Once upon a time, my family resided in a spacious house nestled in a sought-after neighborhood outside of Chicago. Like many American families, we had a shiny new refrigerator complete with a water dispenser that filtered our water.
One day, as I filled a glass, I found myself grumbling, “Ugh, this thing takes forever! It’s like 30 seconds to get a glass of water.” As soon as the words left my lips, the absurdity hit me like a ton of bricks. Seriously? Here I was, standing in front of a miracle of modern convenience, and I was complaining about how long it took to fill a glass of clean, cold water! I felt embarrassed. After all, I had instilled in my kids the value of gratitude for basic necessities like food and water. I reminded them regularly that millions of people around the globe don’t have access to safe drinking water, let alone the luxury of it flowing freely into their homes.
But there I was, whining about a slow water dispenser.
Living in the First World can sometimes make us blind to how ridiculous our complaints sound. While I caught myself that day, I know I’ve grumbled about trivial things before. My kids certainly do it, and my husband and I are not entirely innocent either. Although we strive to be role models, we occasionally slip up.
It’s the environment we live in. Our kids are growing up in a comfortable, middle-class lifestyle. We have a stocked pantry, a dependable car, enough funds to fix a broken furnace, and more tech gadgets than necessary. We may not be wealthy by American standards—we thrift shop and budget—but globally, we’re among the fortunate few. So, when my kids complain about sibling rivalry over screen time, or that their favorite cereal is gone, or that they have to walk a little further than they’d like, it tests my patience. I never thought I’d resort to the classic “Don’t you know kids are starving in other parts of the world?” speech, but here we are. Because it’s true. There are kids in dire situations, battling for survival, while mine lament about missing a movie.
I won’t ignore it when they whine. I remind them that being born in a country with readily available drinkable water means we have no room for such complaints. I firmly tell them that first-world whining is not something I’ll indulge.
We talk a lot about gratitude and helping those less fortunate. I also admit that even we, their parents, can occasionally complain, and I encourage them to call us out on it. In our family, we hold each other accountable. Their input is just as valuable as mine.
Since that day I caught myself being annoyed with the water dispenser, I haven’t complained about water again. Sometimes, we need a wake-up call about our privileges, and it’s essential for our kids to recognize theirs too. For more tips on navigating these conversations, check out our related blog post.
And if you’re curious about practical resources for home insemination, you might find this excellent guide helpful.
In summary, it’s crucial for us to acknowledge our privileges and practice gratitude instead of getting caught up in trivial complaints. Let’s all commit to being more aware of our circumstances and the world around us!
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