Teens weigh in on an Inbox letter from a mother who’s forgoing purchasing a dining room set because she thinks it’s more important to say “yes” to her teens
I’m not a parent, I’m not a teacher, and I am not even an adult. I’m a teenager who attended camp, is in high school, is the youngest, and often called “spoiled” by my siblings. I went to a mainstream camp for two years and I attend a regular Bais Yaakov high school, not even out of town. I am far from being a mother, but since when is “no” unacceptable?
Do we really think that by giving in to our children, we will raise a generation of happy, independent adults? I think the opposite will happen. By caving in to whatever your child asks you for, you are ruining your child’s life. I’m sorry to say it as such, but that’s the harsh reality.
No, your daughter’s third pair of brand-name shoes should not come before your dining room set. If your child has never heard the word “no,” where will she end up later, far down the line, when faced with rejections such as seminary and shidduchim? Her entire world will come crashing down because her mother will not always be there to pull the strings and swipe the card.
If your daughter goes to camp with only 13 shirts and not 25, she will survive. I promise. I did. It’s true that society judges people by their clothing. But let me tell you — the kids with the most friends weren’t the ones with the most clothing. And the kids with the most clothing did not have the most friends.
Create a free account to keep reading.
