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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

ungrateful child

44 replies

sickoftheholidays · 27/12/2010 10:41

DS (6) asked for some bakugan for christmas, which he got (along with a few other bits) but apparently, santa failed to bring him the "special king bakugan" that he wanted. Now every time people ask if santa brought him everything he wanted and he says no, and launches into a tirade about how he didnt get his king bakugan. How do I deal with this?
do I
a) buy the bloody king bakugan whatever the chuff it is just to get a bit of peace
b) ignore the issue and hope he will quickly forget and be content with what he does have
c) tell him that if he doesnt stop complaining then all the bakugan he did get will disappear back up the chimney to the north pole along with his other presents as clearly he isnt grateful for them.

I'm currently working with option b, but my patience is now wearing thin and I am becoming increasingly tempted by option c

OP posts:
WherecanIhide · 27/12/2010 10:43

C

LadyintheRadiator · 27/12/2010 10:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Louii · 27/12/2010 10:44

Did he get any money for Xmas? Tell hm to buy it himself.

penguin73 · 27/12/2010 10:44

I'd go for c, but then I get really annoyed at ungrateful people, even children!

MrsBonkers · 27/12/2010 10:44

What's bakugan?

oldandgreynow · 27/12/2010 10:47

Ignore it and let it pass

cookinmama · 27/12/2010 10:48

To point out that maybe the reason Santa didn't bring him exactly what he wanted is because he is ungrateful!!

IAmReallyFabNow · 27/12/2010 10:49

I would ignore. I got really upset a couple of years ago when mine asked if there was any more presents. This year they have all thanked me very nicely for their presents and have really appreciated what they got, even though it was a lot less than normal.

HecTheHallsWithBoughsOfHolly · 27/12/2010 10:50

C

or if he got any money, like lou says, he can get it himself.

I am having a similar problem with my eldest atm. between buying his gifts and christmas day, he went off pokemon and onto supermario. so of course, half his stuff is pokemon related.

I told him tough, I got him what he said he wanted at the time, and I'd take him to spend his xmas money. He's happy with that. And said sorry for moving on from pokemon Grin

Original poster
sickoftheholidays · 27/12/2010 10:50

no, no money for christmas, he's only 6.
Its not like he didnt get a few other really nice toys, I mean, he didnt get loads, but what he did get were carefully chosen.
bakugan are the somewhat pointless and very expensive ball things that explode out into little creatures that battle with each other.

OP posts:
feistychickfightingthebull · 27/12/2010 10:51

C

WhatsWrongWithYou · 27/12/2010 10:53

It's a bit pointless expecting gratitude at this age, I think - doesn't FC bring the presents? Therefore it's his 'fault' the right one hasn't come.

Your DS obviously wasn't specific enough in his request, but no doubt he was fantasising about the games he'd have with this one important mythical creature.

It looks as if you can't buy them as individuals anyway - just packs of characters.
Could you just tell him the one he wanted just didn't happen to be in any of his packs?

The don't look expensive, so I can't see buying another one as much of a problem (unless I was looking at the wrong thing).

No point getting angry imo - and option c seems particularly mean to me.

But I'm not one of the competitive meanness at Christmas brigade.

Original poster
sickoftheholidays · 27/12/2010 10:55

thank heavens no-one has suggested option a. I think I would probably have to be dragged to argos and chained to the counter before I did that.

I had to include it as this is what my mother is insisting I do.

OP posts:
LadyintheRadiator · 27/12/2010 10:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

nannynobblystockingnobs · 27/12/2010 10:59

I would be tempted by C... He needs to realise how greedy he sounds and how it hurts the feelings of those who have given him presents.

LadyintheRadiator · 27/12/2010 11:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

maxybrown · 27/12/2010 11:01

oh god C defintely!

My 3 year old is showing gratitude. He even thanks me for cleaning up - love him!

grumpypants · 27/12/2010 11:02

Well, if FC was asked and didn't get something that he really wanted, then disappointment is understandable. He's cross that a mythical creature, hyped up everywhere, didn't get him something he really hoped for. Rather than being cross, maybe you could explain FC doesn't always get everything but offer an option of earning it?

If it was an aunt or a gp it would be different. I feel a tiny bit sorry for him, in the same way that I feel sorry for ds who really wanted a sword/ bodyguard/ puppy. It has also made me rethink FC a bit.

Kewcumber · 27/12/2010 11:03

definitely not a! Your mother is bonkers - what does that teach him? If you whine and moan enough you will get what you want. I just tell DS if he ever complains that he will have to ask for it for his brthday and if he is lucky someone might buy it for him if he stops whining about it.

ChoudeBruxelles · 27/12/2010 11:05

C. DS (4) would get that response.

Original poster
sickoftheholidays · 27/12/2010 11:05

mmm. I dont really expect him to be grateful but I dont expect him to be ungrateful iyswim.

OP posts:
5ElvesMooningSanta · 27/12/2010 11:05

C

Or tell him that as he didnt specify what Bakugan he wanted, Santa brought him ome he thought he would like.

HecTheHallsWithBoughsOfHolly · 27/12/2010 11:06

I find that is quite a common thing with grandparents though.

My mum, for example, would say a. She'd get quite upset for him and feel really sorry for him.

However, I think back to when I was a kid and if I'd been like that it would have been a very large dose of tough shit! She'd have been really angry with me.

Your parents tend to be softer with your kids than they ever were with you! When my mum starts with all that, I say "mother, if I'd done that when I was a child, you'd have hit the roof!" which she acknowledges, and I give her a Look Grin

Kewcumber · 27/12/2010 11:08

grumpy - being a bit disappointed and having a bit of a moan is understandable in a child but mine is five and he knows better to constantly complain about something like this as he understands that we are very lucky to have all that we do.

FC doesn;t buy anything major in our house and we don;t do "lists", DS is allowed to make a Xmas wish or tell FC one thing he would like and then it is up to FC to choose presents that DS might like. No expectations set up at all.

Kewcumber · 27/12/2010 11:09

"say "mother, if I'd done that when I was a child, you'd have hit the roof!" which she acknowledges, and I give her a Look" - not just me then Hec Grin