Episode 102: How to Rescue Your Family from the Trap of Entitlement—with Kristen Welch
As our children grow up, they may start to handle certain things themselves. This could be chores, getting up on time, or saving up their allowance whenever they want a new toy.
This is a natural part of getting older, but as a parent, it can be difficult to know when you should step in and when is it healthy to let your child fail. There are going to be times when “helping” is actually preventing our children from developing their own independence and sense of responsibility. We’ve been going through this with our own son lately, and we often find ourselves wondering if we are actually helping him or if we are unintentionally feeding an entitled spirit.
The truth is, the topic of entitlement can pop up in all kinds of areas—such as how much we should buy for our kids, how much we should expect them to help out around the house, or even what family expectations should be when it comes to birthdays and Christmas gifts.
Today’s guest, Kristen Welch, has wrestled through these questions in her own home. She is the author of Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World, as well as the founder and CEO of Mercy House Global, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower marginalized communities with life-changing opportunities that create hope.
In this episode, Kristen shares :
- The connection between gratitude and happiness
- How to identify entitlement
- The danger of instant gratification
- And much more!
We hope you enjoy this conversation!
Links:
- [BOOK] Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World: How One Family Learned That Saying No Can Lead to Life’s Biggest Yes
- Mercy House Global
- Connect with Kristen on her website, Instagram, or Facebook
Our Takeaways:
1) Christ is the only thing that will last. Too often our focus is set on the latest gadget, the fastest car, or the nicest house. We are all guilty of chasing after things that won’t actually last and relying on them for our sense of satisfaction. Instead, it’s important to remember that Christ is the only one we can count on for our long-term safety, comfort, and satisfaction.
2) Recognize the danger of creating an environment that may not be sustainable. We are so blessed to live in a country where things like clean water, constant electricity, Wi-Fi, stores filled to the brim with groceries, and more can be taken for granted. It’s easy for our children to forget that these things are a privilege. They may come to believe that having the latest phone, brand new clothes every school year, and endless gifts is the bare minimum. It’s important to remind our children what kinds of things are okay to expect from life versus what is overabundance.
3) Exchange instant gratification with generosity. One surefire way of countering entitlement is to replace it with generosity. Consider how your family can replace gratification with giving. This could mean exchanging store-bought gifts with handmade ones. Or instead of always stopping for a tasty treat on your way home, you might purchase some food and give it to someone in need. It might simply mean making it a practice to name one thing you are grateful for each and every day.
Meet Our Guest
Kristen Welch is the author of several books as well as the parenting blog We Are THAT Family. She is also the founder and CEO of Mercy House Global, a nonprofit whose mission is to empower marginalized communities with life-changing opportunities that create hope. When she isn’t traveling to Kenya, Kristen, her husband, and their three young adult children live in Texas where they enjoy going to football games and flea markets.
