Am I wrong for not bringing gifts back for my 13 year old brother?

[minkydog]

FYI, teenagers don't mean anything personal by their 'tudes. It's a hormonal thing and who can you safely dis if not your sister?

No, it's a matter of upbringing. If you teach your kids to graciously accept any gift, no matter how ridiculous or unwanted, you do them a favor for life. Being a teenager is no excuse for bad manners.

My kids have an aunt who is notorious for bad gifts. We have never allowed them to disparage or in any way express dissatisfaction with her gifts. They are polite and grateful for the spirit of the gift even as they plan to re-gift to presents to younger kids. DAunt has given them things like a Batman umbrella with matching Batman belt for DS when he was 15 , and Barbie tiara with matching Barbie change purse and musical Barbie wand when DD was 14. After years of prodding we finally just this year got her to just send money.

 

[luvsJack]

You did absolutely nothing wrong. The only thing I would add, is that maybe you could have a calm sit down, just you and him and explain as plain as possible why this happened. If your mom isn't going to teach him why he shouldn't act this way, maybe your talking to him will help him in that direction? As for your mom being mad--I wouldn't concern myself with that too much.


And I would suggest to him that the next time you go on a trip, if he wants you to bring him something particular he can save his money and send it with you to buy the item. Otherwise he will get what he gets, which may be nothing at all. Maybe he acts this way out of jealousy? It probably hard knowing your mom will never take him anywhere.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

OK, I'll bite and be the voice of dissention today.

I have also dealt with juvenile ingrates in my own family. I understand how you feel.

I would have bought him a token gift. As in, a bag of Goofy jelly beans or a box of Mickey chocolates. To me, bringing a gift after a trip simply means you thought of someone while you were there. And although your brother has shown ill manners, I'm sure you still love him. So it follows that you love him, you thought of him (which you did ) but you can't please him and have gotten no thank you, so this is what he gets.

If you look at the bigger picture, it would have solved some of your current problems. As in, you won the battle but lost the war.

You're free to do whatever you want.

 

[wdwfan16]

Your brother has a few things to learn about being a receiver but I still would have bought my 13 year old sibling a gift.

 

[karen l]

I would've done exactly the same thing - no gift. My parents taught us to thank someone for a gift even if we didn't like it. I've taught my children the same. your brother really needs to start acting like a young adult & not try to make you feel guilty.

 

[Goofyzgurl]

you did right and I wouldn't be bringing him any thing else in the future since he can't be grateful for what he does get.