When my daughter kept whining about how hard life was I explained to her how privledged she was and how hard other children have it. She didn't really grasp it. To better make my point, the next morning we walked down to the river and she had to carry back a kid sized pail of water. She's six. Saying there are kids all over the world who have to get water every morning like Jack and Jill is one thing. Actaully getting the water...in February, is what taught the lesson. Now when she starts whining all I have to say is "Do we need to go get another bucket of water?"

Explanations only go so far. All you wilting lillies don't know what you're talking about. Dad did good.