At first glance, this should be an easy trap to avoid. No parent wants a child who is a spoiled brat. But, do our actions reflect our resolve to avoid this problem?
Divorced parents especially have to be vigilant to avoid the indulgence trap. We assuage our guilt and comfort our children through small and large indulgences. Some working parents also find themselves in this trap, replacing time with things and avoiding conflict during the precious hours they have with their children.
We indulge our children in a variety of ways.
- Material things - toys, snacks
- Activities - too much TV or video games
- Low Expectations - few chores, accepting bad behavior
It's easy to see that these indulgences add up and the result can be exactly what we don't want, a child who is immature, demanding, ungrateful, and even resentful.