The age of Internet advancement brought about the expectation of having everything you want on the same day or, at the latest, next day.   This is coupled with marketing campaigns by companies that focus on you being at the center of their attention.   This creates the “ME” syndrome.

The “ME” focus does not become an issue until the new generation reaches the workforce, or what I called the real world.   In the real world, we work on projects that require us to collaborate to get things done. At this point the focus shifts from “ME” to “WE”.  They often struggle to understand that the need to address the need of the collective “WE” is at times more important that their personal desire.

As a parent it is important to strike a balance in teaching our children that the world doesn’t revolve around them.   Letting them know that they cannot have everything they want is equally important.   Sometimes people think that experiencing rejection is not a good thing. I’m of the opinion that giving our children a false sense of getting everything they want would be a disservice to them. The reality in life is that you don’t always get what you want. In fact, you might not get what you want at all. In that case how will your children cope with that situation when they face it in real world? It is better to get them ready than that they be naïve and believe that the world is their oyster.

It is important that we assist our children in understanding the expectation of things to come.   Doing so will prepare them for what to expect when they step into the real world.   Team play is key to their success.   By learning that early on they will increase their chance to succeed.