Rough Times

This afternoon, 12-year-old Erika was bemoaning to me that her little sister is spoiled (in a vain attempt to justify her own misbehavior.) She said that we never discipline her and let her do whatever she wants. Not true but we may be a little softer on Natalie than on our other children, and I ceded that point. She continued, “She’s 9-years-old and you still let her draw in church and she lives in this big house with a pool. She’s spoiled Dad.” I agreed that we are all blessed but wait -- we moved into this house when Erika was 7. She continued, “But she doesn’t remember the rough times before we moved here.” Rough times? Erika was not born with a silver spoon in her mouth or anything, but she hasn’t had a single day of “rough times” financially.  Did Mom buy you a small Slurpee once?  Honestly, where do they come up with these things?