessons.  I do know that they will never learn them if we don't at least try.