Jump to content

Why can't parents just say "NO" ?


observer

Recommended Posts

It seems some parents are going into debt and taking pay day loans in order to feed the levels of expectation (wants) of their children; some are even still paying off the interest on loans from last Xmas. A piece on CH4 news; showed a single mother of five kids, who basically will be totally dependent on benefits (perhaps she should have learned to say "no"!), with her eldest daughter, now a single mother; saying how she can't face the look of disappointment on her kids faces, if they're refused presents; hence the never ending spiral into debt.  Isn't it time to change this materialistic culture driven by wall to wall advertising, with parents being driven to strive to "keep up with the Jones's" and cater for "the wants" (not needs) of their brood?  After all, for those that believe, isn't Christmas a spiritual construct NOT a materialistic one?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Obs, my dad said EXACTLY the same as you on the phone earlier as he had seen it too.  He mentioned a grandmother (again struggling on benefits) who couldn't understand why she shouldn't borrow money so she could spend £100 on each of her 3 grandkids at xmas.  That does seem a lot of money though.

 

I'm sort of split though as I can't think of anything worse than having no money at all and not being able to buy kids any pressies at xmas but then again there's always the old way of saving a couple of £'s every week and I'm sure many could do that if they tried :(

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This year's must have, even for kids at primary school, appears to be an I-pad;  if the kid doesn't get one it could result in huge psychological damage and feelings of inferiority to the point of suicide, I guess.  They simply won't make do with a sock full of nuts, and an apple and orange these days! But I guess the kids rule the roost nowadays and grow up to expect everything they want, and now, but don't necessarily need.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This year's must have, even for kids at primary school, appears to be an I-pad;  if the kid doesn't get one it could result in huge psychological damage and feelings of inferiority to the point of suicide, I guess.

 

I've no idea where you get this drivel from but, seriously, do you believe it?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not blaming "the kids" Diz, they are products of their upbringing. But we've had several generations of materialism now, with the addition of instant gratification through credit. Ironically, those born in the 60s and 70s, will be the first generation in history to be worse off than their parents.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If the eight-year-old me had got the Johnny 7 I asked for, I could've been a contender.

 

My life was ruined because I only got a cheapskate Big Game Hunter Outfit - with MULTI-COLOURED TORCH!

 

Which didn't help matters, really, when my mates had GRENADE LAUNCHERS and stuff.

 

And just look what it's DONE to me.

 

<sobs>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

:lol: feel for your trauma Fughts - we had to make do with two dolly pegs stuck together for a gun, until we had the money to afford something better; and the advice we got was, " if you want the money, get a paper round".   Kije, you always seem to get stuck on some niche. Go back to the original topic post, and it's evident that the "I want it now" culture hasn't dissipated, but is still with us; despite the financial crash caused by borrowing that couldn't be afforded, driven by huge advertising pressures, and aided and abetted by reckless banks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ironically, those born in the 60s and 70s, will be the first generation in history to be worse off than their parents.

 

I don't know any of my mates that I went to school with who would be classed as being worse off than their parents.... born in 1963!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This year's must have, even for kids at primary school, appears to be an I-pad;  if the kid doesn't get one it could result in huge psychological damage and feelings of inferiority to the point of suicide, I guess.  They simply won't make do with a sock full of nuts, and an apple and orange these days! But I guess the kids rule the roost nowadays and grow up to expect everything they want, and now, but don't necessarily need.

I never had you down as a Yorkshireman

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Seems to me that the people that can least afford to buy presents, spend a greater proportion of their income doing so, than those who can afford it. A few days ago I had to sit with a friend who was already ill and now reduced to tears because she couldn’t afford lend her own children money to but presents for her grandchildren.

 

It’s all wrong these days, but then again we’ve all been conditioned by years of commercialisation so it’s only what you’d expect. The kids won’t remember who bought them what anyway, I certainly can’t remember anything in particular that I got for Christmas as a kid except perhaps for a wooden castle that my dad made for me one time.

 

If kids are ever to learn anything then let them learn that a gift should only be what can realistically be afforded by the family.

 

Bill :)

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If the eight-year-old me had got the Johnny 7 I asked for, I could've been a contender.

 

My life was ruined because I only got a cheapskate Big Game Hunter Outfit - with MULTI-COLOURED TORCH!

 

Which didn't help matters, really, when my mates had GRENADE LAUNCHERS and stuff.

 

And just look what it's DONE to me.

 

<sobs>

 

I'm sure you looked a damn sight cooler to your first girlfriend with  that  torch than your macho mates did....especially when you showed all about playing tents !

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...