"Anybody that lives in America and has parents with a moderate amount of wealth can be spoiled. I see it every day - kids who are just running their parents over to get what they want because kids are smart, and they know they can manipulate their parents." ~ Wyatt Russell

Dear Modern Day Parents,

As a college student, with a little to no income, no ownership over land or titles, and someone who is currently filed as a dependent on their taxes rather than someone with dependents... it is pretty obvious I do not have children of my own. I do not know the blessing of holding a tiny human being that is half of my DNA and half of someone else's, and I do not know how much I would spoil my own baby for the simple fact that I held it inside me for nine months. However, I do know for a fact that I would not raise such narcissistic brats such as the ones I've seen just by walking out my front door.

I hate to be this person, but I have to go here... When I was growing up I knew how to go outside and play without the need for technology. I ran through sprinklers, and rolled in the grass, and imagined I was flying with every leap towards the sky on my trampoline. Yet, nowadays I get on Facebook, mind you this site use to require a birthday past the age of 18 to join, and all I see are your eight-year-olds posting too many selfies to count. I log on to Instagram and some of you have already created profiles for your three-month-olds. And do not even get me started on Snapchat. What child needs these social media sites? These sites were created for adults to connect to one another because sometimes life gets hectic and sometimes we don't always live in the same places. Your kindergartner is the last person I want to see pop up on my 'People You May Know' on Facebook. While, I'm not big on profanity, nor do I advocate that such language is appropriate for social media, for those of which use such language, they shouldn't have to be looking over their metaphorical shoulders because your child is on Facebook and may see that post. If your child is not mature enough to understand that cuss words are used every day and no matter how right or wrong they may be, they aren't going to disappear anytime soon, yet that doesn't mean they need to use them, then they shouldn't have a Facebook in the first place.

On another note, most of you are giving your children cell phones before they even understand how to tie their shoes, and at the age that they still believe there are monsters underneath their beds. While I understand the need to know your child is safe, there were TracFones when I was growing up that you had to buy minutes for, it was safe, reliable, and they only cost a small fee, so if you lost them it wasn't such a big deal. Heaven forbids that you give your child anything less than an iPhone, or the newest Samsung. You are loading your children down with gadgets and electronics, most of which will go out of style in the next ten minutes and you'll be off spending another chunk of money, and for what? For their affection or for them to look cool when all their friends come over? What are you teaching your children but that it's all about what you have and not about who you are as a person?

I had to save the money to buy my first phone, and even then I had to beg and plead my parents to allow me to have one, and show them that I was mature enough to handle such a big responsibility. What are your children learning? That anything can just be handed to them and they don't have to earn what they want in life? Then you're stuck wondering why your child who is old enough to ride a bike without training wheels cries like a three-year-old who doesn't get their way. I hate to tell you, but your child, the one who can't take no for an answer, the one who cries and yells and throws a tantrum to get their way, yeah, that child is going to be knocked on their butt when they get to middle school. Neither their teachers nor their classmates will see them as the royalty you have made them out to be, and they will struggle. But at that time, don't you dare blame them for being the child you raised them to be, the entitled brat you have created. The world isn't going to slow down to pamper your kids or hold their hand, and you're not helping them by doing so either. Parents are meant to guide, love and nurture their children, but they're not meant to coddle them.

While my parents didn't buy me the latest gadgets, they spoiled me in other ways and I learned the hard way that life doesn't take kindly to those who have only their own best interests at heart. In middle school, I thought I was all that and a bag of chips, I had grown up the only girl with two older brothers who had already made their way through high school, heck, for a while I thought I was an only child. However, those middle school kids don't play around, and they don't have time for anyone who thinks their poop doesn't stink. I was bullied into my place in line. I learned that I wasn't as special as I believed myself to be, and my crown was knocked off within the first week. I understood why my family spoiled me the way they did, the only girl, the last child, the surprise, the miracle, and I love them for the love they showered upon me. However, looking back, I kind of wish they hadn't convinced me I was a Princess. Maybe then my school years wouldn't have been so bad, maybe I wouldn't have had to fight so hard to keep a smile on my face. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, my family did spoil me rotten, and I did have to learn my place, and there is nothing I can do to change my past, nor would I ask to be a different person than I am now. However, I will try my hardest to not make the same mistake with my own child.

I do have to say that not all kids are this way, I personally know several families that are raising their kids to be ready for life, but that is such a small group compared to the families who are overcompensating for one thing or another. Those who see their kids as individuals to please rather than nurture, discipline, and instruct. Today, I ask those of you who read this, to really reflect on what sort of adolescent, teenager, and adult you are raising. Are you proud of who your child is and how they act? All I ask is that you reflect on this article with an open mind.

Sincerely,

A child who was spoiled and was put in her place