Ungrateful offspring....
Discussion
Pints said:
The irrational, moody teenager needs to learn to gratitude and the value of money. At 17 I very much understood those things and I'm grateful my parents taught them to me.
When my 5 year old sounded ungrateful for an early Christmas gift from a grandparent, she was taken aside and made to understand that people have feelings, that she is given gifts by people who love her, and that there are other boys and girls who aren't as lucky as she is.
Her attitude on Christmas day was very different.
Which is awesome. But I suspect that a 5 year old is probably easier to reason with than a 17 year old. Although I'm no parent so I've no real idea.When my 5 year old sounded ungrateful for an early Christmas gift from a grandparent, she was taken aside and made to understand that people have feelings, that she is given gifts by people who love her, and that there are other boys and girls who aren't as lucky as she is.
Her attitude on Christmas day was very different.
I was just pleased to get some wheels at 17. When I passed my test I'd just finished my last round of chemotherapy, my grandad gave me £500 for a first car and I just managed to get myself a Nova 1.3 SR. I LOVED it, and I'd still love it if I was given one now. My brother on the other hand, rules everything out that doesnt fit his image. I've been looking for motors that are cheap to insure, the first year is the killer. Fiat Panda, Ford KA, VW Lupo etc etc etc, but no, he wants a 5 series.
Along the same lines, each year I get a new mobile phone, the mrs has my old one and we use to give her old one to either my brother or hers. Last year the pair of them started asking us when we was getting a new phone and when could they have it etc. I didnt mind giving it to them as a bonus, but they can get stuffed of they're going to get all greedy. The last new phone I just flogged the old one, extra couple of hundred quid in my pocket and told them to get f
ked.
Along the same lines, each year I get a new mobile phone, the mrs has my old one and we use to give her old one to either my brother or hers. Last year the pair of them started asking us when we was getting a new phone and when could they have it etc. I didnt mind giving it to them as a bonus, but they can get stuffed of they're going to get all greedy. The last new phone I just flogged the old one, extra couple of hundred quid in my pocket and told them to get f
ked. Tim-D said:
“I hasn’t even got a CD player”
Even in 2004 Polo's didn't have CD players as standard - so we bought our daughter a SEAT Ibiza instead. The Ibiza even had a/c.I have mixed feeling about the OP - my wife had a 1986 Polo breadvan, or "mini-hearse" as she called it, as it was very dark blue. We bought it new - £5000.
We kept it 5yrs and it did feel very robust but as others have pointed out, it's practically a classic car now and certainly I'd be concerned about how basic its primary and secondary safety kit is.
I think a lot depends on the driver - if it's a young lad who is capable and mechanically minded then I'd be less bothered than if it's an iPod generation child who has no understanding and expects the car to look after him.
My first car was a 1974 Mini 1000. I was born in 1976. I've just realised that someone of 17 getting a similar aged car to that now would be getting something from 1995...
Here's a list of cars launched in 1995, some crackers in there, but I'd want the Alfa 145
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Vehicles_in...
I did a lot of bonding with my dad over that car, and the local garage mechanic, AA man and scrap yard... Kids these days... tsk
Here's a list of cars launched in 1995, some crackers in there, but I'd want the Alfa 145
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Vehicles_in...
I did a lot of bonding with my dad over that car, and the local garage mechanic, AA man and scrap yard... Kids these days... tsk
Tim-D said:
Have been put in my place…..
Jnr turns 17 in March so had been wondering what to get him for his birthday…….a learner shed being top of the agenda….
Chatting at work last week on the issue – I learn of an ’85 Mk2 Polo breadvan…. 30k on it from new, pensioner property, garaged from new, rust free and after many years of denying the inevitable it’s one owner had conceded that it wouldn’t be driven again and would be willing to let it go….maybe…
Fast forward to Sunday, with Jnr out with his mates – I hotfoot it around doing my best pretence of charm, and 10 mins later job done and £150 changes hands - asking price was £100 so for the first time in my life I voluntarily paid more for something than was asked – my growing , but still limited conscience at work.
Grab best mate and tow bar - nothing wrong with banger – just hadn’t run since last taxed in 2007 so a bit risky to fire straight up before some tlc and drag the little hun home…
Before sprog got in we set to with a boxload of GSF’s finest offerings – and it goes beautifully – barring a very lumpy idle & slight misfire which is probably down to ancient fuel….
No hiding it as it’s on the drive….
At this point I cast my mind back to when I approached 17….. my granddad took me to the dump a the mortal remains of a mini and a crashed metro were dragged home for the combined princely sum of £40 and after many hours of blood sweat , tears and a few frayed tempers a very ratty mini was the result…...
I know times change and every neighbourhood Tarquin, Crispin, Quentin & Tabitha will receive a shiny eurobox horror from doting mater & pater….. but I’m on a tight budget (besides having done a bit of advance research insurance on the polo is just hideous rather than horrendous) and want Jnr to learn such lost skills of his generation – such as maintainence and repair rather than being permanently affixed to the pc/ ipad / phone and viewing manual outdoor work as something for Dad to do…..
So what do I get when he spies and addition and jumps to the correct conclusion…..
“what’s that POS?”
“I’m not driving that”
“I hasn’t even got a CD player”
My sprog, lazy tyke though he is (wholly my fault) has at least not been an ungrateful little sh*t before. I’m bloody hopping mad and was hoping he’d apologise after thinking it through…. But two days later nothing…..
Half inclined to not mention it and hide it in a friend’s garage until March…… unless anyone can think of a better way to teach a seriously needed lesson…….????
I bet you could sell it on edition 38 for £3k if it is rot free and only has 30k.Jnr turns 17 in March so had been wondering what to get him for his birthday…….a learner shed being top of the agenda….
Chatting at work last week on the issue – I learn of an ’85 Mk2 Polo breadvan…. 30k on it from new, pensioner property, garaged from new, rust free and after many years of denying the inevitable it’s one owner had conceded that it wouldn’t be driven again and would be willing to let it go….maybe…
Fast forward to Sunday, with Jnr out with his mates – I hotfoot it around doing my best pretence of charm, and 10 mins later job done and £150 changes hands - asking price was £100 so for the first time in my life I voluntarily paid more for something than was asked – my growing , but still limited conscience at work.
Grab best mate and tow bar - nothing wrong with banger – just hadn’t run since last taxed in 2007 so a bit risky to fire straight up before some tlc and drag the little hun home…
Before sprog got in we set to with a boxload of GSF’s finest offerings – and it goes beautifully – barring a very lumpy idle & slight misfire which is probably down to ancient fuel….
No hiding it as it’s on the drive….
At this point I cast my mind back to when I approached 17….. my granddad took me to the dump a the mortal remains of a mini and a crashed metro were dragged home for the combined princely sum of £40 and after many hours of blood sweat , tears and a few frayed tempers a very ratty mini was the result…...
I know times change and every neighbourhood Tarquin, Crispin, Quentin & Tabitha will receive a shiny eurobox horror from doting mater & pater….. but I’m on a tight budget (besides having done a bit of advance research insurance on the polo is just hideous rather than horrendous) and want Jnr to learn such lost skills of his generation – such as maintainence and repair rather than being permanently affixed to the pc/ ipad / phone and viewing manual outdoor work as something for Dad to do…..
So what do I get when he spies and addition and jumps to the correct conclusion…..
“what’s that POS?”
“I’m not driving that”
“I hasn’t even got a CD player”
My sprog, lazy tyke though he is (wholly my fault) has at least not been an ungrateful little sh*t before. I’m bloody hopping mad and was hoping he’d apologise after thinking it through…. But two days later nothing…..
Half inclined to not mention it and hide it in a friend’s garage until March…… unless anyone can think of a better way to teach a seriously needed lesson…….????
Quick, do that before he realises the same.
whoami said:
HTP99 said:
he isn't driving yet; failed his theory for the 13th time, that we know of
Is he a little bit "special"?
At the tender age of nearly 17 my dad told me he was going to give me a '73 Fiat 500L and I have to admit I was not especially thrilled by the prospect. It needed quite a bit of work doing to it and he, and some of the guys that worked for him would teach me on the job. We got the car ready in time for when I was 17 and dad took me out for some driving lessons. After a few days he booked me in with a driving instructor who took me out in his Austin Allegro All-aggro which, even with my inexperience I realized was an awful vehicle to drive.
I passed my test ten days after I was 17 in my Fiat, I had done over 1000 miles learning. In spite of being in full time education I managed to rack up 12000 on the odo over the next year, went everywhere in it, taxid my friends around, popped my cherry in it, absolutely loved that car.
Of course I still didn't fully appreciate it until one day ambition rapidly exceeded ability and I flipped it...... leaving me without wheels for a few months Then, and only then, I appreciated what Dad had done for me!
I passed my test ten days after I was 17 in my Fiat, I had done over 1000 miles learning. In spite of being in full time education I managed to rack up 12000 on the odo over the next year, went everywhere in it, taxid my friends around, popped my cherry in it, absolutely loved that car.
Of course I still didn't fully appreciate it until one day ambition rapidly exceeded ability and I flipped it...... leaving me without wheels for a few months Then, and only then, I appreciated what Dad had done for me!
Infact even better. Sell the car for a profit.
Wait till he gets home...and present him a wrapped package. Explain you were wrong about the Polo, and you appreciate how he is much younger than you and needs change and you realise it was too old fashioned.
Wait for his eyes to light up and start thinking "BRAND NEW CORSA" and give him his present...a brand new £45 Pioneer cd player with no car to fit it into anymore.
Wait till he gets home...and present him a wrapped package. Explain you were wrong about the Polo, and you appreciate how he is much younger than you and needs change and you realise it was too old fashioned.
Wait for his eyes to light up and start thinking "BRAND NEW CORSA" and give him his present...a brand new £45 Pioneer cd player with no car to fit it into anymore.
I've just shown this thread to my 14 year old who said 'I'd love that !'
The intention being that we find him a car soonish, one that we can both restore and 'learn' on and, in a little over two years he can take it out on the road.
If you need to move it on, PM me and you will see a profit.
The intention being that we find him a car soonish, one that we can both restore and 'learn' on and, in a little over two years he can take it out on the road.
If you need to move it on, PM me and you will see a profit.
essIII said:
Which is awesome. But I suspect that a 5 year old is probably easier to reason with than a 17 year old. Although I'm no parent so I've no real idea.
I didn't do it to reason with her. I did it to teach her about gratitude, et al. Hopefully it'll become part of who she is long before she's 17, as was the case with me.
He sounds spoiled. Yes I do understand if he doesn't want it but it's all about morals. If someone gave me a car no matter how st I thought it was I'd be grateful and use it until I could afford another vehicle. Sit him down and talk to him about. Let him know you are disappointed and that you have his best interests in mind.
t I thought it was I'd be grateful and use it until I could afford another vehicle. Sit him down and talk to him about. Let him know you are disappointed and that you have his best interests in mind. For my girls, one got a mk1 Punto and the other a K11 Micra
Both were also extremely grateful and went everywhere in them.
Like the OP I got them older cars on the basis they would probably prang them frequently......ironically, they never damaged either but managed to crash their replacements within days
Both were also extremely grateful and went everywhere in them.
Like the OP I got them older cars on the basis they would probably prang them frequently......ironically, they never damaged either but managed to crash their replacements within days
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