The Blog of P.U.R.E. and Sue Scheff

Entitled Teenagers: The Spoiled Brat Generation The current generation of teenagers feel like the world owes them everything and parents exist to please and meet their teenagers every desire and whim.  These entitled teenagers are resistant to parental authority, demanding, and often unable to manage failure or disappointment. The very process of adolescence means teens are always prone to adopt an entitled view of the world.  Are you frustrated with your teenager’s attitude? Is it all demands and no appreciation? If you’re wondering  how to deal with an entitled teenager , you’re not alone!  Despite the years of teaching them how to say thank you, you can still end up battling entitlement. Even so, don’t give up hope!  It’s not too late to turn around an ungrateful teenager. 5 Signs Your Teen is Entitled: They can’t handle being told “no.”  They melt down, pout, or put a battle every time you turn down a request. An immediate “yes” is the only wa...

Let's face it, many parents experience a happy baby that bounces into a toddler and enjoys their elementary years only to leap into the teenage time of turmoil.  What happens?  Where did that bubbling, fun-loving child go? Today's generation of entitlement is a new breed.  It's true - parents want to give kids what they didn't have when they were younger, but they need to remember they still need the foundation of an upbringing. Many of us were brought up with respecting our parents, teachers and elders in general.  We would never dream to talk back to a person in authority - even if we didn't like or respect them. If our parent told us to be home at 10pm, we were home at 10pm.  There was never a screaming match or a debate. Today teenagers believe they can rule the homes. The recent case that is splashing across the headlines it he Rachel Canning story.  Thankfully the ruled for the parents.  “Do we want to establish a precedent where p...

As part of my continuing series of Dr. Michele Borba’s insights and sneak peeks inside her Big Book of Parenting Solutions , we will review signs and symptoms of an ungrateful child. •Bad manners: needs constant reminders to say thank you or show his appreciation •Envy: wants what others have, envies others’ possessions •Lack of appreciation: takes for granted your daily kind and thoughtful gestures •Huge sense of entitlement: feels he deserves to have luxuries or privileges•Dissatisfaction: always seems to want “more,” better,” or “new” •Materialism: values only material things, brand names, or the “latest” •Self-centeredness: is unwilling to reciprocate with gifts or kind acts to others •Ungraciousness: acts disappointed with presents, blurts out “I didn’t want this” •Thoughtlessness: doesn’t consider other person’s feelings or the thought or effort that went into her gesture THE SOLUTION: Step 1. Early Prevention •Model gratitude. Kids learn by seeing others display appreciation in...

Does your teen have Entitlement Issues? Does your teen expect more from you than they have earned or deserve? Many parents only want the best for their children (usually more than they had growing up), but has this actually backfired on families? In today’s society many teens have major entitlement issues. Many parents feel that giving their teen’s material items will somehow earn them respect. Quite frankly, the opposite occurs in most families. The more we give, the more our children expect and the less they respect us. We literally lose ourselves in buying our children’s love. At the end of the day, no one wins and life is a constant battle of anger, hopelessness, and debt. While interviewing a young teen, she was recently given a new car – brand new – felt she deserved it since her parents gave her two used ones previously. She is only 17 years old and already controlling her household and believes she was entitled to this car. She shows no appreciation or respect to her parents. S...