ungrateful child

[sickoftheholidays]

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

nope. Mums, eh? Mine is so soft with the grandkids. They do things that I clearly remember getting yelled at / a slap for. They get an indulgent smile.

No doubt when I am a grandparent my children will be complaining of the same thing

Risks being flamed and having sausage rolls and fruit shoots chucked at her .........Its Christmas,he is 6,theres going to be times in life when you cant get him what he wants so Id explain how sad he makes you saying he hasnt had a happy Christmas and that Santa brought him everything he deserved but as you love him lots and want him to be you will buy him the king but he needs to remember that in future you cant have everything your own way.

My eldest ds now 17 clearly remembers a time we didnt buy him the jurassic park car whilst we were on holiday - over the years this has caused me so much guilt ive taken to scouring ebay for this bloody car.

Not that I slap them! I want to make that very clear.

I just mean things you tell them off for.

I don't hit my kids.

I don't think it's unreasonable to expect gratitude from a six year-old at all - whether to you or to santa. My dd (5) mentioned several things that she wanted before xmas, some of which we definitely weren't going to buy. I explained that santa had to share out presents between all the children who wanted stuff and that it wasn't always possible for him to bring everything she might want, but pointed out that he didn't have to bring anything at all, so she should be very grateful for whatever she did receive. The message seemed to get through and dd was delighted with her gifts - not a mention of the ones she didn't get!

In this scenario, I definitely wouldn't buy the missing item - don't want to encourage him to think that whining gets results! I would rather be inclined to point out how very generous "santa" has actually been, and to ask him to think about how "santa" must feel to hear him constantly moaning about the one item that he didn't bring. And does he really want to make santa so sad after all the kindness he has shown etc etc. At six, he should be capable of understanding this.

Difficult and I agree with the poster who mentioned it is possibly due to the fact he believes Fc has brought the presents rather than you having to save up and make a choice as to what to buy.
Btw I let all my dcs believe in FC so not using this as a cop out.

I would remind him that lots of other children are in need at Christmas and would have loved to receive what he did. Possibly then buy the king for his birthday or instead of an Esater egg, assuming he would prefer the toy to chocolate.
He will have to deal with disappointment in life and learn the harsh lesson that life is not fair.

ok folks, I have resisted temptation to go with C, and since B isnt working, I'm option for an amended option A.
I have found said king bakugan on ebay, we know how much it will cost, and he now has to earn the cash to buy it by doing jobs for me around the house.

I would tell him that every time he moans about his presents. I would take one away. No way would I be buying the one he wanted. He's learning that if he moans enough he will get it. When is his birthday? I'd get him to help you out and then he can have it for a birthday present.

Bad move sickoftheholidays
What does that teach your DS
Scream and moan until he get what he wants.
spoilt brat.
you are making a rod for your own back--he needs taught that he cant always get what he wants when he wants.
you are rewarding him for bad behaviour

No, I told him that I'm sorry Santa didnt get it quite right for him, and he has written to santa to say sorry for being ungrateful. I have then said he can earn some money for himself by helping me with jobs, and if he wants to spend that on the king bakugan he can.

C

C.

With the added D of Santa may decide not to bring you any next year if your going to be ungrateful.

But then I'm mean

Hec that is so true!!

My DS kept taking pressies from under the tree which is my mums job to dole them out. We were never allowed to touch. Eventually I pulled him back and was stern with him.

MUM: 'he's not hurting anyone'
ME: 'but mum you give out the presents, its always been that way, the children are not allowed to touch, remember?'
MUM: discreetly changed the subject by finding another present for DS!!!

That sounds fair enough Sickof.
Apologising for ingratitude and earning his own money to get what he wants. Result.

I agree with the OP's solution. He will learn to appreciate how much things cost if he has to earn the money for them himself, but he will still get the toy he wants. Win-win situation.

Excellent solution, OP. For one thing it's teaching him that there are good ways to get something you want other than whining - you have to work for them.

Hec - I love the concept of 'a very large dose of tough shit' - it sums it up perfectly. Sickoftheholidays - I think you have handled it perfectly.

tell him santa doesn't exist.

C