How do you deal with an eleven year old child who is acting like an entitled little turd that thinks they have the worst life in the world when really they have it pretty fricken good?
Help me work through this because it's making living with them almost impossible. I get it's a tween/teenager thing but seriously how do we deal with it in the mean time? What has worked for you and your family or when you went through it as a child?
4 Replies
If you figure it out let the rest of us know 😂 I have an 8 year old that thinks she is the worse done by person in the world. I never really wanted to run away as a kid, but f*ck me as a parent I have come close a few times 😂
I think doing some kind of education around less fortunate members of the world and community. They are still going to pull the dramatics and try it on from time to time but it helps if they truly know there are people with truly difficult lives.
In our house we fundraise for various charities, we aren’t well off and we don’t give a lot. We give out time and get involved in events, and that gives us time to discuss how we are very lucky and so we put in the effort to help others. At times that’s meant some really honest discussions about some families living in cars and not knowing if they can eat etc.
I had one. I took her bedroom apart..left her her bed and clothes. Removed the door and all appliances. She had to earn them back. She had the bathroom to change in. And nothing but a bed and clothes in her room for a good 3 months. She slowly earned it all back. We legally as parents only need to give them a roof over their heads..clothes..a place to sleep..food and an education. She has never been spanked.. punished yes... This was the culmination of MONTHS of most treating the rest of the family . So she got her basic needs met. Didn't like it..but soon learned everything else is a privilege.
I don't think I was ever entitled or thought I had the worst life but there was a lot I took for granted. I don't think we ever learn to be truly greatful for anything until we have to live without it. So if she's being openly and rudely ungrateful for the things she has maybe it would be a good lesson to go without them for a while.