As parents, raising our kids is super important for how they’ll act when they grow up and face real-life stuff.
We learn really fast that parenting isn’t easy, especially since we all want to make the lives of our children more comfortable and better than we had.
But kids who learned that their demands could get them what they wanted sometimes struggle in their relationships as adults.
They get into trouble at work and in everyday life as they continue crying for help as adults, just not in real tears.
But let me ask you this: do you ever wonder if you or some of your friends were spoiled as kids?
If you want to find out the answer, here are the tell-tale signs of adults who were spoiled as children.
1) They expect special treatment
Let me share a story about a guy I knew.
He liked a girl, but when I suggested he talk to her, he insisted that she should approach him because he was the catch and she should be grateful to have him.
Well, you know what happened? He never saw her again.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t value yourself, but don’t be self-centered.
Self-centered people don’t understand gratitude, and they don’t consider that others have concerns to attend to that are just as urgent.
They always choose what game to play, and if they don’t get their way, they get upset.
Ultimately, people who expect special treatment often want things done their way all the time.
2) They don’t appreciate what they have
If you don’t really notice or enjoy the small things and simple experiences that most people do, it could be a sign that you were spoiled when you were a kid.
If your family always cared about having fancy things, you might forget to be thankful for the simple stuff.
That’s why maybe no one taught you how important it is to say thank you for what you have.
If you’re a parent yourself, try helping your kid understand the joy of giving by doing nice things for others.
A simple exercise is to bake cookies together for granny when she doesn’t feel well or share toys with kids who need them more.
Luckily, it’s never too late to learn gratitude and pass it on to others. Once you start appreciating the little good things, your whole life can feel a lot better.
3) They’re sore losers
People who were spoiled as kids often can’t cope if things don’t go their way. They’re not used to facing disappointment.
When you’re spoiled as a child, you’re used to getting your way, whether it is the last slice of pizza or winning at board games. So that’s why losing when you’re an adult is a foreign concept to you.
You always got what you wanted, so losing becomes a bit of a shock to your system, and accepting loss gracefully isn’t really your forte.
Also, your parents probably overprotected you from disappointment. But guess what? Disappointments happen in life and you have to learn living with them.
4) They aren’t keen on following rules
As a father, I struggle with this one a lot. Listening and following rules aren’t my son’s strong suit. He’s still a toddler, and of course, he’s learning and exploring, but setting up boundaries isn’t an easy task.
When the word no doesn’t mean anything to your child anymore, then you have to think about more creative ways to keep your youngster well-behaved and follow simple rules.
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Setting up some boundaries for your children and teaching them to follow certain rules is the way to prepare them for what comes later in life.
It usually is buzzkill in our house when my wife and I say that bedtime is non-negotiable and desserts come after the veggies, but we stick to our decisions.
If we’re used to bending or breaking the rules at home quite often, then what will stop us later in life?
5) They struggle to work in a team
If you’re used to having things your way and not having to think too much about what others want, then you’re probably not a great team member.
You and the people around you have a tough time. You, because you can’t share tasks or you refuse to do them all together. And others, well, because they feel abandoned.
It’s not very fun to constantly feel like you’re facing life or work challenges alone.
In a nutshell, if someone always avoids helping with chores or tasks and comes up with excuses to skip them, it’s a clear sign that they’re not really a team player.
6) Their patience is thin
People who get easily annoyed or frustrated are probably spoiled as kids. If you’re very impatient, it means it’s very difficult for you to wait in lines in a store.
You probably often interrupt people when talking, too, and time management isn’t your thing.
You usually bring more turbulent energy into the room as well. You get upset very quickly because you were used to getting stuff straight away.
People who learned to wait sometimes and got things a bit later tend to handle waiting more calmly.
But the good thing is that patience can be practiced and cultivated.
7) They can’t take criticism
Let’s be honest, nobody enjoys getting told what they could do better, but not everyone feels like it’s a personal hit on them.
If it’s hard for you to accept helpful advice about your work and you feel like it’s an attack on you personally, it could be connected to how you were brought up.
You don’t admit when you make mistakes, and you don’t take responsibility for failed interviews or rejections.
You just can’t wrap your head around the fact that criticism isn’t an attack on your persona and your worth but rather a way to elevate your skills and performance.
So, if you were overly protected or spoiled as a child, dealing with criticism might be a bit tougher for you.
8) They let others take care of everything
If you don’t know how to be independent, you’ll let others take care of everything. You feel that others should be happy when you’re around them.
You probably don’t clean dishes after lunch. Why would you? Someone else will do it. You also don’t feel surprised when someone does something nice for you. You’re used to it.
You have trouble organizing your life and getting things done. Doing more than one task for you becomes overwhelming because you aren’t very independent.
Final thoughts
Behaviors can vary, and not every person who was spoiled as a child will show all these signs. It’s more about recognizing patterns that might pop up in some people or yourself.
While the intention is good, sometimes parents go a tad overboard, making things too easy for their kids. And that can seriously impact how they tackle life as adults.
As grown-ups, we learn that life isn’t a cakewalk and that actions come with consequences.
But you know what? Most of us figure this out as we go along, even if we had a pretty relaxed childhood!
And if not, well, everyone is capable of changing and trying to be better.