My kids are spoiled....

[DVCBELLE]

We own DVC and tonight we were discussing our upcoming Sept. Trip. My kids started whining about something we were planning and my DH says - if you two keep this up - we are going to cancel our Beach Club and Boardwalk reservations and book the one of those $25 a night Best Westerns for our next trip.

They were horrified. I told my DH that we should really do that - DRIVE (gasp!), stay in the cheapest hotel we can find in Orlando, not buy any extras and go in July at the height of crowds and heat to show our kids how lucky they have it each year when we go to Disney.

Then we started cracking up laughing...to teach our kids a lesson about how spoiled they are - we are going to take them to Disney World on a trip that any child would be lucky to go on! yea - that will show them how spoiled they are

But then we got an even bigger chuckle when we realized after a couple of days - it probably would not be our kids crying for BW!!

My kids are very lucky that we are financially secure and do take wonderful family vacations together each year. One of the reasons we bought DVC was for that very reason - DH knew that if he was commited to points - he would go each year. But sometimes I think my kids have no idea how sweet they have it!

 

[vicki_c]

I totally feel that way about my kids as well -- who have been to WDW 6 times in the last 2 years, not counting numerous trips prior to that (they are 11 and 8). We own DVC too, but we have also had 2 Poly club level trips. And a cruise.

We go because we love to go (DH and me) and of course, the kids come along. They like it too but I do think they are just getting a little too entitled about it. I definitely don't think they appreciate it the way my husband and I do.

They are, however, disappointed that we won't be going to Vermont this summer - which is something we do every few years (normally on our non-Disney years) -- maybe it's just that familiarity breeds contempt and we've been to Disney a lot in the past few years.

But you're right -- they don't know how lucky they are, even though we do try to tell them.

 

[DVCBELLE]

I do make an effort to make sure that they know how hard DH works so that I can stay home with them and so that we can take great vacations! But you have to wonder if is really is sinking in.

When DD was younger we went to Disney without my DH and she met Mary Poppins. Mary asked her who she was visiting with and my DD looked at her and said "My mommy and Grandma - Daddy had to stay home and work for money so I can go to WDW!" Mary cracked up laughing.

It did take a while for DD to learn that Daddy also works for our house, food, clothes, etc and not just trips to WDW!

 

[Cruise]

I never fail to have that "I can't believe kids these days" at least once whenever we go on a Disney Cruise. There are, of course, kids everywhere. But did any of us (in the post-30 crowd) EVER get to do something like that when we were kids?? Heck, no! We vacationed at the lake an hour up the road and stayed in a cabin and thought we had it good!

 

[fireman1]

Lol. spoiled isn't the word..I can remember going to FL as a small child and my dad would have us sleep in the van. Seriously..
He was so tight he squeaked when he walked.
My daughter is 15 and is about to take her 6th trip to the world with me..I guess i'm trying to give her what I didn't get.

 

[iwrbnd]

Lol. spoiled isn't the word..I can remember going to FL as a small child and my dad would have us sleep in the van. Seriously..
He was so tight he squeaked when he walked.

That's so funny!

 

[metz72]

My kids have no idea how good they have it. Besides two Disney trips in the last 3 years, we have two more in the works. One this October for a wedding and then again in June of 2011 when oldest DD dances at MK with her dance team. My first trip to Disney was when they went. The girls were 6 and 10.

This doesnt even include all the other vacations they have had - trips to Kentucky, Mall of America and lots of trips to Chicago. I didn't stay in a hotel until I was 13 and they have racked up more hotel nights then I can imagine.

My mom and dad would get us up at 3am and pack hard boiled eggs and blueberry muffins for breakfast and sandwiches that we would eat a rest stop to save money on hotels and meals. I vowed I would never do that to my kids. Did I mention that there were 4 of us aged 8-14 crammed in the back of a chevy hatchback for the road trips? My two girls have the entire back of a Sienna minivan.

 

[fireman1]

Ha yeah..I can remember 7 of us loading up in the car and heading to FL to the beach..my grandparents, cousins, my mom, and me. ( Beverly hillbillies lol) We would stop at rest stops and eat a packed lunch. Sometimes, two or three carloads of us would go.
It's funny to remember, but its good memories.

 

[DVCBELLE]

Oh yea - we had four of us in the backseat of my mom's car. One of us laid across the foot area - with pillows and suitcases filling the holes where the bump was so it was flat - two of us on the seat and either my brother or I laying across the back by the window. It's amazing that we made it to adulthood - could you imagine having your children do that now!?!?!

I remember when we finally got a station wagon how awesome it was that we could lay across the back of it!!!

We started our trips either at 5 am or 11 pm so Dad could drive through the night and we wouldn't bother him. There were times I had to pee on the side of the road b/c dad didn't want to pull over and get all 4 of us out for a rest stop so you had to wait until we had a planned stop or on the side of the road. My brother had it easy - he just used a cup

I was in HS when my parents got a van with a vcr in it - we thought we were they coolest people in the world!

It is funny how I hated those car rides - but I sure have a lot of great memories from them! I bet my kids have never had as much fun on a plane as we did singing every song in the world on our car trips, or playing the Alphabet or license plate game!!!! Oh we must have driven our parents CRAZY!!

 

[fireman1]

lol, yeah..we took several bathroom breaks on the side of the road..I told my daughter about that and she was like, ''what???, no way would I do that. Why didn't you guys just go to a McDonald's or something''. lol.
Like there was a McDonald's or BK everywhere back then like there is now.

 

[StephMK]

Then we started cracking up laughing...to teach our kids a lesson about how spoiled they are - we are going to take them to Disney World on a trip that any child would be lucky to go on! yea - that will show them how spoiled they are

Anytime you really want to teach them a lesson, you are welcome to send them to our house & I'll happily accompany you to WDW! I promise to be extremely appreciative!


Mine are pretty spoiled too compared to my upbringing. We travel many more places than I did as a kid but not to the level as many on here. As much as we try to teach them, there are just major differences in things they are used to.
I volunteered in a low income school last semester and was amazed that no children complained about lunch. They got very few choices and either ate it or didn't. No one fussed about what they got, insisted on something else or brought elaborate packed lunches. It made me feel really bad that my kids fuss if they don't get their favorite fruit cup or lunch choice of 4 entrees at their school.

 

[fireman1]

By American standards, i'm lower middle income. By world standards, i'm wealthy. I own a Car, home, 4 tv's, computer, x-box, playstation, can go on vacations, etc etc..But, I want more for my daughter.

 

[teacup princess]

We should start a thread just devoted to the things our parents did that would be considered crazy by todays terms.

We went on vacation (camping) in a homemade camper that my dad made out of a grain truck. After farming season, my parents would scoop the grain out of the truck. Bolt a wood framed roof and back door onto the back of the truck, attach some bunk bed hanging from chains inside the bed of the truck, load it with stuff and off we'd go with us riding down the road in the back.

I mean we got some crazy looks even back then. Could you imagine today? We'd all be thrown in jail. However, when I look back on this, these trips were my fondest childhood memory. My brothers and I talk about it every time we get together.

 

[ohlas]

We all want to give our kids more then we had..

I loved the car trips with my family.. old vw van.. I was the only kids out of 3 that could stay up all night to chat at my dad to keep him awake..

My kids are spoiled with stuff too,, but i also make them do work with the homeless and woman shelters..keeps little reality of how nice they have it.

Its the small silly stuff we remeber from childhood that makes it special..not that my dad got up at 6am everymorning to go to a job he didnt really love to give us the thing we needed and when we went on family vacations mostly to familys houses, or day trip to disney he still had to work all day then drive 12 hours to get to fla,

thanks dad, and im sorry i keep hitting my sister for about 3 hrs till my mom let me sit in the front lol bad me...

 

[nunzia]

Yep...us too..WAY back in the day..I first went to Disney in 1966..and we drove from Reno and I still remember that dang Streisand 8 track the ENTIRE trip..we all loved Disney and of course, Uncle Walt was on our TV every Sunday night. Our other trip was to Santa Cruz..loved that place..so different than now..When our kids were little we took trips we couldn't afford..so glad we did. We never stayed on site at DL (no resort then)and I worked making clay sculptures to pay for our trips. We'd do Disney, Sea World, Knotts..one time WDW (Beach Club!) Now I kind of spoil the GK with trips..but I do think it's really important they understand the cost and appreciate it. Maybe have them help in some way..do chores for the Disney jar..something..so they grow up appreciating that trips are a luxury and take sacrifice..

 

[winniedapooh]

I knew my kids got how "lucky", "spoiled", you fill in the blank, they are...when I commented about this on a trip a few years ago to my then very self-centered teen. He looked at me with those big eyes of wonder and in all seriousness said "Mom, we are not lucky--we are blessed". One by one each of them began talking about being blessed and not lucky. It was one of the few times all five of them agreed on something, lol. Sigh...I just about melted right there. I try to hold onto this when they ARE acting like self-centered spoiled teens, lol!

 

[blanq]

I can relate, OP! I, too, have created a spoiled travel monster! I had a funny moment with my son a few years ago. I think he was about 11 at the time and we were going to a function far enough from home that we needed a hotel, but the town was small so there were not tons of options. We booked the Holiday Inn, and DS kind of rolled his eyes and asked...they have a concierege, don't they? Huh? Um, no, they don't kid. The thing is we really don't stay in concierge level that often anyway, so I am not sure where that came from, but it was funny and telling. I sure hope DS chooses a well-paying career because he is going to need it with his tastes.

 

[quentina]

When my son was around 6, we walked into a Ramada. He opened the door, looked around and said....Where's the rest of it??

We know what you mean about being spoiled!

 

[Mom21]

Deleted just because I didn't realize some would consider writing about your life as a brag fest. I apologize. Actually showed my dd in a negative light,so not so sure what's bragging about having a brat.

 

[DVCBELLE]

Luckily, my kids don't act spoiled and they are very kind-hearted but I do realize that they have no idea that the way we vacation is not the norm!

I remember one time my friends got irritated with me when I said I couldn't afford to go to a concert with everyone. I quickly pointed out to them that I was not rich - my parents were and they did not freeely hand me everything I wanted in life. I had to have a job in the summer and pay for my own gas and entertainment. I intend to make sure that my kids have to do the same!

I do worry about my kids making enough money someday - afterall - my 6 year old thinks the coolest job in the world would be making fries and McFlurries at McDonald's OR of course being a baseball player. I try really hard to remind them that the more training and education you need for a job - the more money you make. If they can teach a 16 year old to do the job - its not getting you our house and to Disney every year!