Perhaps one of the greatest mistakes in our society today is the practice of parents in supplying almost all the money the children desire. The lavish expenditures of money to provide every conceivable toy in their infancy, and every worldly pleasure in their youth is a real crime against the upcoming generation. Not only does this actually damage the character of the child and/or the youth, but also it becomes a salve for the conscience of the parent and thus serves to alienate the total family more and more. Parents gladly give more and more money and the things money will buy as a cover-up for their real neglect.
If you think I am mistaken, then I ask you to reflect upon the people you know. Think of those children that were given all the things money could buy. Most of them turned out badly, didn’t they? And remember, this has nothing to do with the wealth of the parents. Some poor people are even more lavish than the rich. Indeed some rich people do better in this regard than others by training the children in appreciation of the more important things in life.
Greed, selfishness and stinginess on the part of parents will be detrimental to the children, but on the other hand, nothing will do more harm to them than extravagant expenditures that are actually given in lieu of love. Today it is much easier to give the child money than to spend a few minutes in meaningful companionship, but hell is going to be full of people whose parents had too much money and not enough time! Remember, if you are giving your children only things that can be bought with money, you got it cheap and it isn’t worth very much.
A parent was talking with his neighbor. The child came and pulled on his father’s sleeve. Impatiently, the father gave the child a piece of gum from his pocket. But the child continued to tug on the sleeve. Then the father gave a piece of candy. Still the child tried to get the father’s attention. Finally the father reached into his pocket and found a quarter and gave it to the child. But the child cried out, “Daddy, I don’t want these things—I want you!”
One company advertises oil filters for cars and urges us to change them regularly lest we damage the engine. They say, “You can pay me now, or pay me later,” meaning that if you don’t buy a new filter it will cost you more later. To parents I would say, “You can be a good parent now—you can give time and attention now to your children—or you can have years of regret later!