My teenage son feels the need to lie about his xmas presents to his mate...

victory

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elona

Victory

You have a lovely and sensible son and he is very lucky to have a loving family that he can talk to.

The friend will end up knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing!

My daughter (nearly 13) gave ten friends a book each that should have cost a fiver each - I got the set from the book people for a tenner for the lot. I did not tell her how cheap they were just that I had got a good deal.

All the people she gave a book to were really pleased with it and impressed by it, but we were not trying to be flash.

I think my DDs will like their presents tomorrow but we have not gone crazy buying stuff and a lot of thought has gone into them.

Bennifred

I agree with all the other posters, victory - your son is lucky compared to the other lad! I don't think I'd encourage him to lie about what he gets though, because the when the other lad comes round to your house he's likely to catch him out in the lie.......

Hope you have a fantastic day tomorrow - don't let other parents' poor judgement cast a pall over the day. xx

somethingaboutshopping

Please try not to be upset!

This is totally unrelated but I guess the moral is applicable.........
Once in Primary 7 as part of our classwork we had to write how we spent our weekends in our News Book. Obviously at the age we all assumed that by implication weekend = pocket money. Now I had the happiest childhood of anyone I know, but mum didn't go to college til she was 35 and dad is self-employed so I was the original council estate kid! Anyway, what I didn't know until years later was that at Parents Night my teacher had shown my mum what I had written in my News Book for that piece of work about my weekends. And it said how at the weekend we went to the supermarket with mum to help her with the shopping, and visited our grandparents, and for some reason I had written that I didn't get any pocket money at the weekends. I had also, however, written that I didn't mind not getting pocket money because mum and dad paid for me to go to karate during the week, and that my best friend also came over for dinner and mum would always give her the same treats and things she got for me and my siblings.

My mum kept it and she said it always made her really happy because she knew she was doing a great job!

Now I know for a fact that you are worrying about something you shouldn't be...... Your son is going to enjoy his day tomorrow isn't he? You are all going to have a lovely meal together aren't you? He isn't waking up to a sock with a piece of coal and an orange in it is he?

It's so much pressure, it really is, and I do understand how you feel. But your son obviously doesn't care what his friend is actually getting he is just bothered that he makes a point of being rude about it, which is how you want your kid to be right?

Now, no more worrying PLEASE, you are great, and the fact that you care so much about how your son feels is just amazing. And I am sure he would be more than a little annoyed if he knew you were crying on Christmas Eve, so off you go and relax, watch the telly, look at your tree and feel smug knowing that you have a moral and loving teenage son and a great day to look forward to tomorrow

xxxxxxx

iceicebaby

Hiya

Your son sounds like a star and you shoud be very proud of him.

this other lad probably gets lots of material things, but then that is probably because his parents are over compensating for something. His parents feel the need to buy him lots of things to make up for doing as good a job as you obviously are with your son.

victory

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delhome

my daughter has just been reading this thread with me and she said that he should up his presents a bit. My ratbag is an only child too but she was outraged by the way his friend bragged about what he was going get. I have bought my daughter a computer for christmas but it has skinted me but she knows that it is her main present and she doesnt expect anything else. Of course she has got a few little bits but my daughter has a good concept of money and as I dont work at the moment the computer has been a struggle to get and she appreciates that.
My daughter has also just said that the friend is a flash ***

smallblueplanet

I guess I'm out of touch with the 'youth of today', but surely Christmas is an enduring experience that is not just about what presents you got?

I love Christmas-time, the older I get the more I try to recapture the 'real' Christmas meaning and experience - have just finished watching 'A Christmas Carol'! (and a glass or two of port!)

I'm sure your son will do what is right, I hope you enjoy your Christmas together, he'll remember that a lot longer than his mate remembers his new 'toys'!

Merry Christmas!

Mrs_pbradley936

I predict that the friend will not be on the scene for much longer – your son will just learn faster than the rest of us did that everyone hates braggers.

shopaholicsan

To anyone reading this thread and maybe worrying about what they have or have not been able to give their children for Christmas try this....
Ask what they got for Christmas last year - I know the answers will differ but I bet in general they will struggle to remember the items you were so concerned about last year!!!
Happy memories are more valuable than the latest material things.
Happy Christmas and a money saving new year to you all xx