Has anyone else had this discussion with their kids?

[Virgo_RN]

Just a little background, I'm currently working as an LPN in acute care and graduate with my ADN this spring. On the unit I work on, we mostly get older folks who have been in the hospital before, who have the emotional maturity to take things in stride when things don't go exactly their way.

In clinical, I've had a couple of patients who have been lacking in that emotional maturity, and the common denominator is age (both in early 20s). These patients have been self centered and demanding, and without going into great detail I'll just say they reminded me of spoiled kids who aren't used to being told "No".

Anyway, after a particularly difficult shift with one of these "rays of sunshine", I came home and told my eighteen year old daughter that if she ever has to be hospitalized, I will disown her if she acts like that. I told her "You will be NICE to those nurses, you will say PLEASE and THANK YOU, and you will NOT act like a demanding, spoiled brat.".

Has anyone else had this kind of conversation with their young ones?

[CseMgr1, ASN, RN]

My son was hospitalized with pneumonia when he was 12. Though he did not give the nurses a hard time, he would not let me out of his sight. He told me after he had recovered how frightened he had been, for he had been a very sick boy, and thought he was dying. Only he knows just how sick he was, for he doesn't like to talk about it to this day.

[mom4josh]

This reminds me of a situation not long after I started my first job. I had a 20 year old who was so polite and respectful. I told her that I appreciated her being so sweet because so many of her peers are not. She smiled and said, "Well, it's not nice to be mean to someone who is trying to help you!" I'll not soon forget that one.

I do agree that many young people have not grown up seeing that kind of respect, and they seem to have a sense of entitlement. So, to answer the original question, yes I have had that conversation with my 16 year old son, although he is usually very polite and respectful. Don't think that would be a problem for him.

[Katie82, RN]

I worked with teens and their parents for ten years. It amazes me what parents let their kids get away with. As we become a society where both parents work, children are left to raise themselves. Ill-mannered children become ill-mannered adults, then raise ill-mannered children themselves. It is the tendancy of parents today to "fix" things for their children. If kids get into trouble, parents rush in to fix things. If kids encounter any type of adversity, parents move mountains to relieve it. It's the easy way out for parents who are too busy to teach their children to do the right thing. Parenting is a lot of work. If you have a 20-something brat on your floor today, there is almost certainly an accomodating parent sitting at the bedside.

[FriendlyGhostRN]

I find this to be an interesting topic, being that I myself am 20 years old.. I do hope that you all don't think all "younger people" are rude. I am a believer that the way we act when we get older is from how we were brought up when we were younger. I am currently an assistant Kindergarten teacher, and it is amazing even at 5 years old how a child behaves based on discipline from home. The children who are allowed to do what they want/say what they want (that includes saying "no" to their parents and getting away with it!) are the children who pose the largest issues with us at school. It takes a world of patience to deal with 18 Kindergarteners, but with time you realize that it's not truly their fault...just watch the parents and you realize what makes the child that way! Overall, I ADORE the children in my classroom...even the trouble ones. I don't think I would have the patience and the IMMUNITY (hah!) that I have today without them!! :)

[lpnstudentin2010, LPN]

I find this to be an interesting topic, being that I myself am 20 years old.. I do hope that you all don't think all "younger people" are rude. I am a believer that the way we act when we get older is from how we were brought up when we were younger. I am currently an assistant Kindergarten teacher, and it is amazing even at 5 years old how a child behaves based on discipline from home. The children who are allowed to do what they want/say what they want (that includes saying "no" to their parents and getting away with it!) are the children who pose the largest issues with us at school. It takes a world of patience to deal with 18 Kindergarteners, but with time you realize that it's not truly their fault...just watch the parents and you realize what makes the child that way! Overall, I ADORE the children in my classroom...even the trouble ones. I don't think I would have the patience and the IMMUNITY (hah!) that I have today without them!! :)

I was just talking with someone about this issue today. She was saying if you give her 3 year old a car to play with he will just sit and play (abnormal for a 3 year old) my mom and I were saying that meant she was a great mom who brought her son up the right way.

I work in a pre-school/kindergarten/daycare type place. They call them selves a day care center but are certified and teach about someting different every week. One week it will be apples the next colors etc. YOu can def tell the ones who get away with MURDER at home.

[FriendlyGhostRN]

Exactly!