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It was his 15th birthday yesterday. Difficult day all round but we did the best we could. Apart from some gifts, he had in total £100 cash too. He wanted to go to town today to buy some stuff he has been after for a while.
He has not long come back from town, and instantly annoyed me. He bought the other kids a copy of minecraft for £15 for the xbox as the copy we have is missing, which is nice and I thought that was really nice of him.
Then he annoyed me. He bought me something too, at a cost of £30. The stuff I know he wants costs approx £85. He came back with a dlc code for a game for himself which cost £16. I asked what about the stuff he wanted, he said it didn't matter, as soon as he saw this "everything else went out the window and i had to get it for you"
I have already told him I really appreciate what he has done and the thought was wonderful. But its also annoyed me that he hasn't spent his money on himself. He said he wanted to buy me something to say thankyou for everything I am doing for them all. That bought a tear to my eye. We had a hug and all was OK. <span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">I am still annoyed, but proud of him and pleased at what he's done, all at the same time. </span>
What a git. Have you considered adoption?
Lovely story, thanks for sharing.
Off you go to buy what he wanted
Off you go to buy what he wanted
Yeah, he’s playing the long game. Gets his DLC and the £85 worth of stuff, smart lad 😉
I disagree. (well, it is the internet).
He did what he wanted to do with his money, and you know what they say about some people getting pleasure by giving to others...
He sounds like a fine young man in the making. And an accomplished shoplifter.
What a top bloke. Bit like his dad.
There you go, Gnusmas, you're bringing up your kids to think of others, and get pleasure from doing so.
Sounds a bit like making the world a better place to me.. 😊
Sounds like a lovely kid. Obviously you are doing everything right 👍
Don't be annoyed - he spent his money on what he wanted to spend it on.
Sounds like a great kid, to be honest!
Have you considered adoption?
Oi! Get in line!
We all want to be adopted by Gnusmus
That is annoying. I'll swap him with my nephew and he'll spend the lot on useless junk he thinks he wants and you can knock some sense into him (please).
Strong young man who is looking out for his dad...well done both. Hug him and just tell him how ace he is and how much you love him.
Good lad. Did a wonderful thing. It’s also made me cry a bit - but in a very good way.
Good man. (you and him).
When MrsDoris was about your son's age, their family had been through some tough times too. It was a single-parent family, and her mum had wanted to redecorate the kitchen for years but couldn't afford it. MrsDoris and her sister saved up all their birthday money, and for their mother's birthday, they took her to the local tile shop and paid for the tiles she wanted for the kitchen.
It's the kind of selfless act that I would have been incapable of at that age, because I was a regular self-regarding adolescent in a stable upbringing, but MrsDoris was well aware of what her mum had been through, and she had huge respect for her mum, in a way that most teenagers don't.
25 years later they still have a very close relationship. It's always amazing what we can get through, and good things can still come out of it 🙂
Thanks for all the comments, they made me smile. As far as adoption goes, I have tried giving them away and paying people to take them but still no takers. As far as adopting people from here, why not. Won't have a shortage of bikes then. Just remember though, i am only getting a yaris!
Don't get me wrong, he is a typical hormonal jumped up teenager and has his moments like all others. But he has got a good side to him. Like I keep saying he is a good kid, he doesn't make bad choices, just stupid ones. But he has been brilliant through all of this in all fairness.
But i obviously need to teach him a lesson. No pudding maybe?
No pudding maybe?
Full falling down IMO
I've met the young man in question, he's a sound lad. You guys have all been at the receiving end of huge generosity not least from STW. In your turn you have shown huge generosity - helping the people flooded out in Carmarthen, moving a truck load of bricks for me, lending things. I'm certain that there are more instances.
Maybe I'm looking at things through rose-tinted glasses but all he is doing is what so many are doing for him and you. He has found himself in a position where he can do a big, nice thing and has the means to do something about it. Give the guy a hug I say.
He is not alone.... I have a grandson who is so “difficult” in the same way as the OPs son. He wants nothing for birthdays, Xmas, Easter etc.... As far as he is concerned if he wants/needs anything at any time he only needs to ask etc..... Now in his teens he knows his parents(separated)can not afford school and scout trips and rely on us to support them, something even at his young age he is embarrassed to do.... He is an avid book reader, costing a fortune to keep him in books.....
He is one of 4 grandkids, 3 girls and 1boy. The girls are into dancing, swimming, keyboard and guitar lessons. Jnr is into keyboard and guitar + scouts
<span style="display: inline !important; float: none; background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.4px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">But its also annoyed me that he hasn’t spent his money on himself.</span>
It shouldn't. He has spent his money on what he wanted. You're more important to him than a thing - this is how it should be.