Vault: Have His Kids Become Too Jaded by Privilege?

The host of The Bert Show opens a raw, vulnerable conversation about parenting in the age of privilege, confessing his deep uncertainty about raising children in a materially abundant household. He recounts the emotional letdown of Christmas morning, not from lack of gifts, but from his seven-year-old son Hayden’s relentless, unappreciative rush through presents—ripping open each one with little joy or gratitude. The moment that should be magical feels hollow, especially when he realizes he’s not teaching appreciation, partly because he was raised in a dysfunctional family and fears being too harsh. The episode becomes a communal reckoning, with callers sharing similar struggles: one parent praises her son’s selfless gift-giving as a result of strict, consistent gratitude training; another attributes the behavior to age, noting that kids outgrow materialism. The central tension emerges: how to teach gratitude without crushing joy, and whether the solution lies in pre-emptive teaching, fewer gifts, or even service projects that create contrast. The host ultimately lands on a powerful insight—appreciation isn’t innate; it’s cultivated through deliberate, repeated moments of pause and reflection, even in the midst of celebration.