1/29/9 10:17 p.m.
Okay, people. Thank you for letting me know that this crap is normal. I’ve been freaking out for several days now, worried that I had totally failed this parenting gig. Now that I think about it, they do thank other people and know to hold doors open for others and that sort of thing. So it is just me. I guess I can live with that.
Does anyone out there have a grateful child? I mean, a kid that consistently sometimes says “thank you” for the little things that you do or the little things that you go out of your way to get for them because it will make them happy? How about a kid that doesn’t roll their eyes at you when you tell them to read a book or play outside?
Are kids usually ungrateful or have I just failed as a parent? What the fuck do I do to fix this?
Look kid, I’m sorry that I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to watch t.v. for hours on end. I’m afraid that your chin is going to chap from that thin thread of drool that is on it. The fact that all of your friends call you “ESPN” because you always know what’s going on in the world of sports isn’t a good thing.
Other child o’ mine, you have got to quit raising your voice. It makes me want to die. I am not kidding. When I hear you start that screaming whine at your brother, for just a moment, I think of plucking my heart out and squeezing it like a grape so it will all be over. I don’t like wishing for a vital organ to pop.
They are in bed. They are quiet. Yay.

14 Comments, Comment or Ping
no they are ALL like that..
we are all doomed.
anyone who says otherwise is drunk or lying.
or both.
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January 28th, 2009 11:22 pm
WHEW! and here I thought it was only mine that rolled their eyes and got attitude!
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January 29th, 2009 12:13 am
Oh that? It’s TOTALLY normal! LOL
And I hate to tell ya, but it doesn’t get any better between brothers as they get older.
Mine are now 15 & 17, and they still fight, whine, piss and moan at each other around the damn clock.
There are days I want to kill them.
They are almost adults, they are young men, yet they still act like freaking 5 year olds.
And yes, there is hardly ever any gratitude, I rarely hear the word thank you from either of them for anything unless I do something major cool like upgrade their WoW accounts or some shit.
It’s not that they are selfish or ungrateful, it’s just the way kids are.
Kids simply don’t “think” they have to say thank you to their parents for things. They know they have to thank grandma for the card or birthday gift, but parents are always there, they don’t see that what we do for them is special, they just think it’s our job.
Try not to kill them, it will get better in spurts, then worse, then better, then worse. Off/on like a light switch as they age.
Take some time every day to just do something for yourself to relax. Right after they go to bed is best, take a good half hour to an hour, read a book, take a bath, have a drink, or 3. ;)
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January 29th, 2009 12:29 am
Thats just kids. Don’t let it get you down. They aren’t young for very long, and while you won’t miss times like this, you will miss many of the other things hat they do.
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January 29th, 2009 4:59 am
I don’t know how anyone does it! You are not alone. I know that doesn’t really help, but at least you know it is not unusual….It would drive me wild—especially that screaming….
Maybe that’s why I have only ever had Cats! (lol)
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January 29th, 2009 6:51 am
Fire up the bubble bath and alcohol. Yes, it’s normal.
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January 29th, 2009 7:13 am
Mine is grateful and says thank you for a lot of things but… she also whines!
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January 29th, 2009 9:13 am
I never hear a thank you without a prod to do it and mine are way to old to have to be asked “what do you say….?” But that only applies to me and my g/f, they remember with everyone else. Why are we so special??
My theory is that kids are horrible so that when they are grown and of an age to move out we are happy to see them go! My oldest is 17 and I am already anticipating the announcement that she’s old enough to be on her own and can take care of everything herself and is moving out. Then I can sit back and wait for her to call me whining about how expensive everything is and how hard it is to make ends meet….oh yeah….I shall bask in the subtle glow of the unspoken “I told you so”
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January 29th, 2009 9:21 am
nope, can’t help you. my kids just drove my wife to the *brink* yesterday. I *really* thought she was going to run out of the house and never come back. fortunately, I calmed her down but it took the rest of the evening to do so. :(
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January 29th, 2009 3:59 pm
Maggie screams. It drives me batshit crazy. She just told Kate (literally just a few minutes ago) that she was going to beat her ass.
Eventually they grow out of the eye rolling thing. At least mine have. Most of the time.
At least you have coaew to blame for their behavior. ;)
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January 29th, 2009 5:28 pm
Congratulations, mom. They are ALL like that. Even the ones that everyone deems “nice”, “kind” and “adorable”. I promise.
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January 29th, 2009 9:46 pm
They’re pretty much teens now. Or almost teens. It comes with the territory… I’m dreading when Sam turns into this… but I think I’ll just pound on her. Have you tried pounding on them? Smacking them in face? If it doesn’t stop them from being little asshats it’ll at least make you feel better ;)
You know, or just drink heavily.
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January 30th, 2009 12:12 am
Sure that’s all normal, which is why I advocate for abortion until the age of 18.
Having saind that, my 4th, a 16 yr old girl, always say please and thank you, works for all her allowances, is gracious to a fault. I have no idea why she is that way. The other 3 sure as hell weren’t.
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January 30th, 2009 5:59 pm
No matter how much you do for them, they are pretty much always ungrateful in one way or another.
You just have to learn to love them for their ungratefulness.
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February 1st, 2009 2:49 pm
Reply to “Wah, wah, wah.”