And this is why I hate MTV's Super Sweet Sixteen "......

[Kteacher]

..... because it makes kids think that's normal life! Today is my DD's 14th birthday We don't go over board for birthdays, but try to do something special. This year we got her an ipod, and I also wrapped an outfit ( denim skirt and top ) and put it on the breakfast table along with a card telling her how much we loved her. We'll go out to dinner tonight -she gets to pick the restaurant. So she looks at me and says- what else are we doing for her birthday This is the same kid that thinks she's getting a Dodge Viper when she turns 16....... Someone please tell me that there is a Barbie Viper that I can buy ! Our 2 older kids are boys, and we never went through anything like this So now I feel like a crappy parent because " all " she got for her birthday was an ipod , dinner, and a new outfit

 

[crazyme5kids]

Hey happy birthday to your daughter! Today is my sons 14th birthday too! He wants to go shopping for his gifts, he said he didn't want any surprise birthday gifts .

 

[briannesmom]

I hate that show too and yet I can't stop watching it. It absolutely amazes me what these parents do for kids with that kind of attitude. I don't think I have ever seen an episode that the girl wasn't a complete witch.

Don't feel like a crappy mom. I would love an ipod and a new outfit for my birthday. I'm sure your DD loves it too. She is just being 14 which by definition means she is a pain in the butt.

Amy

 

[Kteacher]

Thanks Amy We're also taking her and a friend mini golfing after dinner ( when it's not 100 degrees out I just hope she doesn't discover that show " Bridezillas " !

 

[Daxx]

So now I feel like a crappy parent because " all " she got for her birthday was an ipod , dinner, and a new outfit

First of all, you're not a crappy parent!!! You are a parent who lives w/in her means and gives her child what she deems fit. Nothing wrong w/that. Teens don't need these huge bashes, cars, etc. To me, it looks like a lot of these parents are trying to buy their kids popularity (among other things).

Second of all, you can tell your DD that she could've ended up w/nothing for her bday. I'm sure it's too late now, but if she gripes again, I'd take the outfit and I-pod away from her and tell her that they can just go back to the store since she's not appreciative. Or, tell her that there's prob. some kid at a local shelter who would be v. grateful for those items. Tell her that there are kids (some that she may even know) who get even less than that for their bdays. Tell her it's not a competition.

Whenever DS is ungrateful, I simply turn the computer on and show him photos of kids living in homes made of boxes and garbage bags and tell him that these kids get nothing and their mothers prob. don't even remember their bday b/c it was just another day. I tell him that these kids would be grateful for a new pair of shoes and some clothes and the least of their concerns is a new toy or what-have-you!

Good luck, Mom!!!! You are not a crappy parent -- you are a WONDERFUL parent b/c you don't want your child to grow up like those gals on Sweet 16. Those girls are all nasty to their parents and appear ungrateful. I don't know if it's the editing ... but I've never seen these kids do anything but whine and cry.

 

[Teacher03]

I completely understand! My daughter turned 16 last year, and she is the only one out of her group of friends who did not get a car for her birthday. Everytime a friend turns 16, I hear about the new car they got. Some of the friends are wealthy, some are not. I don't understand how they can afford it, and why I feel so guilty because I can't. In my daughter's defense, she doesn't complain too much, but I know it's coming once school starts and she has to ride the dreaded bus! Oh well, she'll appreciate it more when she does get one!

 

[Kteacher]

uggh... if you look at one of my tickers you'll see that I've planned a mother /daughter trip to WDW in Oct. for the Columbus Day weekend. I bought matching gold charm bracelets with a Mickey charm that I've been planning to give her right before our trip Now I'm afraid it's my fault and I've spoiled her somehow. Nothing like parental guilt

 

[arkansas mom]

Thanks Amy I just hope she doesn't discover that show " Bridezillas " !

Can you imagine!
"Mom, I want the $20,000 dress and the $15,000 cake." And then after the wedding comes the realization that, dang, that $20,000 would buy an awful lot of milk and toilet paper!

 

[shortbun]

When my son starts complaining about what he doesn't have or get, I smile and offer to give him less. I don't yell or act mean, I just smile and say, we could do less -K? He always says, "sorry Mom." and "thanks for everything!" He DOES appreciate things but other parents and TV do set the bar pretty high.
I think an IPOD and an outfit plus dinner out is a pretty darn nice birthday!
I've not seen the show you mentioned but I can just imagine! Good luck.

 

[Daxx]

uggh... if you look at one of my tickers you'll see that I've planned a mother /daughter trip to WDW in Oct. for the Columbus Day weekend. I bought matching gold charm bracelets with a Mickey charm that I've been planning to give her right before our trip Now I'm afraid it's my fault and I've spoiled her somehow. Nothing like parental guilt

This is not spoiling your child. This is parent bonding time!!! I took DS9 on a Mother and Son trip to WDW for no reason except that we got great rates on airfare and hotel and had time off from school to do it in. Unfortunately, DH had to work and couldn't join us.

If you were sending DD to Disney and paying for 10 of her friends to go w/her, then (in my mind) I'd think you're spoiling ... but who am I to judge that!?!?

Your trip is to bond ... that is NOT spoiling!!!!!

 

[Daxx]

the realization that, dang, that $20,000 would buy an awful lot of milk and toilet paper!

Or go towards a new house!!!

 

[punkin]

My DD13 has a very big case of the Iwannas. I did not get her an i-pod (pushover grandfather did-she's his favorite). I refuse to get her a cell phone (even though DH promissed). Her clothes are bought strictly on sale.

I did get her a computer for her 13th birthday, but she got no other gifts the entire year and she contributed $500 of her own money towards it. (I got tired of her constantly using my computer)

He 14th is in October and I will probably get her an outfit. I will also allow a party in the house for 10 people. That's it.

 

[sweet angel]

As the parent of a spoiled DS15, I think an ipod, dinner out and an outfit is MORE THAN ENOUGH for a birthday.

 

[DVC Sadie]

I hate that kids expect lavish gifts because they see others getting lavish gifts. Please don't ever feel guilty for not buying a childs love or not being able to buy a new car for a childs birthday.

One way to bring children back to reality is to volunteer as a family at a local soup kitchen. I did this with my son and it really helped open his eyes to the real world.

I hope your dd has a great birthday!

 

[TheBellhop]

As the parent of a spoiled DS15, I think an ipod, dinner out and an outfit is MORE THAN ENOUGH for a birthday.

Even though I'm not a parent...

 

[christineann]

By not spoiling kids like they do on that Sweet 16 show, kids will have a grip on reality. Those kids on that show are little monsters, and their parents are totally to blame.

The kids in my son's and daughter's school got new cars, some before they even had a license. My kids had to put the down payments on their used cars and are responsible for the upkeep, gas, etc., and their cars are in much better shape than the new ones their classmates got. Some kids they went to school with are driving their third cars due to wrecks or "not the right color interior "

 

[Brier Rose]

As the parent of a spoiled DS15, I think an ipod, dinner out and an outfit is MORE THAN ENOUGH for a birthday.

ITA!!

My DD (14) is S-P-O-I-L-E-D, I even had "spoiled rotten" engraved on her Ipod as a joke.

I still think she'd be thrilled with an ipod, an outfit, and dinner out wherever she wants!

Oh, and we both watch the Sweet 16 show. I know she wishes that we had that kind of money, but I don't see any $200,000 parties in her near future!

I tell her all the time that she's still young, if that's the kind of lifestyle she wants maybe one day she'll have it! Would it be hard to come by..YES..but not impossible!

Have to start with a good education though..this always makes her study harder!

 

[Becky2005]

I agree with everyone else here! You are not a crappy mom for getting your DD what you did. It sounds more than enough to me.

Unfortunately, sometimes I don't think it matters what you get them, they will always want something more. Try to not let it get you down.

I sometimes watch the Sweet 16 show but then was doing some research on it since it seemed so over the top, etc... Some of the stuff I read was that a lot of it was staged and not even real. For example, the kids don't get to keep the cars at the end. I don't know how much of that is true but it seems it's kind of weird how the superstars they want to perform even if it originally said they can't make it, magically appear, etc... I always thought that the performers actually did it for PR to be on TV, etc...

Luckily, my kids haven't seen the show (unfortunately, my DD has seen the WDW wedding one though now and says she is having her wedding at WDW! OUCH! I had best save my pennies! ).

She's only 12 though.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

My DD who is 20 didn't get an iPod til she went to college. I think your DD is very lucky and has no room to complain.

I am hooked on Super Sweet 16. It is like watching a train wreck, you just can't look away. The girls all think that somehow they deserve all these things. Even DD thinks it is over the top.

My kids were involved with us shopping for Angel Tree gifts at church. They got to see kids asking for warm clothes as gifts. I think then they realized that they were fortunate.

 

[Miller1412]

We have friends that throw a huge bash every year for their kindergartener. Years 1-5 she's had a party with over 100 people. Last year it was a carnival theme and they rented a popcorn machine, hot dog cart, cotton candy machine, moon bounce and even a snap the whip RIDE!! It was her 5th birthday...

I always wonder what her 16th will look like, and then her wedding! I guess we'll be watching her on that show a few years down the road.