What does the word “Gratitude” mean to you? So much goes through my mind when I think of gratitude. I have a picture that hangs above my couch that says “Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” Does this resonate with you? Are you grateful?

This might seem like a rant at first but hang in there with me. I am so frustrated with the attitude of entitlement from people, especially kids. Kids are so spoiled now a days. Little kids are carrying around VERY expensive cell phones, parents spending hundreds of dollars on brand name clothes that the kids will outgrow in 6 months, some kids do not have any sort of schedule or bedtime and they rule the roost! Parents are bribing their kids with things and promises to get them to behave. Parents are afraid to tell their kids no! Kids are mad if they don’t have the best of the best and I personally think this is ridiculous. Have you seen the extravagant proms and homecomings? How many extra hours does the single mom have to work so that her kid can wear that $400.00 dress and help pay for the limo? I feel like if kids are expecting this kind of greatness at prom or homecoming, then what will they expect for their wedding? Just something to think about.

Are we as a society encouraging our kids to not be grateful or not have gratitude? I get it, I have been there. My girls did the prom and homecoming dances with all the fancy stuff, so please don’t feel judged. These are things I ask myself too. Just wondering what the balance is. It’s so easy to get caught up in the aspect of wanting your kids to fit in as well as wanting to be the parent that can give their kids the best. I don’t begrudge anyone giving their kids the best, but sometimes I feel like we do a disservice to our kids because they don’t have an appreciation for what it takes to get the nicer things in life. I have also seen a trend, even in my own kids, who are 21 and 24 years old, that they feel like they are behind in life because they can’t get the things they want. Kids seem to want in an instant what takes most people 30 plus years to achieve. Does anyone else feel this way? Or is it me?

As a Mom and as a Nanny, I have kids say please and thank you. Ask your kids what they are sgrateful for each day. Teach them gratitude. It’s important. Instead of letting your kid complain that the mashed potatoes are too lumpy to eat, teach them to be thankful that they have mashed potatoes to eat and moreover be grateful for the person who spent time making the mashed potatoes. If you don’t teach them to be grateful for the little things in life and the big things too, I believe that as adults they will struggle to find contentment with the things they have and maybe even feel inadequate because they are always feeling the need for more. More money, a bigger house, a better wife or husband, a better job, etc… I could list a hundred things that could be a factor. Think about who you want to be and who you want your kids to be. Isn’t gratitude one of those things we should want? instill it into your kids. It’s a great feeling when people compliment you on your children and their gratitude.

I admit, I can be a brat sometimes. I like instant gratification. This drives my husband nuts. Lol. When our kids were little we lived in this house that I did not like at all and it wasn’t in the best of neighborhoods. I wanted to move from this house so bad and it just wouldn’t sell. So we took it off the market and I decided that I was going to be grateful that I had a house and learn to love it and be ok with what I had for the time being. So what did I do? I made the house my happy place. I painted, I decorated and told my husband that I was content to stay there because I had made it into what I wanted. Well… God has a funny sense of humor sometimes. As soon as I finished the last room to that house, I had an interested buyer. I honestly believe it was because I had gratitude for the house that I had and I had become ok with where I was at.

I hope you got something out of my ramblings about gratitude. I feel like in today’s fast and furious world a lot of important things and values are getting lost. Tell somebody your grateful for them and you might just make their day. I am grateful to you for reading my blog. Thank you. Be blessed always and tell me about what your grateful for or respond to my rant.