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I live in a unique part of the country. One of the world's largest retailers is based here; many of their vendors have relocated to be close to the "movers and the shakers" in the home office of said retailer. The result is that per capita income is through the roof in this locale; much higher than in "average" middle America.

Driving through the high school parking lot, one can see just about every make and model of sports car, SUV, and luxury vehicle. It's not uncommon to see kids driving to school in Mercedes convertibles, BMW two doors, and other such pricey rides.

Admittedly, I have been concerned about the effect this atmosphere has on my children. Let's face it; most Americans are better off than 98% of the rest of the world. Where I live, many residents are better off than 98% of all other Americans. The "real world" is difficult to see from here. The 500k dollar homes, designer clothes, and country club residences cloud the horizon.

As parents, we want our kids to have an easy go in life. That's perfectly normal. But it's not perfectly healthy. I've noticed that the children of parents who lavishly spend money on their children, with no pause given to ponder long run repercussions thereof, have set their kids up for disappointment.

Kids don't have the maturity level to conceptually think through the fact that even though they are given everything they could possibly want, that fact is not what will make for a well-rounded, or even contented life. To kids who aren't forced to look at reality, breaking a nail can be cause for a meltdown.

So, how can we balance the fact that we want to give our children much, while simultaneously desiring that they have compassion for their fellow human beings? From my own experience, as well as those of others, I believe there are tangible ways we safely veer our kids away from self-centeredness, toward a more philanthropic existence.

ENCOURAGE THEM TO VOLUNTEER

There are many opportunities to help others, whether through the Boys/Girls Club, the Big Sister/Big brother program, or the myriad programs sponsored by local churches and civic groups. As those of us who volunteer regularly know, the good feelings we get from "putting ourselves out there" and looking past our own existences are intangible, impossible to quantify. If we expose our kids to that kind of experience, we will help them develop of love for others. We will also let them know what true contentment is; a priceless gift.

VOLUNTEER WITH THEM

Volunteering

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