Ungrateful Brats

Lately there have been many negative reports on teens/pre-teens/and young adults all throughout the media. From inappropriate outfits, to drinking, to theft; I want to highlight something else: UNGRATEFULNESS!!! No, it won't land you in prison and it's not against the law, but it is prevalent all the same. I work with kids and have been doing so since my sophomore year in college. I've come across some really sweet ones who will do all that you ask, no problem. I've coached kids fro 2 years and yet again I have come across some really and truly awesom kids. I mean they work hard and give you there all...clearly they have been taught well at home (which is where it all starts); but oh my! I've come across some little turds since I've worked with kids. I've had kids that I've tutored be disrespectful and lie on a daily basis. I've had kids that I've taught talk back, suck there teeth and tell me what they are and what they are not going to do. In coaching, I've had so many attitudes that it leaves me shocked and amazed...and thinking to myself: "if I would have ever said or acted like this when I was their age my parents would have beat the crap out of me. What is happening to parents these days and why aren't they discipling there own children?"

You know I'm only 25 (26 next month!) so it's not like I'm 50 and was raised by octagenarians. My parents had me at a young (20 and 21) age, so some of the kids I have taught/coached have parents the same age as mine, so they should have been raised in a household that demanded respect and obedience. So, I am really confused. While growing up, I was not allowed to "talk back". If my parents told me to go clean my room, I wasn't allowed to say "not right now, I'm busy" or "but I don't want to" or "it's clean enough". If a teacher told me I had homework, please believe things like, "I'm not oding that" never came out of my mouth. But today, that's all I am seeing. I have kids who when I tell them something they say things like, "well don't blame me if....because I'm not doing....." and I'm like are you serious?! Why are parents allowing these things? I understand children having an opinion, but not to the point that they are rude and disrespectful!

Then, gifts. Oh my gosh, I've never seen so many ungrateful little brats in my life! I mean from the smallest of the kids I've taught/coached/tutored to the oldest, thank you seems to not be a part of their vocabulary! I was always taught that when someone gives you something, you say thank you. Not with these ungrateful little turds. It's like they think you owe them a gift on Christmas, their birthdays, on celebration days, senior nights, graduation, or whatever event occurs. It's like the consider it to be their right Are you freaking kidding me? I'm not your parents (and even they aren't entitled to buy you gifts!), I don't OWE you anything! The least someone can do is say "THANK YOU!" Parents, you need to teach your children manners! These ungrateful little brats are going to be our future. Can you imagine a future with kids who don't know simple manners like, "thank you", "please", "ma'am", and "sir"? Or a future with every child talking back and having attitudes with any and everybody? Or how about a future in which everyone is disrespectful? I am so disgusted with the behavior of some children and even more disgusted with the parents of these children. Parents need to go back to teaching their children and making them read Emily Post if that's what it will take to get their children to be respectful kids. I'm not a parent, but I was raised by some darn great parents. I went to church and participated in the choir and on the usher board. I knew when to speak and not to speak (as in if adults are talking you don't butt in and interupt!). I knew how to say thank you (even if I didn't like what I was given). I said "ma'am" and "sir". I rarely talked back or had an attitude. Was I a perfect child? No! If I raised my voice only slightly (and this is no exaggeration) my parents would say, "Who do you think you're raising your voice to?"; If I said, "but..." after they told me to do something, I was told "Who doo you think you're back talking to?" If I was told something I didn't like, and my facial expression or body language even remotely looked like I had and attitude or was about to get an attitude, I was immediately called on the carpet for it. My parents put the fear of God in me when it came to be a respectful, well mannered child; and those same traits and values that my parents taught me have stuck with me through life to where things like "ma'am" and "sir" and "thank you" are ingrained and automatic! I don't have to think twice about whether I should say them or not. Things like respecting my elders even when I don't agree with them or particularly like them are instinctual. If parents would teach their children things like my parents taught me, the world would be a much bettter place, and teachers/coaches jobs would be ten times easier. I'll bet you that even test scores would improve!

Basically, I am just tired with the attitudinal, disrespectful, and crappy kids that sometimes cross my path. No, not every kid that I meet is like this. I have some really fantastic kids for the most part, but there are always a few that makes me just plain angry. I love teaching and coaching...I just wish that kids were more respectful and well mannered.