Lately, I’ve been pondering a lot about how important it is to develop gratitude in families, and especially how important it is for our children to develop an attitude of gratitude.  Gratitude helps kids be optimistic and combats entitlement. What is entitlement and why is it so rampant? Entitlement in this sense is a feeling that I deserve certain things simply because I believe I should have them regardless of the work that I have put forth to acquire them.