Isn't 'spoiled' just a harsh-sounding euphemism for 'loved'?

[MaryAnnDVC]

I just love that line from the article.

'BUT I WANT A PONY!': America's most spoiled cities

And this:
The full rankings run 36 cities deep, but let's skip ahead to the bottom of the list, where we find the homes of America's least spoiled children (which kind of sounds like code for "the places where parents just don't love their children that much.")

Your bottom five, ending with the least spoiled: Columbus, Ohio, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, St. Paul, Minnesota, and finally Madison, Wisconsin -- where apparently children are content to just go outside and, like, play or something.

The full article:
http://www.hlntv.com/article/2012/06/08/most-spoiled-kids-cities

My niece and nephew were raised in Park Slope. There's an amusing video on youtube "**** Park Slope Parents Say", which pretty much sums it up, although my niece is in her late 20's, and nephew in early 30's, and I don't think it was THAT bad when they were kids.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

I'm proud to not spoil my daughter. I want her to know the value of each of her belongings and to work hard for the things that she wants rather than to just have them handed to her. I guess instilling these things in her at a young age so that she will grow up to be a productive member of society means I don't love her. I think I can handle that.


Dallas being on that list isn't too surprising. It is home to Highland Park and I have met very few people from there that weren't spoiled at least a little bit.

 

[Handbag Lady]

So I WAS right!!!!!!!!

My parents didn't love me because they made me buy my own car. I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT!!!!

 

[Robinrs]

I just love that line from the article.

'BUT I WANT A PONY!': America's most spoiled cities

And this:
The full rankings run 36 cities deep, but let's skip ahead to the bottom of the list, where we find the homes of America's least spoiled children (which kind of sounds like code for "the places where parents just don't love their children that much.")

Your bottom five, ending with the least spoiled: Columbus, Ohio, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, St. Paul, Minnesota, and finally Madison, Wisconsin -- where apparently children are content to just go outside and, like, play or something.

The full article:
http://www.hlntv.com/article/2012/06/08/most-spoiled-kids-cities

My niece and nephew were raised in Park Slope. There's an amusing video on youtube "**** Park Slope Parents Say", which pretty much sums it up, although my niece is in her late 20's, and nephew in early 30's, and I don't think it was THAT bad when they were kids.

I was brought up in Crown Heights, you know, that ghetto next door to Park Slope?

My parents sent my niece to the Montessori school in Park Slope. She came home one day and wanted to know WHY we didn't have a chauffer to pick her up everyday instead of her Grandpa picking her up...

Atlanta came in 7th with the spoiled kids... Don't tell MY kid! I just wonder how they got their test samples??

 

[disykat]

So I WAS right!!!!!!!!

My parents didn't love me because they made me buy my own car. I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT!!!!

If that's the criteria mine REALLY didn't love me because car ownership was not allowed while still their financial dependents. My poor unloved kids are being raised the same.

 

[Schmeck]

I guess Marblehead MA doesn't have enough toy stores to make the list - it's where all the kids drive Volvos, have sailboats, and nannies galore!

I remember parking my 8 year old Toyota Starlet next to a BMW and Volvo in the high school parking lot, wondering which teachers made that much money. I was working at the school too, as a science aide. Turns out I was parking in the student lot, LOL!

 

[sukhakuli]

I don't think spoiled = too much stuff. I think spoiled means lack of discipline.

I think my dh is an example, but kind of the opposite. His parents didn't want to spoil him, so although they could afford nice things for him, he was only allowed to have 3 shirts, and had to wear them to holes. The only gifts they got on birthdays and Christmas were practical things. One year in high school all he got for Christmas was a pack of batteries for the Walkman he had earned himself with his after school job. That was all. His dad had a Nintendo and games, but the kids weren't allowed to have it, because they didn't earn it (they were in gradeschool). The whole thing was really bizarre.

Now we make a good living and we have a nice home, take the kids on vacation, they have a nice wardrobe of clothes, toys, gifts on birthdays and holidays. And my IL's are absolutely appalled. But I wouldn't say the kids are spoiled, because we are good disciplinarians. It's not about what they have, it's about how they act when you say no, or how they act when you ask them to earn something. My kids have chores they do, because they are a part of the family and we all work together. They are expected to behave themselves and be good people. Those things are separate from where I buy their clothes, or where we go on vacation, or what they get for their birthday.

 

[leebee]

I don't think spoiled = too much stuff. I think spoiled means lack of discipline.

I think my dh is an example, but kind of the opposite. His parents didn't want to spoil him, so although they could afford nice things for him, he was only allowed to have 3 shirts, and had to wear them to holes. The only gifts they got on birthdays and Christmas were practical things. One year in high school all he got for Christmas was a pack of batteries for the Walkman he had earned himself with his after school job. That was all. His dad had a Nintendo and games, but the kids weren't allowed to have it, because they didn't earn it (they were in gradeschool). The whole thing was really bizarre. SERIOUSLY!!!

Now we make a good living and we have a nice home, take the kids on vacation, they have a nice wardrobe of clothes, toys, gifts on birthdays and holidays. And my IL's are absolutely appalled. But I wouldn't say the kids are spoiled, because we are good disciplinarians. It's not about what they have, it's about how they act when you say no, or how they act when you ask them to earn something. My kids have chores they do, because they are a part of the family and we all work together. They are expected to behave themselves and be good people. Those things are separate from where I buy their clothes, or where we go on vacation, or what they get for their birthday.

 

[diznygirl]

I don't think spoiled = too much stuff. I think spoiled means lack of discipline.

I think my dh is an example, but kind of the opposite. His parents didn't want to spoil him, so although they could afford nice things for him, he was only allowed to have 3 shirts, and had to wear them to holes. The only gifts they got on birthdays and Christmas were practical things. One year in high school all he got for Christmas was a pack of batteries for the Walkman he had earned himself with his after school job. That was all. His dad had a Nintendo and games, but the kids weren't allowed to have it, because they didn't earn it (they were in gradeschool). The whole thing was really bizarre.

Now we make a good living and we have a nice home, take the kids on vacation, they have a nice wardrobe of clothes, toys, gifts on birthdays and holidays. And my IL's are absolutely appalled. But I wouldn't say the kids are spoiled, because we are good disciplinarians. It's not about what they have, it's about how they act when you say no, or how they act when you ask them to earn something. My kids have chores they do, because they are a part of the family and we all work together. They are expected to behave themselves and be good people. Those things are separate from where I buy their clothes, or where we go on vacation, or what they get for their birthday.

Well said.

 

[bushdianee]

I recently had a conversation with some of my first graders about gaming systems and was shocked that most of my students had at least 3 different game systems. I can understand them having maybe 1 big system and one handheld but no these kids have multiples of both. These aren't kids from well to do families either. Many are on free or reduced lunches, are immigrants or refugees. BTW I am in the midwest.