A few years ago I gave up NPR on my way to work and have since listened mainly to 105.9 which used to be Woody P. Snow and Cindy Rippee but now is Woody and some dork named Dave. They play good music, have a game (which I’ve won a couple of times) and take listener calls. Today a lady called in and said her son’s 6th grade class from Aurora came to Springfield yesterday to watch the Cardinals play – but the game was rain-delayed and they didn’t get to see the whole game. So – she thinks the kids either deserve a $5 refund or another ticket. Of course that prompted a couple of other mothers with the same situation to call and echo those same thoughts.
Now I’m driving along and thinking – so this is where “entitlement mentality” comes from – it’s fostered by these parents whose little darlings were disappointed by an act of nature. Naturally I called into the show! My remarks went something like this:
Me – Hi, it’s your friendly curmudgeon and I think that unfortunately these students need to learn that sometimes things happen beyond the control of anyone and no one owes them a refund or another ticket if it’s not in the ticket policy.
Woody – I’m guessing you don’t have kids in school.
Me – not now, but I did at one time and I felt the same way then.
Woody – so you believe in being tough?
Me – I believe kids need to learn that sometimes things happen that’s not the way they were planned but we can’t always make everything right – they just have to learn one of life’s lessons.
Now you know why my kids turned out the way they did – they didn’t have a loving mom who really tried to be their best friend and make everything right for them so they never suffered any disappointments. Nope, I was that Tough Love mom who repeated my father’s famous words of “never deny your children the luxury of hard times” and let them learn that disappointments are part of life but they will live through them. And now a couple of little girls in Des Moines are getting that same treatment – wonder why?
Amen, sister! I was raised on Tough Love (especially since I was the oldest of six– I was the gineau pig!) and I am a firm believer in it now with my son. Rain, schmain– no ticket refunds for the poor little darlings!
Good grief, we are not owed something every time things don’t go our way– That’s life, better learn it young! I’m right there on the soap box with you, can’tcha tell!?
By: Nancy B on May 7, 2008
at 1:32 pm
You go Anne.. I wish I had heard it…. you are right on that everyone feels entitled these days…. and as we heard from Kuhse – it’s the entitlement that leads to trouble.
You go girl!
Vickie
By: Vickie on May 7, 2008
at 3:14 pm
I totally agree with you, Anne! I remember when I whould whine as a child and say that something was not fair my Dad would promptly reply “Robin, life is not always fair.” I remember that message even today. When something does not go my way I try to focus on the other, more important, things that have gone my way. If these kids can’t accept something small like a rainout, how are they ever going to deal with real disappointments that will surely come their way throughout their lives. I’m glad you called in!
Robin
By: Robin on May 8, 2008
at 9:06 am
I learned from my grandmother where I could find sympathy in the Dictionary. Anyone need me to tell them?!
Seriously, the kids are understandably disappointed, but probably won’t be scarred for life over the incident. In reality, they probably will forget about the whole thing if not for the adults who insist on making a big deal of it. I feel sorry for the real disappointments coming their way in the future.
By: Tammy on May 8, 2008
at 4:04 pm
Gosh Tammy, your mom must have been a real hard a## for you to feel so strongly about this. You probably had a terrible childhood and have been in therapy for the last 30 years.
I would have told Woody about “where to find sympathy” but I think I would have been cut from the airwaves!
By: keckeley on May 8, 2008
at 7:35 pm
Well, my mom was mean, but not as mean as Becky’s mom.
By: Tammy on May 9, 2008
at 8:40 am