what is a parent to do?

[tammyandtommy]

Ok so my kids are spoiled I know it, Ive done it, I know they dont appreciate it! Soo why is it I still want to get them things they want. For example
They each got a new game system for xmas, Ab got PS2, Mike got Game cube. They already have game boy advance, now their birthdays are just about here, and they want the nintendo DS! Can someone help me? I need a support group! They dont play their game systems as much as I would like but I want them to have what they want! Anyone anyone? Im a spoiler... I need help.

Anyone have the Nintendo DS is it really that much different then the game boy advance?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am not the person to answer since we have ps2, xbox, gamecube, nintendo ds, and 3 gameboys.

Are you secretly a "gamer" in disguise? I have been playing since PONG.

 

[tammyandtommy]

i used to play all the time but started nursing school in Sept. so now I am only on VMK when I am avoiding studying. but alas no gaming for me til sept 2006

 

[beckmrk04]

My rule for my hubby is when one game system comes in, one goes out.

Before we had 2 gameboy advances, a Sega, a Dreamcast, supernintendo, PS2, N64... It was ridiculous.

I got him down to the PS2 and the N64, and when he gets a new system, the N64 goes.

Have them donate one- that way you teach them about being kind and generous and spoil them a little!

And the DS is a lot different (I worked at Wal-Mart in electronics for quite some time- we played with all of them....) It uses touch technology and is really cool. But, if they aren't going to play it, you might as well flush your money.

 

[tmt martins]

DD is the same only she plays her's at different time of the day for different systems I know crazy .

PS down stairs , X-box her room ,GBsp in Grams van, DS around the house ,and if she can get it away from me PSP for travel.

As for DS being different yes it is just like the next one they have already waiting to out with when sales slow .

 

[FreshTressa]

I play the DS all the time, lol!!

I'm currently addicted to the game "brain age"

 

[tarheelmjfan]

This is going to be a pretty pathetic support group full of enablers. I'm right there with the rest of you. I've even been known to question my DS, when he hasn't asked for the newest toy. He has to want it, right???

 

[swanmom]

They dont play their game systems as much as I would like ...

Sorry, I just had to read this twice. Did I just read that a parent doesn't think that their kid is playing video games enough ??? !!! OK, that definitely falls into the 'things-I-didn't-ever-think-I'd-hear' department!

 

[lyeag]

To be honest, I just say enough is enough. Both my girls have a gameboy advance. We also have a ps2, a gamecube and a N64. As long as there are games being made for the ps2 and gamecube, I refuse to buy a new system. There will always be something bigger and better coming along. I am afraid if I buy every new thing on the block, the kids will not recognize them as wants, but as needs. ( I have a hard enough time with dh on that one! )

I don't play games so that may be a big difference, but I see my kids spending way too much time on their butts as it is already. I feel like they have more than enough "stuff". I am sure that they have a lot less than some of their friends, but they seem to be okay with it. Stuff doesn't equal happiness.

And I am not trying to be snarky or put anyone down who does buy the newer systems. If you, the adult, play the games then you have every right to buy what you want and you most likely play with your kids as well. I don't want to offend anyone, but the OP asked what is a parent to do, so I answered what I do.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My rule for my hubby is when one game system comes in, one goes out.

No, no, no!!!! Nintendo & Playstation are 2 different systems!
PS2 is the only one with the Japanese RPG's.

 

[kelleigh1]

As a woman who married a spoiled only child, I beg you...please stop!!

I'm the middle child of three girls and we were taught how to earn the things we really wanted. That probably sounds fairly harsh, but it wasn't. My parents didn't have much money so they couldn't afford to buy us everything we wanted. At the risk of dating myself, when we were teens, we really wanted Nike's, but my parents couldn't see spending $30 or more on a pair of sneakers. Instead, they agreed to give us the money they would have spent on Trax for us and we had to earn the rest. We did get an allowance, so we learned to save the money for what we wanted.

My husband never learned to save anything. Do you have any idea how hard it is to teach a 36 year old man how to save? If you were to ask my MIL, she would tell you that she certainly did him a disservice by spoiling him. Just last week we had a discussion about our future and he pointed out that we don't have the money for the things we want to do (home and kids) then later that same day we were at the store and he's checking out the newest PS2 game that he wanted to buy...yet we've got a stack of games here that he hardly ever plays. He doesn't know how to save, budget or prioritize.

He's not a bad person and I'm sure your kids aren't either, but if you buy them the latest and greatest of everything as soon as it comes out, what are you teaching them?

I do like the other persons idea about donating the older systems because that will teach them to do for others. Another idea, take what you would spend on the new system...use half to buy games for their current system and put the other half into a college fund or savings account for them.

Hope you take this in the tone in which it was written. I don't want to tell you how to raise your kids, but I just wanted to give you some insight into what they could be facing 20 years from now.

 

[beckmrk04]

No, no, no!!!! Nintendo & Playstation are 2 different systems!
PS2 is the only one with the Japanese RPG's.

Oh, I get it!!! That still doesn't mean that we need 100 game systems and I CERTAINLY don't need a husband who sits around playing RPG's in all of his free time!! Don't even get me started on how many hours of his life were wasted on Final Fantasy! It gets absurd!

I like video games too, but it just gets ridiculous.

 

[beckmrk04]

Just last week we had a discussion about our future and he pointed out that we don't have the money for the things we want to do (home and kids) then later that same day we were at the store and he's checking out the newest PS2 game that he wanted to buy...yet we've got a stack of games here that he hardly ever plays.
.

My DH and I have this very same argument! We both want to start ttc soon, but need to save money. But still, we go to the store and he "needs" this for his ipod, or this new PS2 game...

I have resorted to, "Ok, if it's more important than a baby." It never has been!

But we do have the "needs VS. wants" conversation A LOT.

It IS hard when you are used to getting everything you wanted when you want it. Then learning that THAT isn't how life works is tough!

 

[Nancy]

I just say no. If they want games for what they have..fine...but no more new systems. BIG waste of money.

 

[tmt martins]

DD did buy Dance Dance Revolution so at least she is up and moving .Dw might start to play as weight loss.

 

[LittleRydia]

Im a gamer myself and well having a part time job I cant afford the newest games. this is what I do, and it would be great for your kids.

do you live in florida? if so look for a rhino video game store near you. If not, do you have EB game store? or perhaps some kind of game store that sells or buys used games and systems.

if you do, have your kids take in some of there older systems or games and sell/trade them. You can really trade two old games for one new one. This will teach them the value of it, and well save you money at the same time. Same goes for systems, you can get a pretty penny for a game system. The older the system, the more it worth since there not made anymore.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

My DH is also an only child. He does like his electronic toys, but he definitely wasn't spoiled by his parents. I was raised with 5 sisters & got a lot more than he did. The biggest difference I can tell in our personalities is he's more selfish. When you grow up in a house full of girls, everything's community property. He's also more frugal than I am.

I do spoil my DS & will be the 1st to admit it. However, I work very hard at making sure he's not selfish with his things. Along as they're willing to share, I really don't see the harm. I live by my dearly departed, mom's philosphy, but won't post it here because I don't want to offend anyone.

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

Sorry, I just had to read this twice. Did I just read that a parent doesn't think that their kid is playing video games enough ??? !!! OK, that definitely falls into the 'things-I-didn't-ever-think-I'd-hear' department!

Never thought i'd ever hear that said either.


Keilleigh1- thought that post was a great example of politeness. You explain you viewpoint and why you feel that way without attacking OP. Wish all the posts on the Disboards were so civilized.

To the OP- Its not so much how much kids actually have but whether they appreciate what they have or feel sorry for themselves for not having more.
So maybe you can give your kids a lot w/o their being spoiled.

 

[daisyduck123]

I'm not the person to ask...we have:
XBOX 360
XBOX (the other one?)
Playstation 2
Playstation
Gamecube
GameBoy Advance (2 of them)
Nintendo DS (2 of them)

Everytime DH brings home a new game system, he says it's for DS8..but DH plays it as much as DS8!!

 

[calie_j]

Another spoiler here tho we don't have all the game systems each child has their own gameboy that we just upgraded this year. DS who still had GB color cause he was going to a boarding school that didn't allow them and is now home got a DS. DD got upgraded from her hand me down GB color to an advance SP. DS who had the advance is getting upgraded to advance SP come his b-day. In my defense all the old systems were getting in bad shape with broken battery covers and the big reason is their rechargable battery packs died.

It hit me how bad they were spoiled when we were talking to DS about his college plans and had to lay it out there that the noncredited Bible college he was planning to go to (long story but it's associated with his old boarding school we took him out of which he didn't want to leave) if he went there he was on his own and we wouldn't give him ANY help, not even a ride down there which is 350 miles away. All he heard was we hated him because we weren't going to give him what he wanted

Some things we are starting to do are: give them clothes for b-days and xmas and less "stuff", make them pay out of their own money all or part of things they want, and I'm seriously considering a major cutdown of xmas gifts and do a weekend at an indoor waterpark instead. And that ipod DS was asking for last xmas, NO WAY, if he wants it he's saving for it himself.

Calie