We gave this kid a great day out and he never said thanks

[SandraM]

We brought our next door neighbour’s son, age 11, to Europe’s largest indoor water park today. He was swimming with our son for about 2 and a half hours, then we bought them a meal.

Just before we left, this kid bought himself a big bag of candy, and didn’t offer a single piece to my son, myself or my husband.

When we got home he never even said thank you!

I won’t be bringing him out again. Ungrateful little wretch.

 

[JohnsPrincess]

I completely know how you feel. I'm sorry!!

 

[HoneyPooh]

Been there before, very frustrating isn't it?

 

[Elwood Blues]

Gee, I wonder who he learned that from?

 

[Serena]

That child need some parents that will do the job they are supposed to. Saying thank you, sharing, showing appreciation is part of a parents job to teach.

I have to edit this. It may not have been the parents fault for not teaching the child. As someone just mentioned, sometimes the kids just don't do what they have been taught.
I should have known better.

 

[SandraM]

Originally posted by Elwood Blues
Gee, I wonder who he learned that from?

Thanks, you made me laugh out loud! DH & I had just been saying this kid didn't lick it up off the ground - his parents are the most self-centred people around.

We recently got a sum of money for a barbecue for the neighbours and their kids (from a film company who'd been shooting on the street). It went a little over budget so we asked for 7 euros from each household (less than $10). There was a mountain of food and drink, and everybody was sent home with some of what was left.

The kid we had out today belongs to the only family who didn't pay up.

 

[The--Doc]

I hate greedy kids - i was always taught to share

 

[4greatboys]

I recently took my 14 yr old and 2 of his friends to the movies. I was just supposed to be the driver and the kids were to pay their own way. Well the boy only had $5 so I paid for his, then I paid for the girls because it just didnt seem right for me to pay for everyone but her. Neither said thanks for paying for us, for picking us up, for driving us home. No thanks for nothing. I told my ds when they do out of the car when he was with other parents he better be thanking them for whatever. Its just the polite thing to do.

 

[The LK 4]

My children are very good at saying please and thank you. I love when they have friends over who are polite. I make sure to let their parents know how much I appreciate it.

I've "yelled" at my boss a few times for telling me to do something without saying "please" and "thank you"!

 

[zagafi]

ARGH. Lack of manners is one thing that just *sends* me. That is one of my parenting "non-negotiables" and I just do not understand why manners and courtesy have become optional. UGH!

 

[Tina]

Don't blame the kid. Blame the parents. I was one of those kids when I was young. I wasn't ungrateful. I was just never taught manners by my mother and was a little on the shy side to boot. It was actually the mother of a friend that "forced" me to learn my manners and at the time I thought she was mean. Now I really appreciate what she did for me.

 

[Danauk]

I know what you mean. As a teacher over the past 6 years I have taken kids on 13 over night trips lasting for several days (we do not get paid overtime for this, we do it because we feel the kids would really enjoy themselves and learn a lot.) We take about 30 kids each time and I can count the number of parents who have said thank you on one hand. No wonder some kids don't have manners eh?

 

[pw2pp]

Is he an extremely shy child? Was he quiet around you anyway? I've known of some children who will talk to their friend - and their friends are usually the talkers and that is the only way the friendship even started because the child had such severe social anxiety, but they hardly say a word to adults.
I may be way off, the kid you are speaking of may be a talker. But if he is very shy, this may be part of the reason for his not saying thank you. Just something to consider.

 

[Elwood Blues]

Originally posted by Tina
Don't blame the kid. Blame the parents. I was one of those kids when I was young. I wasn't ungrateful. I was just never taught manners by my mother and was a little on the shy side to boot. It was actually the mother of a friend that "forced" me to learn my manners and at the time I thought she was mean. Now I really appreciate what she did for me.

GASP!!!!

Another adult besides "Mommy Dearest" actually taught you some manners?

How rude!!!!

He he he

Try that today and "Mommy Dearest" will usually rip you a new one.

 

[nativetxn]

That's too bad. You were very generous with him, he could at least have said "thank you".

 

[mamajoan]

I feel your pain.. it is not a nice feeling to be unappreciated.

Ours is one of the homes that the teenagers tend to gather.... which I like a lot. My own kids know that THANK YOU is very important to me. When their buddies forget to say thanks.. my kids will remind them to do so.. and then the buddies catch on to how things work around here... LOL

and yes, it makes me feel good when other parents tell me that my kids are always helpful and polite... whew! It is something we worked on for many years.

Maybe next time you take this kid somewhere or even give him a cookie at your own home and he does not reply with a Thanks...

Say " Your welcome" before he walks away.. Hopefully he will get a clue from the cue!

 

[Disney Doll]

Well, based on your description of the parents, it sounds like the apple didn't fall far from the tree. Thats' too bad though, because the kid has ever been taught any better due to his ungrateful parents, and yet he will bear the brunt of his rude behavior in the future.

I have nephews who are like that. Their parents don't do anything that remotely resembles parenting, so when the kids are rude or say nasty things, the parents will shrug their shoulders and say "well, he's 5". Yes, I know he's 5 and at age 5 I don't expect him to be perfectly behaved but I do expect you to correct and teach him when he makes a mistake so he knows better next time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[damo]

Originally posted by pw2pp
Is he an extremely shy child? Was he quiet around you anyway? I've known of some children who will talk to their friend - and their friends are usually the talkers and that is the only way the friendship even started because the child had such severe social anxiety, but they hardly say a word to adults.
I may be way off, the kid you are speaking of may be a talker. But if he is very shy, this may be part of the reason for his not saying thank you. Just something to consider.

I was going to mention this. I have a very shy son and his quiet little thank you is just as heart felt as another kid who may gush all over you.

 

[KristaTX]

How old is he? It wouldn't be easy an easy thing to do, but maybe by continuing to interact with him you or your son can find a way to teach him "please" and "thank you" (without ever bad-mouthing his parents to him.) That would be a lifelong gift to this boy. If no one teaches him this, he'll grow up to be just as self-absorbed as his parents are .

 

[KristaTX]

nevermind about the age thing - I see that he is 11 from your original thread