WELCOME MESSAGE

Welcome caregivers of ungrateful teenagers. I invite you all to share your wisdom, stories, suggestions and advice regarding your UT (ungrateful teen). While we will continue to discuss our UT's, it's also important for our UT's to know that even though they are ungrateful, we still love them. But on the real, something has to change and soon! Let's support each other and remember, sometimes it takes a Village, a shoe and good aim to raise a child.

Peace and Love! Lisa Butler

Sunday, November 29, 2009

"The Grace Period"

We are about to enter the "Grace Period", that time of year right after Thanksgiving but just before Christmas when our precious little teens are usually on their best behavior in preparation for all the excessive indulgence that us parents will throw their way. As the holiday season approaches, remind your teen about the true meaning of the holidays, set limits on spending, allow for your teen to earn gifts and have them give back to the community by volunteering and helping other families that are less fortunate. Another suggestion is to have them give a thank you card to all the people that have made a difference in their lives. A simple "thank you" speaks volumes when showing gratitude and appreciation.

I told my teen that for Christmas, we are going to adopt a family from the shelter. His question to me was "where is everybody going to sleep?". Needless to say, we had a long discussion about what my intentions are and how he was going to be involved. As parents we have to continue to be mindful about our role in why our teens are so ungrateful and when do "we" start making changes. Our teens are not going to change....unless we change! One of my favorite quotes is by Anthony Robbins, "If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten". Such a simple quote but it speaks plenty.

Take care and brace yourselves for the "Grace Period". And as we all know, there's always an end to every "Grace Period". :):)

1 comment:

  1. Today, I told my 16-year-old "ungrateful teen" that he would be getting invsalign braces for Christmas--at a cost of 5,800 bucks. He screamed and yelled that we should have straightened his teeth earlier and that the least we could give him was a decent computer and a new cell phone. Looks like he destroyed the cell phone, but the computer he has works fine. I explained that we have to pace ourselves and plan for expenses, as the recession has taken at seat at our family table, as well. "Not true," he insists. "You guys are simply cheap and selfish." Then, he proceeded to point out all the furniture we own, purchased from Goodwill, tag sales, and some guys around the corner. And that big-screen TV in his dad's space!--how selfish of us to buy the cheapest 42" anywhere for the man who puts in 72 hours a week! I'm so tired of explaining my finances to a kid who won't even take out the trash without a fight. Keep us posted on your holiday developments--ours is surely going to be a real zinger! Happy, happy.

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