Let kids to make contribution and put efforts to get the things they want

 How to become a good parent is never easy, you need to know how to give your kids enough attention and love, on the other hand you can’t spoil them. It is hard to keep these two balanced. As parents, knowing how to let kids to make contributions are essential, thus they will know how to be thankful and grateful for the things they have and also learn they need to make efforts to get whatever they want. When I was a kid, I had a strong craving for chocolate cookies (I do even now) every time when me and my mom go to the supermarket, I went to the cookie shelf and waited my mom come to me, then I will ask her to buy the cookies I want. At the beginning she did buy them to me, however, I ate them very quickly and those were not enough for me, also I knew that she would buy them for me again, so I go to the supermarket with her basically every time because I assume that she will buy it for me again as long as I asked. However, one day when I went with her and asked for cookies again, she said no. And she told me that she already bought me a lot, I need to do something for her or help her with something when she needed to trade for the cookies. I said okay because I didn’t realize that it would be hard. Turns out she asked me do a lot of things, such as cleaning the floor, walls, washing the dishes, or running the errands. Those things are not super big but it is her daily job so that means I have to do with her every day. Her rules were if I quit in any of the 7 days then I can’t get the cookie. If I can keep helping her in 7 consecutive days then she will buy me cookies as award. To be honest it was really difficult that time since I was only 7 years old, sometimes my favorite cartoon started playing on TV however I have to keep doing those chores until it is all done. And I can’t quit or take a break in the middle otherwise my award for this week will be gone. I was constantly struggled between choosing cookies and cartoons. In the end, my mind succumbed to the sugar craving, so I skipped my favorite cartoon the whole week instead of helping my mom. When I finally got the extra large chocolate Oreos I was super happy, I went home with jumping and walking at the same time because that chocolate oreos are not cheap that time and my mom usually won’t buy it for me. However, I was holding the cookies of my dream because I earned it with my effort, so I cherished like my treasure. That was my first time learned the importance of making contribution. It was not just for helping my mom, but I realized how to get the things by my efforts, I cherished my award because I paid a lot of efforts to get it. I think that is the real reason that my mom wanted me to learn about, which is to get things with efforts, making contributions. If we just get things without paying any efforts, we will take them for granted and won’t cherish or value them. However, you will know the importance of getting things when putting efforts, and you will be very grateful for the things you are having right now. It is very important for kids, letting them know that it is necessary to put efforts if you want to get something, and it will be a great parenting lesson as well.