Ungrateful teenager ruining Christmas..

[Meltinthemiddle]

He is 18 year old fgs and I can tell by his face he is already sulking about his present pile. He gave me no ideas. And the last week since finishing work I've been so ill. When I went into town there was literally nothing I could see that he likes. So I've brought him a new TV with Netflix, £70 cash towards clothes and a meal voucher and then smellies plus little bits and chocolate. He's got his first job and brought us all presents, now he's sulking because he hasn't got money left or probably anything he wants. All I said was I didn't get him clothes because he hasn't shown me anything plus hres been buying his own. I just feel so fed up and upset that I've raised such an ungrateful brat!

Some little Tim Minchin lyrics hidden in there? 😊

I’d have loved a tv at 18 all I got at that was a lady shave yes I’d asked for one but it was the cheapest she could find. Even she said months later it wasn’t very good I replied ‘well what do you expect when you buy rubbish’ you gave great presents.

Mine got sweets, that’s it🤷‍♀️🤣

One would like a laptop but hasn’t decided, the other wants a phone but hasn’t decided. We are happy to sort both but it’s for them to decide and neither is bothered really. They are 18 and 20, both at university.

I used to do stockings and little gifts but it’s basically tat that never gets used so opted just for edible gifts this year. They were happy enough. Christmas is very different as you get older.

Abso-bloody-lutely!

Yeah I think he's definitely going to struggle next year when I reduce his Christmas list! They don't seem to understand you get less as an adult! Plus he now has a girlfriend so they exchanged quite expensive gifts.

Next year, get him something really basic. If he's not bothered to be grateful for the expensive stuff, then no point spending money on it

My favourite Christmas song 🥰

He’s your son so only you know whether he’s ungrateful or just having a bad day. Ask him today how yesterday was for him, was he happy with his gifts as you had to guess a bit. I don’t think that deciding now to basically punish him next Christmas because of his reaction this Christmas is a good one just because he’s an adult now. You need to start a conversation today about his expectations and your reality or it will keep bothering you.

For goodness sake he is an adult, and an ungrateful one at that. I would be scaling the presents back in future unless he changes his attitude.

Stop OP, just stop

you definitely think your son next year will “struggle” with a reduced list. And we are talking about someone who will be 19 2023 Christmas??!

FFS what type of boy have you raised?

Vouchers next year?

I think you've been very generous!

Have you actually asked him, you seem grumpy, what's up? Or has he said he's disappointed in his presents?

Op, you said he brought everyone gifts and hasn't got any money left.

Do you organise your money, have you shown him a budget?

When he earns does he organise his money into diff pots?
He should be shown these things and shown how to organise his money, so from now on he needs to put a % of his wage aside for next Xmas.
Save some ...and keep some for his expenses etc

While yes, ungrateful, especially as you were sick, I always hate people calling their kids brats or saying they ruined something and you used both in one post! He’s being immature and unreasonable but get on with the christmassing and when you’ve both calmed down have a quick chat and tell him it’s not a great way to react

Nail on head.

Or he’s just dissatisfied with the gifts he received and isn’t mature enough to articulate it better than he has. It’s not a case of getting used to it else we’re loving giving gifts meanwhile all the recipients are hacked off because it’s not what they wanted or expected. He needs to learn to be a bit more gracious as I know pre teen children that can open a pair of socks and are more mature with their reaction than this young man. Unless, alternatively you mean the OP needs to get used to her son’s behaviour, which is an even worse scenario. The OP needs to speak with him and find out what his problem is.

Yeah I agree with this

I had a baby at 19 so I only got small tokens from family. He needs to grow up and be thankful for whatever he gets! If he’s not happy, maybe he can donate them to people who WOULD be grateful! Maybe kids who are homeless and get nothing! Might be a bit of an eye opener!