It bothers me when kids get an allowance. I never got one growing up (I’m in my late 20s). My mom struggled to pay for what we needed, so there was no way she could have afforded it. We still were expected to do our chores and we were taught the importance of doing our part in the household. We were never rewarded with gifts or money when we did well in school, but we were encouraged and applauded and that was enough.

As an adult I know the value of hard work and I never expect to get something for nothing. I want to tear my hairr out, seeing all these kids who are spoiled rotten and given an allowance on top of expensive gadgets and whatever is trendy at the moment. Children and teenagers today already seem to expect the world to give them everything they want at no cost to them- entertainment, money, toys, gadgets, whatever- and parents are only reinforcing that attitude. I hear horror stories from my teacher friends about kids who have no respect whatsoever for their elders and no compassion or empathy for others. These are teenagers, aged 14 and over, who should know better.

I dread to think what will happen when the current self-entitled generation of kids are running this world.