The Parenting Mistake That Creates Entitled Nigerian Children

You know that child that enters your house and starts demanding for food without greeting anybody? Or the one that sees adults struggling with heavy bags but will comfortably walk past them? The child that throws tantrums when they don’t get the latest iPhone their friend just got? Sister, brother… we created these monsters ourselves.

I was at a friend’s house last month when her 9-year-old son walked into the sitting room, saw me there, and without any greeting, told his mother, “Mummy, I’m hungry. Make me indomie now.” Not “good afternoon aunty,” not even acknowledging that a visitor was present. Just straight demands like his mother is his personal chef. When his mama gently reminded him to greet me first, this boy rolled his eyes and grudgingly said “good afternoon” like I was disturbing his life.

The “My Child Must Not Suffer” Syndrome

Here’s the mistake we’re making… we’re confusing love with overprotection. Because we suffered when we were small, we’ve decided our children must never experience any discomfort, any disappointment, or any responsibility. We wake up early to pack their school bags, we do their assignments when they’re “too tired,” and we buy them everything they ask for just to see them smile.

But what we’re actually doing is raising children who think the world owes them something. They don’t know the value of hard work because we’ve never let them work hard for anything. They don’t appreciate what they have because they’ve never lacked anything. When a child gets everything without effort, why would they be grateful?

The “Don’t Stress My Child” Problem

We’ve stopped giving our children chores because “they need to focus on their studies.” Meanwhile, these same children can’t boil water or sweep their own rooms. We don’t let them help with house work because we want them to “be children,” but we forget that learning responsibility is part of being a child too.

Our mothers made us fetch water, wash plates, and help with cooking. We complained then, but those activities taught us that everyone in the family contributes. These children now think they’re guests in their own homes. They eat, sleep, play, and leave everything else for “the adults” to handle.

What Happens When Reality Hits

The saddest part is when these entitled children become entitled adults. They expect their bosses to treat them like their parents did. They can’t handle criticism, rejection, or hard work. They struggle in relationships because they think love means getting everything you want without giving anything back.

I’ve seen grown men and women still calling their mothers to solve problems they should handle themselves. Not because they’re close to their parents, but because they never learned to be independent or face challenges.

The Better Way Forward

Love your children deeply, but don’t confuse love with removing all struggles from their path. Let them earn some things they want. Give them age-appropriate chores and stick to it. Teach them to greet elders, help with housework, and understand that family is about contribution, not just consumption.

When they complain about chores, remind them that these tasks are preparing them for life. When they don’t get something immediately, let them wait and work for it. This isn’t wickedness… it’s wisdom.

Remember, a child who learns to appreciate small things will value big things. But a child who gets everything easily will appreciate nothing at all.