Why do parents say "think about what you want"?

Question

The porpouse of this question is to discuss why parents (and mor ppl) say "Think about what you want" being that I actually know what I want but what I should think is about the way I want to get what I want.

The "Wanting" thing is not something that cand be changed, when you want something you just want it and that's it. There are some things that can replace that feeling but not thinking about what someone wants.

What do you say?

Answer 1

I think parents say "Think about what you want" when they don't agree with their children, and they want them to know it. It has the same meaning, I think, as "Be careful what you wish for."

Answer 2

Because children often 'want' without 'need'.