Think I have gone wrong with DD2 somewhere!!

[Ineedalife]

Dd 2 is 16 and has always been a bit of a princess. She is the middle of 3 girls and has always been very materialistic[sp], worries about her appearance and what others think of her.

All pretty normal teenage stuff really. Lately however she has becaome a real PITA, expecting money when she knows we don't have any spare cash.

Last night at the dinner table[only me ,her and DP] she annouced that she thinks I should get a better job so that she can have more money.

I was mortified as I have been working part time since I had Dd3 to save on childcare and to be around for them. Also because their Dad works shifts so can't rely on him to help out at weekends etc.

I let her know that I was in no way happy with what she had said.

Today her dad said that he didn't want to buy her the £80 camera that she wants because she won't look after it but he will buy her a cheaper version . She threw a right strop saying that the other cameras look tacky and that she doesn't want a different one.

I have sent her upstairs to think about the things she is saying.

I know this is probably a minor problem but I feel really bad that I have reasied such a spoilt brat.

That should have been raised

At 16, she can get a job and buy her own camera. Don't think you've gone horribly wrong, she sounds fairly typical teenager.

She's 16... time to stop giving her money. If she wants it she can earn it herself. ..and there ARE jobs out there if they look.. my older three are 19 , 18 and 17 and have all had to find their own p/t jobs since they were 16 because a) we aren't well off and b) we felt it was really important that they learned the value of their own money!

She should definitely not be getting the camera she is after...

I don't think you've gone horribly wrong tho... teens are so self centred.. she'll be human again in a few years

I agree with others - time for a paper round or saturday job!

Was this camera something she had asked for for christmas or had she just demanded her need for an £80 camera?

Does she understand much about money? All teens are self centred but I'd think with her dad working shifts it would be kind of obvious that any extra wages you had would go on childcare bills.

sounds like the perfect cue for her to get a part time job (or at least try to!) she'll soon find out it's not that easy to either get a job or to work enough hours to earn a lot.

I agree about her needing a job but the other day she said to me that she doesn't think she would be able to work because she has to play netball and hockey and go to scouts at the weekend!!

I swing between wanting to laugh and wanting to smack her[only joking].

I know they come out the other side because Dd1 is 23 and has a good job a flat and a LO of her own.

I think I was just sooo shocked about her comments that I wanted you lovely people to reassure me.

So thank you everyone.

I don't come over here that often as am usually lurking around the SN boards. But as she is most certainly as NT as they come I thought I had better come here.

It's tricky. My youngest son is 16 and knows he needs a job but he too is loathe to give up his weekend hobbies. But if he wants things for himself he must do that. We pay for the hobbies which is more than enough!!

I agree jaxx, the scout trips are great but not cheap and I pay for choir too. Big sis pays for netball in part payment for some child care that I do for her.

We are really struggling to even pay the bills at the moment and I am frustrated that she just cannot understand how tight things are.

She wants to go to a residential college next year for 6th form and we think it is just what she needs. We will have to take out a loan to pay for it but I think a taste of having to manage her money but in a protected environment could help all of us.