by Joyce Wheeler

Created on: October 30, 2009

Children can be very demanding of parents for various things such as electronics, time and money to name a few. While some demands may be reasonable such as food and health care, others are not. Parents need to decide which of the many demands being made on them are necessary for the child and or achievable. Fulfilling every demand a child places on a parent can led to unrealistic expectations of life.

We live in an electronic age where teens especially desire to have the latest in new technology. When my daughter was in high school she was very demanding that she needed a cell phone because everyone else had one. While there were times she did need one, there were times she did not. A cell phone was purchased which we both shared through her high school years. She is now in college and has her own phone which is a Go-Phone. Not having the latest technology has taught her that having something is better than nothing. While some of her friends make fun of her she feels that if anything happens to her phone she only spent fifteen dollars on it and it will not break her heart or the bank to replace it.

This same child was also very demanding of my time as a baby and sometimes now. It was hard when she was a baby because I would need to get work done and she was not a sleeper, so she would sit and cry by my side as I washed dishes or tended to laundry. When she did sleep I was unable to put her down, if I did she would awake and cry until I could get her back to sleep again. This would go on and on unless I held her the hour she napped. It was not an easy time and being my first child I often felt like I was being a bad mom, however I could not very well hold this child all day long. Of course as time went on things became better and the crying stopped and a laughing smiling baby was by my side as I tended to my daily chores. All grown up there are still times when she becomes demanding of my time, I happily accommodate her knowing will have a great time shopping, going to lunch and just talking together.

While my two boys are not as demanding on my time as their sister they still want some time with me alone. I enjoy spending time with each of them on their own it gives me a chance to give them a special day out with me and we talk a lot. However, this time which they demand needs to be scheduled and at this time in their lives they understand this. They can demand my time all they want I enjoy giving it to them and spending that special time together with each one of them.

I need money! While my boys are not to the teen years just yet my daughter has been there and at eight-teen still puts forth this demand. There are times this demand can easily be met and other times it is sorry, but I just don't have it right now. I try my best to meet this demand with her due to the fact she only works part time and also attends college and it is always for gas. As long as a child is being productive there is no reason to hold back on this demand, if you can achieve it that is.

Through the years I have taught my children that there are certain demands which I will meet on the spot such as tending to sickness, boo boos and the like. They also know that demanding the latest technology will not be met due to the fact it is not necessary for their health or basic needs. Fulfilling every demand of a child is unhealthy and unnecessary it will lead children to believe that this is what life is like. In the real world our demands are not met and as we grow we learn to become independent and less demanding of those around us, which produces productive and successful individuals.

Learn more about this author, Joyce Wheeler.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.