Teaching Responsibility Through Life Lessons!

I have had the privilege of raising two great men. I can remember when they were small and all I wanted to do was protect them from the frightful things of this world. I did things because I loved them and I wanted them to be happy, well rounded, and able to contribute to society in a positive way. 

As parents when do we stop coddling them and being their everything? How do we allow them to become adults and responsible? As parents do we want our kids to like us or to be better than we have been and are? If we want them to like us then we will always be there for them. When they are in high school we will pay their cell phone bills, and wash their clothes. When they are in college we will pay their rent and give them spending money while they enjoy their college years. They like us because we are doing all these wonderful things for them. Now if we want them to be better then we have been, in high school we would require them to get a job and pay their own cell phone bill and wash and even buy their own clothes. In college we would require them to pay half or more of their own rent and pay for their own entertainment, they will still enjoy their college years. My point is if we want our kids to be better and responsible then we have to do what is necessary. It will not feel good all the time and they may not always like us. But you will reap the benefits when your precious children are adults and they are not living at home and always asking for your help. You will brag about your adult children when they are living on their own able to budget their money to pay their own bills and be responsible in a number of other ways. When they get older they will appreciate you. It's your decision and your future hangs on whether or not you will teach your children to be responsible adults or if you will enable them while they are living at home depending on you to take care of them. Just a little something to think about!