gifts substitute for genuine love?
By Dominique25
@Dominique25 (9464)
United States
January 1, 2012 11:15pm CST
Many parents try to buy their children's love. Showering them with pretty much whatever they want. Buying them things all the time when perhaps they might not need it but just want it. I think that we should work hard to to give of ourselves, our time, our energy and our love to our children. Which is more important than material gifts.
6 responses
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
18 Apr 12
I totally agree. My brother-in-law and his wife are both working abroad and they make pretty good money out there. They always send packages of toys and clothes to their children who are left with their grandparents. They do have a lot of toys, but I can really see how they take these things for granted. MOst, if not all, are broken after just a few months.
@Dominique25 (9464)
• United States
6 May 12
Yeah with situations like that it can be harder for the children. As they don't get to see their parents instead they receive gifts. Yes and they start to learn that they can have what they want and when something happens to it, it's just replaced. Hopefully in the future they will be able to spend more time with their parents.
@soulist (2985)
• United States
12 Apr 12
I do understand that some parents spend too much money buying their children gifts, everything they want and that could do more damage than anything. It could make children think they can have whatever they want so when they are unable to get it they get upset and cause a scene. If we want to give our children a gift or buy them something I think the children need to earn it and prove they deserve a special gift. I only got gifts on my birthday, christmas and easter. I don't recall getting something mearly because I wanted it. I earned things and thats how it should be.
@Dominique25 (9464)
• United States
6 May 12
I agree with you that buying a child literally everything that he or she wants does do damage. Children that grow up with everything most of the time end up having unrealistic expectations as adults. I agree letting a child earn something is such a great thing. They come to appreciate that we all have to work for the things we want and hard work is a good thing.
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
2 Jan 12
I agree with this... in this day and age, a lot of couples or parents would sacrifice a great deal of time earning money rather than being with their families, right? i believe more parents should not use this as a reason, that they need to earn money for the sake of the children... it is basically just them that taught the children to rely on material things... which will eventually not the very thing or want of a child.
@Dominique25 (9464)
• United States
12 Apr 12
Yeah it is important that we teach our children what is really valuable and that we set the right example for them. This is not always easy with the times we are living in. But it can be done. We just need to prioritize our time and hopefully find work that doesn't require a lot of time.
@Dominique25 (9464)
• United States
4 Jan 12
I agree time and affection is very important. I think it does add a lot to the relationship between parents and their children. Children feel more secure and stable when they have affection from their parents and know that they can talk with them. I'm glad that we are able to eat regularly together. I feel that this is important as well. We can talk with one another and share our day.
@luckygrey67 (765)
• Indonesia
2 Jan 12
I think, parent should give the children both "attention and material". To be balanced. If children less attention but more material, most of them to be naughty, spoiled, and courageous against their parents.
But, if the children giving more attention without material, sometimes they are also less hanging out....they will be loss much friends.
@Dominique25 (9464)
• United States
11 Apr 12
We do have to be balanced. Attention is very important. It can be hard to balance that when it often seems we have so much other things to get done. I'm hoping that with the weather hopefully to get warmer here shortly I will be able to accomplish this. I agree there are a lot of children who have a lot of material and yet they are spoiled and act that way as well.
@Dominique25 (9464)
• United States
5 Jan 12
I agree with you that keeping life simple is very good. It will help the children to learn what is most important. Also teaching them about God and his purposes will help them to develop a personal relationship with him, and motivate them to do things that are pleasing to him.
