I am really upset at my normally nice 14 yo's "grabby" attitude. please advise.

[Selba]

My son is 14 next month.
We are discussing what he would like as a gift, with a budget of around £50.
He is complaining we won't buy him a Wii you ( Wii U?) . He says we clearly have plenty money so the £50 guideline/limit is "unfair " as all his friend get bought stuff like a Wii you.

I am so sad he has this attitude. He has never shown this before. Is this normal? I have suggested we give him £50 and he can earn money doing chores at the rate of £3 an hour for us and his grandparents ( they suggested this a long time ago but he never took them up on it) but he says no!!!

He is really feling hard done by and I am frankly flabbergasted. His dad says this is typical of kids these days.
Surely not?? What's the solution?
no gift at all for the ungrateful brat ?

[ripsishere]

It's a tricky one. My almost 12 YO DD is hard done by compared to her friends. She doesn't have an iPhone, iPad, iPod etc for two reasons, she'd lose them and we can't afford them.
As far as your DS goes, I am 100% in agreement about him doing jobs to earn the rest of the money for the bit of kit. I have no idea what they cost though.

[LadyWidmerpool]

It's hard for a 13 year old to understand the value of money. One day he'll look back and feel mortified. Don't let it upset you. Just be firm and keep calm.

[Selba]

ripsishere and LadyWidmerpool, thank you very much for replying.
i feel a bit better about it now since reading what you wrote.
.
I have found this episode really upsetting . He has never been like this before, has always been thankful for what he has and not asked for much or been materialistic

[Selba]

Me too Jim. I was a parent helper on a weekend away with about 60 children aged 12 - 14. I could not get over how many had iPhones .
My son got a laptop for Christmas.

We already have a wii( an ordinary one ) , a ps 3 and various hand held game consoles in the household .

Even if a wii you was not over budget I really don't want more screen stuff in the house but that is another issue. I expel inked that to my son as well

Apparently that's not fair either

[Astelia]

Teenagers want to fit in and be the same of their friends. I agree he will be mortified in years to come, but at the moment he just wants what his friends have got.

Actually the Wii U is very new, it isn't even out yet in the country I live in. You have to get a US import or one from HK. So I bet not many have got them yet of DS's friends. I must admit I am looking forward to getting a Wii U as they look fantastic. But I love all the screen stuff, it is DH who isn't bothered.

[Selba]

Thanks Astelia.

I am particularly shocked at his reluctance to save for it himself. If previous birthdays are anything to go by, he is likely to be given about £40- £50 in total from aunties and grannies.

We have offered him £50 to put towards it to, and to pay him for jobs round the house and garden . He is not in the least interested in this plan.

His sister who is younger saved for six months to buy a kindle !

[Astelia]

Younger sister will go far!