Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Did we ruin daughter by spoiling

378 replies

Daringbear · 17/07/2023 16:11

Hi,
First of all I'm going to be quite vulnerable and I know this is my own doing so please be nice, even if harsh.
My only daughter is 17, she is 18 at the start of August. She was an incredibly wanted child, my husband and I had been trying for 6 years, several miscarriages, failed IVF rounds, it was emotionally the hardest time of my life. When our daughter was born 5 weeks early, and so desperately wanted all we wanted to do was spoil her. We were 35 and 38 by the time she was born, we had 6 extra years of career advancement so were in a financially good place and could spoil her. We knew we wouldn't have more children so we really put it all into our girl. She was also 5 years younger than her closest in age cousin, of which she only has 3 and all boys, so being the only girl and youngest she was also massively spoilt by grandparents. My husband and I aren't massively social people, we had two close friends who were in similar positions and kids a little older. We live in a town where most people are comfortable financially, the house prices are much higher than the rest of the region, so all of daughters socialising have been with children similar to her.
She was also among the youngest in her year, I was terrified she would feel less than etc. so we pushed our financial limits for piano lessons, ballet, tennis, vocal coaching etc. The best schools in our area were state schools so there wasn't that but we did cripple ourselves financially to ensure she never had to struggle, tutors too from about year 5.
Now to the current point my daughter is due to start university in September and increasingly as I view her more and more as an adult I realise she isn't very likeable, she isn't lazy, she is always busy but never doing anything of worth, we told her to get a summer job, she looked for a day said they sounded boring and gave up, my husband still gives her, an allowance, refuses to stop and I find it impossible to be mad at her. So her summer has been spent shopping, enjoying the sun, playing sports, being with friends, going to the gym etc. nothing actually useful. She also has expensive taste and the only way I can describe it is she comes across snobby, she will talk down to me if she thinks my clothes are cheap etc.
She was very popular in school and sixth form, always had loads of friends and her reputation amongst them seems different than the girl I know. For the year book they got random people in the year to comment on the person and several of my daughters were about her being nice/friendly.
The other issue which is pretty new, she is a massive flirt!! She is very naturally pretty, tall, slim, blonde etc. and she is definitely not afraid to flaunt this. I hate it, she can come across very shallow. She will blatantly flirt with waiters etc. even Infront of me, it turns my stomach.
If I were to sum her up I'd use words like, smart, beautiful and eloquent but also shallow, snobby, stuck up and narcissistic. I hate that these are words I'd want to use.
My husband doesn't see it, still spoils her, has just bought her the most expensive tickets for Taylor Swift and a stupidly expensive laptop, whenever DD asks for money he hands it over, will never tell her off. Prides himself on being a cool dad etc.
I was talking to one of her friends mums when we were waiting to pick them up at the station and she asked if I could have a word with her as my daughter told her daughter she should work out more and she is going to get fat and that obviously upset her daughter. I spoke to my girl and she apologised but the fact she said it all horrifies me. My husband said he didn't see the issue.
I don't know what to do, I feel like I have failed and ruined her!! It was all done is pure love and wanting nothing but the best for her and now she isn't a nice person!!
AIBU to feel like I don't like her? If she wasn't my daughter I wouldn't want to be her friend. What do I do? Can I make this better?

OP posts:
graygoose · 17/07/2023 18:10

Honestly, I was a bit of a spoilt brat at 17 and I had it knocked out of me by life and maturity. I cringe massively at the teenager and young person I used to be, but I think everyone does.

She does not have to do anything “useful” with her summer at 17, she can enjoy herself and while her time away and still become a good person and productive member of society. I mellowed out a lot as I matured, she will too.

It’s perfectly ok to be a bit of a prat when you’re 17. She will look back on herself in 10 years and cringe, don’t worry.

NotmyRLname · 17/07/2023 18:11

You are describing teens full stop. Honestly they are horrific to parents and yet to everyone else they are ok. My son was raised very differently to yours and he’s not very likeable at the moment either. His dad taught in a secondary school from being in a primary school and was traumatised and left after 18 months and changed careers completely 😂😂😂

xogossipgirlxo · 17/07/2023 18:11

Sugargliderwombat · 17/07/2023 18:04

I mean...I was poor and I still was a judgemental dick at 17.

High five. I don't think it's money thing. You might be poor, and she could be still the same.
Also, it's tough to accept, but you might not be best friends now or when she's adult. I wouldn't blame myself too much if I were you, OP.

Chocolateatanyio · 17/07/2023 18:12

She is a teen - we all make mistakes at 17 - and for a good few years afterwards . Life will teach her that she is not the centre of the universe don’t worry .

sadsack78 · 17/07/2023 18:12

You can't punish your DD for your decisions around her upbringing. It's unfair. You can't blame her for learned behaviour. She didn't become this way in a vacuum.

You can't undo the past. All you can do now is do your best to stress the importance of kindness and generosity and doing the right thing.

She is more than old enough to understand that she's had a privileged upbringing and now she needs to make something of her life and use that privilege responsibly. Make it clear that you believe in her and expect a lot from her. To work hard at uni and have purpose.

Not making bitchy remarks to friends and turning her nose up at people because they don't have the things she does.

DisforDarkChocolate · 17/07/2023 18:13

Paperbagsaremine · 17/07/2023 16:13

She's 17, a LOT of us are not our best selves at that age!

You don't have to do anything, life will do it for you eventually;)

So few people are mature at 17, I was ridiculously self-centred and a know it all and I was one of 4, working class and not spoilt. Chill but take small steps to help her develop.

ToWhitToWhoo · 17/07/2023 18:15

Autoflower · 17/07/2023 17:48

Telling a peer that she needs to work out more?

That wasn't a particularly nice thing to say, but a lot could depend on the context. If it was said totally spontaneously, it's a bit different from if it was said in a debate about the value of working out. Even in the former case, 17-year-olds often do have 'foot in mouth disease' and don't think about the possible impact of what they're saying, and in particular are thoughtless about commenting on others' appearance- including their parents: 'MUUUUM! You're not going to wear THAT!!!!' Most of them get over it.

sadsack78 · 17/07/2023 18:16

Also, 17 is very young. Lots of kids, regardless of social class or status are kind of insufferable at that age. They are the oldest kids at secondary school and swan around feeling invincible. They get knocked down a peg when they go off to uni and are sudden;y small fish in a big, adult pond.
She needs guidance but still has lots of time to mature and grow up to be a decent, kind person.

DiddyHeck · 17/07/2023 18:18

You and your husband aren't daft OP.

You knew full well you were spoiling her, quite why you'd do that to anyone is beyond me.

So now you're seeing the teenager you've created but at least it might not be the 'end result', and she may change in later life.

Nothing to add really except you must've known you'd end up reaping what your sowed?

Auntieofdragons · 17/07/2023 18:18

She’s beautiful and confident and got enough brains to go to uni… she will do absolutely fine in life.

ISpyNoPlumPie · 17/07/2023 18:19

Agree with many posters, she sounds like a 17yo. A touch more humility wouldn’t do her any harm but you could say that of all teenagers. Some of your comments however have left me wondering, is this really about her? Reading between the lines (and of course I may be wrong) it sounds like you’re really struggling with her growing up and being her own person. If so, I can understand why you’re finding that so hard. It is hard, I’m sure.

BreakfastClub80 · 17/07/2023 18:19

I think you’re being quite harsh but of course, your choices will have shaped her to some degree. Although you find a lot wrong with her currently, it sounds like she worked reasonably hard at school (and with her tutors) and has developed some extra curricular activities which she still enjoys. You can’t have protected her from everything, her studies and exams etc are her own responsibility.

Beyond that, if she doesn’t need the money or the experience for her future career (eg medicine) she won’t see the point of work this summer. It sounds like you have a plan for uni that will give her more independence if your DH can stick with it.

She maybe a bit spoiled but she will meet many who have a lot more than her at Uni so I think she will settle down as she grows up.

wehavelostsightofwhatanormalhoodiesizeis · 17/07/2023 18:20

DiddyHeck · 17/07/2023 18:18

You and your husband aren't daft OP.

You knew full well you were spoiling her, quite why you'd do that to anyone is beyond me.

So now you're seeing the teenager you've created but at least it might not be the 'end result', and she may change in later life.

Nothing to add really except you must've known you'd end up reaping what your sowed?

😂

How much would I love to know the real life situation of someone who posts comments like that one

I am guessing you haven't even got kids?

sunglassesonthetable · 17/07/2023 18:21

How much would I love to know the real life situation of someone who posts comments like that one

My thoughts exactly

Ouchee · 17/07/2023 18:22

Purplefoalfoot · 17/07/2023 17:36

She sounds absolutely fine! Of course she’d rather spend her summer enjoying the sun and working out and seeing her friends. She’s 17! Hardly the crime of the century. She has her whole life to be ground down by work - let her enjoy her life if you’re able to support her!

yes at uni she’ll see more variety of the world and that’s no bad thing but honestly she sounds fine to me and her peers obviously see a kind friendly popular girl.

Agree.

I don't mean this in a bad way for the OP but it's really hard to see exactly why you view her in such a negative light. It's all about how you dont like her personality and she's not living how you would want her to. I genuinely think you would benefit from therapy.

Tootsey11 · 17/07/2023 18:22

Dp has one of these daughters. She was like your dd at 17. She is even worse now at nearly 32. Make changes now Op.

Annasoror · 17/07/2023 18:22

You can't have done that bad a job, OP, if she's called nice and friendly in the Yearbook. I think most of us might cringe looking back at our teenage selves. She sounds to have lots of positive qualities.

sunglassesonthetable · 17/07/2023 18:23

*We're all different. I get more of sense that she's not enough like you OP. That's what you're uncomfortable with .

You're socially an introvert and this popular, socially attractive daughter who has lived a very privileged life appears to be a very different creature.

Our kids aren't always like us or even hold the same values.

Try and like the positives about her. Try and see what her friends see.*

YouJustDoYou · 17/07/2023 18:25

NotmyRLname · 17/07/2023 18:11

You are describing teens full stop. Honestly they are horrific to parents and yet to everyone else they are ok. My son was raised very differently to yours and he’s not very likeable at the moment either. His dad taught in a secondary school from being in a primary school and was traumatised and left after 18 months and changed careers completely 😂😂😂

This simply isn't true. At all. No, not "all teens" are like this, and the excuses made to excuse shitty behaviour is ridiculous. Speaking from wide, long experience.

My mum NEVER told me off. Never got disciplined. Never "taught" good manners, social behaviours etc. I had to teach myself from about 16 onwards, because she had helped created a child I hated (me). I did it - I learned how to be a nice human being, with manners etc. But some of these kids who are never disciplined, never learn. PP are saying "oh she'll figure it out", but sometimes, speaking from experiences, they never do. I've seen the brats who never learn. It's so sad.

CapEBarra · 17/07/2023 18:26

17 year olds are dicks. They think the world revolves around them. She’ll be fine.

Whattodo112222 · 17/07/2023 18:26

Unfortunately, as with most things she needs life experience and something potentially bad to happen to her in order to bring her down a few pegs. It'll be character shaping for her and might teach her some humility.

TerfIngOnTheBeach · 17/07/2023 18:29

DustyLee123 · 17/07/2023 16:17

Don’t worry, University will soon show her how the rest of us live.

100%

if there is anything that that will bring her down a peg or two it will be uni. Absolutely nowhere has been as instrumental in teaching my DC the differences in back grounds and levelling them than university. Nowhere else in their lives have they met people from deprived backgrounds and been friends with them as well as kids from extremely privileged background who have been educated at private and some times boarding schools.

Ours were bog standard comprehensive kids with good A-levels going to a an ex Poly uni and a RG uni.

devilsice123 · 17/07/2023 18:29

I think when she goes to University she might get taken down a peg or two, many kids come from different backgrounds and not had the same advantages as her so they may say that she's a spoilt Daddy's girl. Sorry to sound harsh!

sunglassesonthetable · 17/07/2023 18:30

mum NEVER told me off. Never got disciplined. Never "taught" good manners, social behaviours etc. I had to teach myself from about 16 onwards, because she had helped created a child I hated (me). I did it - I learned how to be a nice human being, with manners etc. But some of these kids who are never disciplined, never learn. PP are saying "oh she'll figure it out", but sometimes, speaking from experiences, they never do. I've seen the brats who never learn. It's so sad.

Bad manners and social behaviour hasn't been mentioned here.

Other people have described her as nice and friendly. She is popular and has friends.
She doesn't seem to hate herself with respect.

Tbh it seems to be her mother who doesn't approve of her.

Londisc · 17/07/2023 18:30

The main thing I can see as a problem here is how she treats you. Does your husband hear her being rude to you?

Swipe left for the next trending thread