Kids these days are entitled

You say with a sneer

Disdain dripping 

from words you don’t understand

Words you use disparagingly

While they water a seed of hope in me

Because truth be told

on the core words

We don’t disagree

Kids these days are entitled

To more than just unconditional love

Wrapped up in bows of guilt

A gift meant to be returned

No matter the cost

Unconditionally grateful 

(for a life they didn’t request)

Kids these days are entitled

To be heard as well as seen

To a voice that doesn’t waiver at the thought

of speaking their truth

Of disappointing the powers that be

By finally standing up and saying 

Listen

This is me

Kids these days are entitled

To safety, care and love

Even through the uncomfortable emotions

that you want to quash

As they bubble to the surface

Surfacing your own

They are, in fact, entitled 

not to face those things alone

Kids these days are entitled

To be people deserving of respect

Not just an extension

of the adults who feel entitled

to the kids they can no longer control

To make themselves feel whole

With a life they deem a gift

Bestowed

A gift 

(with a balance always owed)

Kids these days are entitled

To grow, develop and learn

To become people who don’t feel entitled

To the respect of their children

By providing the bare minimum

Allowing them to exist

In a society that provides far less

than our kids are entitled to

If you enjoyed this piece, please follow J.J. Hale on Twitter @overthinkerjess.