Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World (Paperback) by Kristen Welch

“But everyone else has it.” “If you loved me, you’d get it for me!” When you hear these comments from your kids, it can be tough not to cave. You love your children—don’t you want them to be happy and to fit in?

Kristen Welch knows firsthand it’s not that easy. In fact, she’s found out that when you say yes too often, it’s not only hard on your peace of mind and your wallet—it actually puts your kids at long-term risk. In Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World, Kristen shares the ups and downs in her own family’s journey of discovering why it’s healthiest not to give their kids everything. Teaching them the difference between “want” and “need” is the first step in the right direction. With many practical tips and anecdotes, she shares how to say the ultimate yes as a family by bringing up faith-filled kids who will love God, serve others, and grow into hardworking, fulfilled, and successful adults.

It’s never too late to raise grateful kids. Get ready to cultivate a spirit of genuine appreciation and create a Jesus-centered home in which your kids don’t just say—but mean!—“thank you” for everything they have.

Title

Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World
Author(s)

Kristen Welch
ISBN

9781496405296
Format

Paperback
Publisher

Tyndale
Topic

Parenting
Audience

Parents
Pages

243
Published

01/26/2016

Overall rating

5.0 based on 3 reviews

Helpful, easy to read book!

I found this book to be very helpful. It took me a while to read it because I was so busy putting the ideas into practice!

Hannah Peace

Heart Searching

This is a deeply challenging book. Using Romans 12 as a starting point, this book deals with the heart - not just of the kids, but us as parents too. Then it tackles the issues and applies it to parents, little children, younger children and teens too. - A wonderful, heart-searching but practical book.

Jonathan Carswell

I will certainly be recommending it to others!

As Christian parents we acutely feel the overwhelming responsibility of raising children who first of all love the Lord, but who also know where, and on what, to place value. We want to teach our kids to appreciate how blessed they are, and in response display that attitude in their lives. Ingratitude, selfishness, sulking when they don’t get their own way, and ‘feeling hard done–by’ are traits all children show – unless they are taught otherwise – this practical book really helps parents to know how to do that. What really struck me in this book is just how much it is OUR responsibility to teach our kids how to view what they do (or don’t have). We can’t expect that to just happen naturally as we are selfish by nature. The world bombards our kids with all kids of messages about how important they are and how to assert themselves – but we need to teach our kids God’s way. It’s not just about not giving in to your kids’ whims and wants – the entitlement issue is so much deeper than that…this book teaches about deep principles that we need to teach our kids for life. It’s not all about ‘things’ either (i.e. not giving our kids everything on their wish list), but it’s also teaching them about time management, where their affections lie, priorities, being independent and not lazy, not being sucked into the ‘selfie’ culture etc… The encouraging thing is that if as parents we feel like we’ve already failed on these issues, negative behaviours can be unlearned and new ones begun – with God’s help. Sure, this book is very American in its examples (e.g. the opening illustration being of how as a family day out at the local rodeo in Texas, and all the cowboy boots they’d bought had to be returned as the kids whinged all day about the day out!), but you couldn’t really expect anything else – she’s an American author speaking about her personal experience. The examples aren’t so American that I couldn’t relate. Far from it…the book is based on principles – which supercede cultural boundaries. From a theological point of view, I found it to be sound. When the starting point for the book is Romans 12:2, then everything that follows is to support this Biblical principle to not being conformed to this world…about not being sucked in to the world’s view where children are spoiled and idolised (with plenty of examples to substantiate that). Parents are encouraged in the book to go against the grain, and show children their place in God’s eyes and how to be less selfish and self–less. There are lots of Bible verses to support what she is saying. The book is packed with practical examples of how to teach kids Godly principles around giving, serving and managing their expectations. I cannot recommend it highly enough. I found myself nodding through it…and even though much of it wasn’t necessarily new to me, and sort of what I’d already thought, it was very helpful to have these issues reaffirmed by another Christian parent. I will certainly be recommending it to others!

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