The other night PIL dropped by. DP said in conversation that we had set a budget on what to spend on our 7 year old for Christmas but with the cost of things we had almost maxed it and what we had didn't look a lot. His mum agreed and started to talk about some skincare range and perfume that she had bought for his youngest sister, 20 next year, and how it had come to £150 and when they had gift wrapped it, it looked nothing. I said that she was old enough to know the value of it and well past the stage if expecting a pile I'd presents on Christmas day. His mum said no and went on tell us about the Christmas list she had written, Inc a few Tongue in cheek requests such as some designer shoes and a mini or mercedes.
So this gift is not the end of the shopping spree they have more to buy for her. His parents are not well off, both in early retirement with a small savings pot. I can see this savings pot dwindling on this sister and then us and his other sisters been looked to for financial assistance in the future. They spent £500 on a handbag for her birthday this year, £3000 on a car the year before, after paying for all her driving lessons. She doesn't work, although is at college part time but doesn't seem to have much direction, so they also pay to insure and tax her car, feed and clothe her in and pay for her weekend social life. When I suggested they should be backing off a little and letting her stand in her own feet I was told it's the way it is nowadays, all her friends expect the same treatment. I can't help but feel such a lack of responsibility and high expectation of things without hard work handicaps a person and am shocked that this is apparently the direction our society is going in. I know it's none of my business so ABU on that level but is this really what kids expect today because my son will be the social misfit when he's older as I won't be playing that game.