Exactly; we need to start making it clear that certain things are expected, not respected.
‘I’m Okay, You’re Okay’
Adults go overboard on praising them.
Because they are the one’s who always are the first one to come in second.
Well kids today have the ability to become international media stars with tons of “friends”, “followers, and “likes” for doing nothing meaningful other than taking a picture of themselves, writing forgetful musings about their life, and producing terrible videos for their YouTube “channels”.
You get 2 million people to watch a video of yourself doing an average vocal rendition of a pop song, and can you blame them for thinking they are some sort of pop star?
Self-esteem is cheap and easy. A drug that kids are hooked on and constantly looking for their next hit. They get it because seeing them narcissistic is tolerable if they are happy and out of our hair.
And we aren’t helping either whenever some kid does something like saluting a flag and belting out the national anthem poorly (although they were adorable doing it), conservative websites (mostly the Blaze) pass that around like Jesus was caught on tape doing cartwheels.
Giving out trophies to everyone and not keeping score at little league games is kids stuff compared to what accolades for mediocrity kids can receive for barely putting forward an effort.
The thing kids are picking up is that “praise-worthiness” is itself a goal, even when for altruistic reasons-
“I felt I needed to ‘give something back’ to the homeless ...”
The current occupant of the White House is an empty suit who took office with virtually no meaningful accomplishments in his past. This sends the wrong message to young people as it reinforces the idea that one can have high expectations without any real effort. Just saying.
Children need hours a day of calm parental attention. Most of us don’t give it. An adult nearby and steady to share life with. They need that love in order to be strong and less needy as teens and adults. Daycare and schools don’t cut it.