Showing graditude for things...or lack thereof

My DD is 13 and show no graditude for anything she has. Over the summer, she HAD TO HAVE a new cell phone with a keyboard so she can do texting. I got her the EnV3, because the EnV-touch was another $50 and I didn't think she needed all those extras. She was ok with the phone she got...until my niece got the touch one...then my sister got the touch one...then her father got the touch one. She had problems with her phone freezing, so it was replaced once already. She told me it's still happening, so can she just upgrade to the touch one. I called verizon who said that you can't just upgrade, they have to try to fix the one you have under contract. So, I have to bring it to a store and see if there is anything they can do. I have tried to explain that this phone is no different than the touch one for what she uses it for...texting, no internet, but all I get is eye-rolling and talking back. So, I told her fine, she can have no phone instead and I took it away.

I tried to calmly explain to her that she should show appreciation for the things she does have, and stop worrying about everything that everyone else has. But, it goes in one ear and out the other. She didn't ask for her phone back or apologize for her behavior when I took her to school this morning...so I still have it. I'm just waiting for her to complain to her father or grandparents about how mean I am and I took her phone away

She wants the ipod touch for Hanukah...she got the nano last year and now it's not good enough. I feel like getting nothing for her this year, because she honestly doesn't know how to appreciate anything

Re: Showing graditude for things...or lack thereof

Think back to when you were that age. Were you the same?

Not that it's right, but it's hard for a 13 year old to see that aspect of things.

One of my good friends was having that issue with her son, so she took him to a homeless shelter for Christmas one year to work.

She explained that a lot of people don't have it nearly as good as he does and he should think about that.

It definitely changed him for the better (at least for a little while).

Maybe you can try something like that with her.

Re: Showing graditude for things...or lack thereof

Posted by leighla



Think back to when you were that age. Were you the same?

Not that it's right, but it's hard for a 13 year old to see that aspect of things.

One of my good friends was having that issue with her son, so she took him to a homeless shelter for Christmas one year to work.

She explained that a lot of people don't have it nearly as good as he does and he should think about that.

It definitely changed him for the better (at least for a little while).

Maybe you can try something like that with her.

Re: Showing graditude for things...or lack thereof