posted on July 18, 2005 01:22:27 PM new
Yes, I'm sure on some level we do that. But it isn't always material things that we lacked in our youth..some may have lacked love and nurturing, compassion, attention, or respect..
posted on July 18, 2005 01:51:26 PM new
I know this to be true of my mother. She grew up during the depression and they never had anything. In fact, she'd been on the lower end of the economic scale for most of her life trying to raise five children. Now, she has everything she never had. She got her first brand new car this year.
I can't say it's 100% true of me, though. I'm pretty much content with what I have, which really isn't much. I did get pretty spoiled by wealthy grandparents when I was a child so that could explain it. However, when I was old enough to go out on my own I was out on my own.
posted on July 18, 2005 06:32:53 PM new
As a child, I grew up in a large family...lower middle class. (Which around here meant you weren't on welfare...at least not yet.) My father worked a full-time and a part-time job. My mother also worked when she could. They cut corners wherever they could.
When I grew up, I swore I would never eat "Spanish Rice" (rice, tomatoes, and ground beef) again. I would also buy the "good" ketchup (Heinz) and the good mustard (French's). And I would not repair sneakers or underwear. My children got new toothbrushes in their Easter baskets and Christmas stockings and got their teeth cleaned at the dentist. I might not be "high-classed" and these are probably non-issues to most.
But to me, they were important at the time, so they are important to me now.
posted on July 18, 2005 08:29:07 PM new
A friend of my mom's, who's a psychiatrist, told me this when I was younger. I didn't understand it at the time but I really think it's true in many aspects of our lives. Just wondering what you thought.
Tex, that's a good point. I see many material spoiled children, so I wonder if they'll be turned off by material stuff when they get older, or if they'll just want more.
posted on July 19, 2005 09:44:10 AM new
kraftdinner, I'm afraid that they will just want more.
I grew up in the middle of the depression and we were middle class, but the depression didn't really hurt my area as we were in the middle of the oil boom in East Texas and some of my friends were filthy rich. (One of my classmates inherited 400 million dollars).
For some reason I escaped the wanting of more material things that is typical of many from the depression. But starting in the late 60's on, parents couldn't give their children enough for some reason, whether they could afford it or not.
My children to their children for instance, and they were not raised that way. I believe it is the fault of television commercials and peer pressure, but what do I know!?
posted on July 19, 2005 10:24:46 AM new
It makes my head spin how spoiled children are today. I watch my friends spend a small fortune on clothing and gadgets. All I ever here from the kids is "give me, give me, give me. I do not blame the kids, I blame the parents for cave to the pressure to keep up with the Jones. I would have to say most of my friends are so deep in debt, their wives will have to get jobs to pay off the bills.
If I had children, I think the only thing different I would do, is stay home with the kids. My mom chose to work. I missed her very much.
