The journey from 'can't ' to ' won't' ...

"My child just won't listen to me - only you as a teacher have the capacity to make him/her  listen.  So, please speak to him/her .. "

An oft repeated statement by parents of all ages (both their own and their children's too) at school PTM's. 

What a wonderful way to shirk the responsibility of talking to a child and making him/her understand a viewpoint or if needed discipline them. Did the parents of yesteryears do this ?  They focussed on their parenting role and left the schools and teachers alone to do their job . 

What has changed ? 

The tremendous spurt in disposable income which makes parents think that they have to fulfill their child's every wish - even saying no to an incorrect demand might affect their fragile relationship !

Malcolm Gladwell in "David & Goliath" explains this dilemma of the 'new immigrants to wealth' who have to make a transition from 'we can't afford it' to 'we won't afford it' - that is a tough call indeed !