My dear daughter. Conversations are supposed to be two-way, and just because you are young doesn't mean you get to be rude. It is NOT okay to give one-word, bored answers when a well-meaning adult cares enough about you to attempt to have a short conversation. Those kind of answers convey "I could care less about you" and they're amazingly rude. You don't have to talk for long, but you do need to be polite, look in their eyes, and respond to questions kindly. And then, have the good grace to reciprocate the person's interest! Even if you just ask how someone is, and genuinely listen to the answer, it shows that you appreciate the other person reaching out. That is NOT asking too much of you!
RAISING DAUGHTERS:
It's not hard to accidentally give your child the impression that her needs are the only important things you consider. Whether it's impulsively buying the nightgown she grabs in the store, repeatedly giving in when she insists on a particular restaurant, or caving when she begs to stay up late with the adults, a consistent pattern of these seemingly small concessions when she's young will have an impact on her emotional maturity in the years to come. Sadly, over-indulged children are more likely to lack empathy for others, and tend to have an exaggerated view of what people "owe" them. This sense of entitlement, if unaddressed by parents, tends to increase over time, until a child is truly handicapped by her own immaturity. It will make it harder for her to make true friends, less able to tolerate normal delays and setbacks, and much more dependent upon others to satisfy her physical and emotional needs. It seems harmless to pamper or over-indulge our children when they are young, but it truly isn't a kindness.
It's not hard to accidentally give your child the impression that her needs are the only important things you consider. Whether it's impulsively buying the nightgown she grabs in the store, repeatedly giving in when she insists on a particular restaurant, or caving when she begs to stay up late with the adults, a consistent pattern of these seemingly small concessions when she's young will have an impact on her emotional maturity in the years to come. Sadly, over-indulged children are more likely to lack empathy for others, and tend to have an exaggerated view of what people "owe" them. This sense of entitlement, if unaddressed by parents, tends to increase over time, until a child is truly handicapped by her own immaturity. It will make it harder for her to make true friends, less able to tolerate normal delays and setbacks, and much more dependent upon others to satisfy her physical and emotional needs. It seems harmless to pamper or over-indulge our children when they are young, but it truly isn't a kindness.