Does anyone else get anxious about their dcs response?

[WashedUpDriedOut]

I'm starting to get anxious because they're so critical and unappreciative.

I make soup, they moan and groan. I suggest activities and take them out. They complain it's too much and I'm preventing them from gaming.

Everything is a negative.

I'm booking a campsite for our summer holiday. And I'm biting my nails over which one because all I will get is negativity.

They are 15, 13, 10 and 7.

Is it just me?

No, it's not just you.
My DC are exactly the same. Everything's not quite good enough.
The shopping comes and despite asking them what they wanted ordering there's apparently nothing they want to eat.
We go for a walk of their choosing but it's boring.
We bake but they grumble and slope off after adding a few ingredients.
I'll go to the shop and buy them a small treat ie. a magazine- and they'll look unimpressed.
I'll buy a big thing for their bedrooms - and they're unimpressed.
I'm currently looking at holidays for next May ( hopefully) and basically allowing them to choose where we go- they can barely muster a suggestion.

They are spoilt brats tbh.

I give up.

When covid is over can you take them to volunteer at a soup kitchen for the day ? Or help at an animal shelter ? These kids seem like they need to been shown how good they have it you sound like a wonderful parent OP

no, I don't get like that. I am pretty curmgeonly & probably keep DC insecure about me instead, though.

I wouldn't book a holiday without making them all publicly commit to agreeing to it, though. Over dinner table is fine. I would enable them stay in tent on wifi/data all day if that's what they wanted, too. Rest of us can go have a life.

Going to be honest & say that in your shoes I wouldn't book a holiday for them at all. Or activities. And screens would go. Hardcore I know

I need a holiday though

And yes gadgets have been removed. Behaviour improves for a bit but then reverts back.

TBF, I would moan about having to go camping. We went a few times as a child and I hated it.

What would elicit a positive response from them? Do you try to cook their favourite meals sometimes, for instance? Do you take them to places that they actually want to go to?

Not anxious no. Irritated, maybe!

I'd be picking your battles here. So, they want to game. Work with then to come to an agreement about how long they can have. They moan about soup? Don't make any more soup. Trips out? Maybe just take your younger ones.

Re the holiday. I'd choose somewhere you want to go with options for them to chill with their devices too.

I know it's easy to say 'remove all devices' but ALL their friends are online so balance is required

For example, my youngest is 13. Providing he comes out for a 5k walk a day, does the work the school sends through each day and is in bed settled to sleep by 10.30pm , I am lenient with his gaming, face timing of mates and watching YouTube videos because those three 'rules' are important to me. To try and argue about it with him would just flare things up for no reason. So that's our agreement and compromise. Could you do similar?

I take them canoeing. They all wowed it.

I take them to outdoor pools and swimming lakes. (We aren't UK based). At the time, they enjoyed those too.

But then there is just a stream of negativity.

The camping holiday will be glamor good with surfing lessons which they all want to do.

I've booked it now and so will brace myself for the negative onslaught!

Brave Woman. Good Luck. bring wine :)