Nothing from teens

[Rebecca7300]

I’m hurt that my 3 teens - 13, 16 & 17 didn’t get me a single thing for Christmas. No Christmas card, no chocolate bar. I put in a lot of effort for Christmas and do it all by myself & I just feel so under appreciated. They all get pocket money & live near shops. My husband got me some earrings that I knew about because we chose them together but no surprises, no card. I just feel very sad. Is it normal that teens just ignore you at this age? I’m really finding these teenage years very, very difficult.

DD has already asked for Sabrina Carpenter tickets for her 18th. Things will definitely have to change b4 that happens!

Teens can be quite thoughtless and sometimes dont realise what means a lot to you as it wouldn't be on their radar. One year my husband didnt bother to get me anything for mothers day, assumed the kids would (they were maybe 14 and 16) but as he had always done it they didn't think. I was honest with them and said I felt hurt about it, literally a card and cheap flowers/chocolate, or even just a card would have been fine. They were quite upset that I was upset and don't forget now. They are great at xmas/birthdays also.

I agree, mine would 100% prefer to just buy gifts for everyone else at xmas rather than get anything themselves. It is lovely and they are so excited to give presents out as they have put so much thought into it.

Same. Dd2 kept saying “can’t wait for you to open MY present!”

Think it’s really sad if they don’t feel that pleasure in making someone else happy. Flabbergasted that this totally doesn’t seem to bother some posters

But OP if they are this way it's because they haven't been taught not to be?

I or my husband took my children christmas shopping right from a young age and helped them choose small gifts for immediate family, and wrap them. They then felt hugely excited to pop their wrapped gifts under the tree and loved watching people open them.
By age 9-10 it was habit for them and they would start saying in December, mum I need to go christmas shopping I have things I want to buy people!

They do need to be taught the joy of giving gifts?

Our 12 year old gave us both, me and her dad presents and each a hand made card, our 9 year old made us a hand painted card for both of us. So yeah for those ages I would have expected them to be more thoughtful.