Are my kids spoilt/entitled?

[Appleblum]

Several incidents struck me about my kids' behaviour recently. For example:

• our grocer sold out of their favourite milk and our backup brand from the supermarket was also sold out. I bought supermarket own brand milk and they refused it after trying as it 'tastes like vomit'. The milk was left untouched and both kids went without milk for 2 days before I restocked with their regular brand.

• they ask for home made packed lunches everyday as they don't like school food. If I'm unable to do a packed lunch they'll begrudgingly eat school food for a day but will whine about it once they're home, or choose to go hungry until I pick them up.

• on holiday in Venice they were very happy on the private water taxi but didn't like the crowded water buses. They pulled faces until I gave them a strict talking to.

DH doesn't think it's an issue as their behaviour does not negatively affect other people, and he feels that it means they just have high standards for themselves (they like nice food and the taxi is definitely more comfortable). I agree with him to an extent but also feel abit uneasy. I don't want them to turn into brats! They are 7 and 8, should I be worried?

Keep a branded bottle and pour the supermarket milk into it....if it's the same kind I.e cows milk I bet they won't even know. My niece is addicted to Heinz ketchup but it's expensive, but is adamant other ketchup is inferior and refuses to have any other brand ...untill my sil decanted a supermarket brand into the heinz bottle and now she happily has it without even knowing it's not the real Heinz stuff

Venice crowded water taxis suck and are even a bot scary, certainly nowhere near as nice as a private transfer

I hope for their sake they never have to commute on a crowded train or tube.

What is branded milk? I think even the fact your kids know about brands is strange. Milk is milk.

How old are they?

Yes, you should be worried. Your husband is wrong, you are right to be worried.

'Keep a branded bottle and pour the supermarket milk into it....if it's the same kind I.e cows milk I bet they won't even know.'

I wouldn't do this to be honest, as it isn't teaching them to be grateful for what they have. To them it is simply giving in. I would maintain a stance of "this is the milk we're getting from now on, or what ever is on deal/convenient." In 90s style talk they can "like it or lump it."

DH doesn't think it's an issue as their behaviour does not negatively affect other people

Apart from the OP, of course, who has to make sure that she has the correct milk and that packed lunches are made every day so they don't whine at her.

I have been thinking about it though - as an adult I definitely prefer Godiva to Cadburys and that's OK. I also prefer driving places in my own car than taking the bus, and that's also OK. Why am I then uneasy with kids being this way?

That’s not what the OP said, so is irrelevant.

DSC were like this at the same age.

They are massively entitled adults now. They find the world very confusing, tbh.

But @Appleblum it's milk! Comparing chocolate which actually does vary greatly is so very different.

It really isn't.

Some supermarket brands are definitely not as nice, as the (more expensive) branded milk.

I would feel this way myself, as do my DC. Just on this example, I don't think they are bratty.

Well for one because you prefer it rather than refusing to eat/do other things. There also a child element here - we can opt for more pricey alternatives when we earn the money that pays for them. They don’t.

Because you are an adult. I assume you can afford Godiva and your own car. What if you couldn't? Would you expect someone/ your parents to provide it for you?

It's one thing to have a preference, its totally another to demand it and kick up a fuss if you don't get it n

I think it's like people who will only eat Kellogs cereal because "it is a brand." They haven't tried own brands which are often alot nicer IMO; it is snobbery in it's finest.

You’ve been taken in by marketing. Milk is milk. It has no ingredients that can be varied. It’s a pure ingredient.

Because you're the one working to pay for nicer chocolate or your car so you can have whatever preference you want. Your children are entitled because they're demanding standards they don't pay for. That's the difference

Are you getting whiny and demanding that someone has to do the work to cater to your choices like your children are demanding you do?

@AdventThief the usual milk is in an unbranded bottle we get from our local shop. The backup brand is duchy organic unhomogenised whole milk. Try it, it's fab!

I don't think they are inherently bratty because they have these preferences, no.

However, their way of expressing it, is possibly so.

For example (while not being sure of ages) if they prefer home lunches, fine. So they make them themselves, as mine did from a young enough age.

They also need to accept minor inconveniences, even if they articulate that they'd prefer another option.

It’s one thing if you’re worked your way up to paying for it yourself.

If you’re just demanding others buy you luxury/branded items, that’s spoilt and demanding

Again, not so.

I've 3 hungry teens! I buy brands & supermarket own brands for cereal. The supermarket ones are ... fine, we all eat them happily; the branded version eg Kellogg's is nicer.

We prefer them; but as they cost a small fortune, are happy to mix up the options.

Jesus, what entitled little brats, Is your surname Windsor by any chance ?. I don't envy you when those 2 hit their teens . Yes you have spoilt them good luck trying to reverse that behaviour .

Most school dinners are pretty bad.

I've worked in schools for a long time and most schools let/encourage staff to have school dinners.

Secondary is definitely worse than primary but none of it is nice.

I don't think it's spoilt not to like school dinners.

They are famously bad.

The milk thing is a bit of a nonsense but you’ve started it yourself. But yes, they sound entitled.