For Teenagers... Do you think it is mean...?

Question

Do you think your parents are being mean when they don't buy you Hollister and Echo and American Eagle, I-pods and X-boxes ect...

Do you really believe that these things make you more popular or does it not really matter to you what someone has or wears?

My teenager wants (and says that everyone else has a razor phone) and things the pre-pay Virgin Moble phone I bought him just last hear is out dated and stupid and refuses to use it unless I force him to. He says that his classmates make fun of him because all of the other kids have them. Would your mom and dad buy you such an expensive piece of equipment? Or am I just being mean?

To kaitlyn: The problem is... My son has 4 different game systems, all of the expensive clothes he can fit into his closet including a pair of suede Hollister flip flops and a belt that each cost $50.00! I have drawn the line on the phone and yet he says I am mean because all the other kids make fun of his phone (Especially on the bus.) I feel bad on the one hand because I hate to see him getting made fun of but I think enough is enough on the other and I don't know what to do? Am I mean for giving him everything else but drawing the line on what he really wants should have been the question?

And thanks to saltythepirate, I think I have the answer... I think he is going to get a part time after school job and make him pay for it himself then we will see how important it is to him when he has to pay for it himself! Thanks Salty!

Answer 1

hate 2 burst his bubble but, i have a fone, not a razr, but a normal flip fone, i have 2 pay for all the srvice the fone itslef, and the accesories, so...

Answer 2

The razer phones are cheap. Yeah sure they cost $300, but they are so flimsy. If you drop it even one time, it will more than likely snap right in half. I have a flip phone and everyone's all 'omg you have a flip phone thats so awesome.' That thing probly cost about $40 and it's so durable. My friends have dropped it so many times even while it's been open and all it got were scratches on the bottom, where it doesn't even matter. As for the clothing Just let him/her get a couple shirts or something from there. I have a shirt from Abercrombie and it was on sale for $13 so I bought it. Also, tell him/her that if they want these types of things that they need to help pay for it if they want it. If they buy part or all of it, they will appreciate it more. They won't throw stuff around or anything if they bought it themselves. There are so many people in my school that have ipods and I'm quite sick of it really. I have an mp3 player that cost about $30 less than an ipod and I think it's great. It's an Iriver model: IFP-899.

Answer 3

Well, I have to say that pre pay sux. My parents spent more money on that phone then we would have with the actual phone service. Well, Hollister is incredibly expensive. If your child believes that she needs really expensive clothes to fit in, then boy does she have a lesson to learn. American Eagle isn't as bad, it's quality clothing at a reasonable price. If that doesn't work, try aeropostale, or forever 21. Cute clothes, for a very inexpensive price. You are not a mean or bad parent. Some kids just don't understand the value of things because they arent buying it or working hard for it. They dont have to pay the rent or any bills. So they have no clue.

I never think my parents are mean just because they dont buy me things...Sheesh.

Answer 4

Let him get a job... I just turned 18 and all my luxuries and extra things that I want (eg a new phone, ipod etc) I have to buy with my own money ! (and I started doing that just after I was legal to get a job - 15 and 9 months)... He will never learn responsibility or how to work with money if you just give and buy him anything and everything he wants. And by the way - he is probably telling you a lie about the people teasing him, I don't get teased just because I still have my phone that my parents bought for me 3 years ago - I choose not to waste my money on something that I already have and that is still in a great condition. And I certainly don't get teased because I still don't have an ipod because I'm saving for my schoolies holidays ! Let him get a job and learn how to work with money and appreciate what you as a parent has already given him...

Answer 5

I don't think that's mean. My parents don't buy me stuff from Abercrombie, Hollister, American Eagle, etc. Most of those clothes are just normal clothes that have a huge logo written over them. You can buy clothes just like that or even better at other stores withouth paying so much.
I don't even have a phone, and I don't think it really matters what brand it is.
I don't really think that having all those things makes someone popular. I know lots of people who have clothes from those stores and the newest cell phones, and they're not popular at all. Having those things might help a little bit though, and all the popular people have them.

Answer 6

What your kid needs is a good lecture about life. I'm 18 now, but when I was younger, my mom spoiled me with expensive stuff every now and then when I got good grades and stuff, but I'd never expect it or want things just because someone else had it, or because I wanna feel "included" with my friends. I don't think you're being mean at all, he should appreciate the fact that he has parents that care about him and not feel bothered by other kids teasing him or putting him down. He needs to learn to be "his own person".

Answer 7

I wouldn't consider it mean.. but do you NEVER let them buy american eagle or hollister? Since those are what every teenager wears, you might want to let them buy some, but not have an entire wardrobe of it. Image is pretty important.. And as far as the Razr phone, everyone i know has one, and everyones is BROKEN by now because they are such bad quality phones.

Answer 8

I recall begging my parents for a car when I was a teen. They gave me a beat up warning-sign orange old 1983 Toyota Carolla that had tons of rust and a hole in the floor such that if I wasn't careful when I hit a puddle the water would splash up and soak my left leg up to the knee.

If I wanted something better when I was a kid, then I had better be working to pay for it!!

Time for the 'rents to say "it's alright, it's ok, whatever you say, na-na Why don't you get a job!?"

Answer 9

you're not being mean at all! your child needs to accept the fact that he/she can't get everything he/she wants. My parents do that so I won't grow up to be spoiled. Unless it's my birthday, they'll get me something special. Razor phones and stuff doesn't make you more popular because it's just really a cellephone! I use a pretty crappy one and none of my friends care. It's just a mobile device that allows you to connect with others with outside.
just to make it clear again, you are really not mean. If i was your child, i would understand and not care about brand names.

Answer 10

I dont think the parents are being mean, its just kids dont understand the value of a dollar. Not every parent can afford those type of things even though they really wished that they could buy you anything you wanted. Material things dont make the person who they are.

Answer 11

well those things r very expensive. bsides, u can actually get a cheap ipod for like $100 dollars mayb it dont hold 1,000 songs but who needs that many songs anyway? kohls has nice clothes and they r not as expensive american eagle. those things can help u b popular, but if u r fun and outgoing even if u dont have very ruch things. i mean ppl with totally average looks and average clothes are popular!