. . . avoid spoiling children by giving them too much. In our day, many children grow up with distorted
values because we as parents overindulge them. . . . One of the most important things we can teach our
children is to deny themselves. Instant gratification generally makes for weak people.
Elder Joe J. Christensen, “Greed, Selfishness, and Overindulgence,” Ensign, May 1999, 9.
I really love this quote. I think too often I do this with my own daughter. I can think of several times that I just had to get her that because she would love it and she is only this age once and what if I don't have another girl and I will have regretted not letting her have that and so on. I have realized how much she really doesn't need. I have a habit of letting her pick out just one thing (with in reason) to buy when we go to the store. Often it is one or two dollars but it is something we certainly don't need and I now realize may be overindulging or spoiling her. It sounds horrible and I don't do it all the time but I have done it nonetheless. She is quite content with the toys she has yet I drool over toys that "I know she would just love." I know is is so young and could really care less if I bought her things or not so this is my resolve to put an end to the frivolous small purchases and I will start having her denying herself so she can learn that you earn what you have. I also am going to resolve to not buy her any more toys, unless it is already what I have planned for Christmas, for the remainder of my challenge. I know this is going to be a hard one but I really want to not spoil her.
Also an idea that we have done is put some toys away and pull them out again after a few weeks or months. It will be like getting new toys all over again.
I completely agree with all your points! So often I think as parents we make it more complicated than it needs to be...we want MORE for our kids and that's not really what THEY want--until we give and give and give soooo much,
ReplyDeleteWe took at least a 1/3 of the kids toys when they were throwing a fit about cleaning up--and they've never missed them since. So we will just rotate them somewhere down the line with other things they already have out.
I love that quote! I think I will try rotating toys too. I have never done it before, but I bet it would really be a good thing for our kids.
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