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HopeHoops

(47,675 posts)
Mon Apr 23, 2012, 09:37 AM Apr 2012

What do you do when your youngest turns 17 and doesn't want gifts because....

.... she knows the family finances are fucked. Her elder daughter made a five layer red velvet cake from scratch (well, the middle layers were brownies). I so want to get her something but she doesn't want anything. I feel inadequate.

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What do you do when your youngest turns 17 and doesn't want gifts because.... (Original Post) HopeHoops Apr 2012 OP
Praise her for her understanding and compassion ... zbdent Apr 2012 #1
I'd feel really proud I'd raised such a wonderful 17 year old Melissa G Apr 2012 #2
I watched a couple of movies with her. She liked the "Papa Time". HopeHoops Apr 2012 #3
Yeah, That is what my husband did with my elder daughter Melissa G Apr 2012 #4
Beware of your treatment of your kids, for one day they will be caring for you. HopeHoops Apr 2012 #5
That is Eldest daughter's favorite threat Melissa G Apr 2012 #6
My oldest gave me Control-Z Jul 2012 #8
it's ok that you and your kids have the reversal role. joeve09 Jul 2012 #7

zbdent

(35,392 posts)
1. Praise her for her understanding and compassion ...
Mon Apr 23, 2012, 11:46 AM
Apr 2012

and make yourself a promise that, when times are better, you (or some "anonymous" person) help her out in the future when help is needed (as a parent, you likely will anyway) and remind her then of her "help" back when times were rough.

HUG HUG HUG HUG HUG HER!

Melissa G

(10,170 posts)
2. I'd feel really proud I'd raised such a wonderful 17 year old
Mon Apr 23, 2012, 12:11 PM
Apr 2012

who had a sense of where things are at the moment.

There are many gifts like back rubs and footrubs and special home movie nights with popcorn, henna hair dye from the local Indian grocery, (neutral color makes no color change, but makes your hair really lustrous), warm to hot olive oil hair treatments. All this stuff costs very little to nothing, but can make a girl feel really special. pm me if you need more suggestions. I've been there. May love, light and much prosperity surround you

 

HopeHoops

(47,675 posts)
3. I watched a couple of movies with her. She liked the "Papa Time".
Tue Apr 24, 2012, 08:34 AM
Apr 2012

My wife played games with her most of the morning. She seemed to enjoy the day.

Melissa G

(10,170 posts)
4. Yeah, That is what my husband did with my elder daughter
Tue Apr 24, 2012, 09:39 AM
Apr 2012

They liked discussing movies. The mama unit is pretty useless that way. Movies are something both the daughters share with their dad. They used to all jockey around for position in the Netflix cue. I lost my movie privileges because I did not watch my movies fast enough.

Glad your daughter had a good day. Your high esteem is the most important thing you can give her.(...besides loving her mama) Sounds like she has that.

Around when I was 17, just after my birthday, in fact, my father wrote me a letter telling me how proud he was of me. The original letter was typed and there was a torn sheet of paper that was hand written that was also enclosed. The handwritten piece said: "Daddy loves you". I was already an emancipated minor and living on my own at the time. It meant a lot to me; still does at 52.

I did that for my elder daughter at 17 from her mama along with the story. My younger daughter who just turned 17 will probably get one in a few weeks. She is a bit slower to mature. I'm trying to make it a family tradition.

 

HopeHoops

(47,675 posts)
5. Beware of your treatment of your kids, for one day they will be caring for you.
Tue Apr 24, 2012, 09:43 AM
Apr 2012

Mine already have to at times because of my physical condition. It's hard to accept the reversal of roles.

Melissa G

(10,170 posts)
6. That is Eldest daughter's favorite threat
Tue Apr 24, 2012, 11:24 AM
Apr 2012

"I'm picking your nursing home"
Her paternal grandmother is not ever going to be in one. We will see is she thinks her parents should be in one when the time comes...

joeve09

(2 posts)
7. it's ok that you and your kids have the reversal role.
Sat Jul 14, 2012, 08:42 PM
Jul 2012

Reversal of roles in your kids and you is not so really upset of being mother of you..Because that is natural that they would take care their parents later.

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