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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

No present for 17 year old

20 replies

Pinklilly123 · 04/08/2021 15:11

My soon to be 17 year DS has been very challenging in the last few years. Without going into too much detail I'm talking drug dealing, very violent and criminal behaviour, alot of police trouble and finally he has literally put holes in our walls, smashed my car windows while my other children were in the car narrowly missing my 2 year old head with a heavy object that was thrown through a window and most recently ripping several doors off the hinges in front of our younger children whom were terrified. Of course you will all think there are more pressing issues than that which I am posting which of course there are, and we have sought a huge amount of help from various professionals. He had some childhood trauma which has likely led to this and we have shown nothing but compassion, love and support but naturally there is only so much of this one can put up with and when the others are at risk it has led to us asking social care to rehouse him so we can support him wihh out him living with us due to protecting our younger children. It was a difficult thing to do and our whole family have been supporting the situation whilst offering him places to stay when things have become too much but he burnt bridges with both my parents after causing trouble when he lived with them, so supported living was our last option. We are dealing with this and he is getting professional help.

So that is the back story... So to the matter at hand presently...

His birthday is around the corner. We have often allowed him to get away with murder often not following through with boundaries and we feel we just have to be firm here and have finally made the decision much to his disgust, to not give him the money we had planned to give him for his birthday to repair the most recent damages to our home. The money we would have given him just about covers our losses so we can fix the damage. We have still purchased cards, a gift bag with smelliest and sweets and bought a cake, candles etc and have told him we will take him out for the say, doing any activity he chooses. We want him to know we love him and want to spend time with him but that he won't get expensive presents whilst he is this disrespectful. He has told family, who are now all anti my deicison. Problem is throughout his life they have always done this. Getting involved and telling him I am wrong for doing this. More or less talking badly of me behind my back and undermining my parenting decisions. Particularly my sister. I have him when I was very young and they have all been a great support but this is not supportive. So.. Am I being unreasonable for withdrawing his birthday present in light of what's going on?

OP posts:
Deedoubleyou · 04/08/2021 15:17

You are definitely not bu, it sounds like you are trying your best in a really horrible situation. The gifts cake etc show that you are thinking of him.

I hope things get better soon Flowers

vincettenoir · 04/08/2021 15:18

Were it not for the re-housing issue I would agree that keeping the present very small was the right way forward. However he may well be feeling some abandonment given he has to move out so it’s very hard to say. I think the most important thing is that you make him feel loved on his birthday while continuing to set boundaries and keep them in place. Sorry if that’s a bit on the fence but I don’t necessarily think there is a right or wrong answer.

Forgothowmuchlhatehomeschoolin · 04/08/2021 15:21

I think l would do the same OP.
You can't reward him for causing all that damage.

Cuddlyrottweiler · 04/08/2021 15:21

YANBU I think you've found a perfect balance.
I also think, if he's surrounded by people who tell him you're wrong by punishing him etc then that has probably played a massive part in this. How could you possibly parent him properly if he's surrounded by people undermining you?

Dntevenknowit · 04/08/2021 15:25

Completely agree with your decision

Pinklilly123 · 04/08/2021 15:25

Thankyou both for your responses. It helps to put it into perspective a bit which is why I'm asking. I agree there is certainly some element of feeling unloved but as I've said we will definately see him on his birthday and spend time with him. He can choose to do whatever he likes with us and spend the whole day with us. Since he's moved I am visiting him around 3x per week and have given him everything he needed. It's supported living so hopefully he will learn some responsibility too. He says he wanted to move out anyway as likes being independent although I'm not 100% that's true as he seems a bit low lately. We just can't have the behaviour around the younger ones. It is definately affecting them. They are very unsettled lately and my youngest has been hitting and tantruming which is age appropriate but also unusual for my usually placid toddler.

OP posts:
Conkergame · 04/08/2021 15:27

Also completely agree with your decision. Sounds like you have a sister problem here - is there any way you can take her aside and ask her not to get involved as it sends your son mixed messages when what he really needs is stability right now?

Babyghirl · 04/08/2021 15:33

@Pinklilly123
I think your just right for your decision, he's 17 so responsible for his actions and knows what he is doing, and actions need consequences or it will just get worse, I know people that covered up for there dc turned a blind eye on everything they done well they in and out of jail now, so deffo wrapping them up in cotton wool is the worst thing to do, if your family is so against what way your doing it pack his bags drop them of to them and say to them see if you can do any better.

KaptainKaveman · 04/08/2021 15:34

I think you made a good decision in really tough circumstances. Good luck OP.

fairynick · 04/08/2021 15:38

At 17 I was lovely and very well behaved. And from my family I received a card, smellies, a cake and a day out for my birthday. That’s plenty anyway.

OnTheBenchOfDoom · 04/08/2021 15:39

I agree, he is still having his birthday celebrated, he is still receiving presents however any money you would have put his way has to go toward repairing the damage in the house. The damage is just a constant reminder of his anger and behaviour.

I think you have done the right thing housing him in a supported way and your family need to stay out of it. If they wish to lavish him with gifts they can. Of course they are not paying for repairs to their own houses.

quizqueen · 04/08/2021 15:48

Put your time and effort in caring for the younger ones and helping them get over their trauma otherwise you will be going through the same thing with them when they are teenagers. Your eldest son doesn't deserve any presents.

Theoscargoesto · 04/08/2021 16:00

I think this is simply about consequences. He has behaved badly. He has damaged your property. You are repairing the property which you need to do, and there isn’t an endless supply of money. As a PP said, what he is still getting is a nice and appropriate gift.

Also as a PP said, you have a sister problem. In my view you need to keep strong boundaries both with your DS and your sister.

RedHelenB · 04/08/2021 16:06

Birthday presents don't have to be " deserved" imo. I wouldn't have mentioned about the money you were going to give him being spent on repairs and just given him the cake and smellies and asked where he wanted to go for his day put.

Ducksurprise · 04/08/2021 16:15

I was expecting to say yabu, but I don't think you are. He is still getting birthday gifts and time with you but the extra is going to repair the damage. Hold firm.

itsgettingwierd · 04/08/2021 16:19

I wouldn't give money to someone likely to use it to buy drugs.

It's irresponsible.

He's getting items and time spent with him on an activity.

It's not even about withholding the money for the damage but more so for his own safety giving material items and time

Duchess379 · 04/08/2021 16:24

If your sister & other family think you are out of order, they can lavish presents on him instead. You can't keep rewarding him for violent behaviour especially as it's around your younger kids. They too will learn the behaviour traits & think they'll be rewarded for it. Stick to your guns, you are not being unreasonable at all

TalkingOutYerArse · 04/08/2021 16:28

Agree. Consequences have actions. About time he learned that.

tothelakes · 04/08/2021 16:40

@quizqueen

Put your time and effort in caring for the younger ones and helping them get over their trauma otherwise you will be going through the same thing with them when they are teenagers. Your eldest son doesn't deserve any presents.
Please don't say this, it's heartbreaking. Of course he 'deserves' presents. The OP has already said he has experienced trauma in his life and the outcome of that is clearly an unhappy and destructive young person who needs help, love and understanding which the OP is giving.

What he has done is dreadful and I don't think you are wrong @Pinklilly123 to expect him to bear some responsibility by using the money to repair the damage. It's actually a good way of doing that as the consequences specifically relate to the behaviour.

I'm glad you are still going to make a fuss, take him out etc.

Underneath that tough exterior is probably a frightened young man who is feeling so much pain and seeing very real consequences for his actions.

Pinklilly123 · 04/08/2021 16:52

Thankyou all. I'm glad I'm not being unreasonable. Hubby starting to cave and thinking we should get him something. I've been clear, he still gets our love just not the extra stuff. We don't tell him he's getting extra money it's just that every year Xmas and birthday we generally spend x amount and he's used to it so we were clear to expect that not to be the case this year in advance so as to not cause a big show of emotions on his actual birthday when siblings will be there. Also I don't want the time spent wihh him to be soured by this being lumbered on him on the day.

I have told my sister clearly that it's time she stopped undermining me particularly in front of him, but also behind my back to my parents etc. I've said clearly if she has an issue she needs to tell me about it from now on and we can discuss it, but that talking about it to my son is going to cause him to be confused about my rationale for certain decisions I make as a parent and leads only to him lacking respect for me. She hasn't said anything else on the matter nor have my parents contacted me so I can only assume that they have all discussed it behind my back in their usual way!

OP posts:
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