Entitlement....How does this happen?

About six months ago, we brought home a wide eyed, full of wonder and amazement little 4 year old from a third world country. He loved all that we had, our attention, toys, going for a ride in a car...just doing anything with us. The expression and joy he had on his face at any new opportunity were priceless.....The two big kids were at school during the day so it was him and me.....all day he had me to himself to teach him, read to him, go grocery shopping with me, talk to me, sort laundry with me, clean with me....He would do anything just to be with me and he was truly happy......

Then, summer came and the big kids were at home. He had/has to share me and lately his attitude has gone south. No longer does he desire to help sort laundry or put the silverware away. He seems jealous of the big kids and will agitate and pester them just because. If one of the other kids has something foodwise or anything he doesn't, he'll complain and ask for it....Recently, I gave him a different kind of cereal than one of the other kids that he clearly likes and he complained. What's up with that? Thinking now he needs Sprite each time we go out? I feel like I'm parenting another one of my biological children....that he has grown up in my house all his life finding myself saying...."If Sprite comes with your meal, you can get it. Otherwise it's water." "Have a Happy Heart", "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit". I really didn't think I'd find myself saying these things so soon. Maybe I had unrealistic expectations. It is also difficult to explain that Natalie and Spencer are 10 & 12 and 10 & 12 year olds get privileges that 4 year olds do not....
So, these are our struggles as of late in addition to purposefully disobeying to get a reaction. Thinking something is owed to you or that you are entitled is wearing me thin with all my kids. I guess I probably wear God out with that too....Each time I say something to them, it's like I feel the Holy Spirit gently nudging me as a reminder to my own attitude.....

Philippians 2:14
Do everything without grumbling or arguing

I Timothy 6:6
But godliness with contentment is great gain.

With Much Love,