Teenagers crying on Christmas because their gifts weren't good enough?!?

Question

My Aunt really isn't aware of all the must-have items every teenage girl needs to make a fashion statement. Her daughter, who is 16 and in high school, had made a pretty extensive Christmas list this year, and I helped my Aunt roam the mall looking for most of her Christmas loot. On the top of my cousin's list was a pair of Chocolate Brown Uggs. We looked high and low, but didn't have any luck finding a pair - they were sold out wherever we turned.

My Aunt, trying to make her daughter happy, was so excited when she finally found a pair of chocolate brown EMU sheepskin boots, another boot brand that are also very good quality and relatively high in price.

Well, christmas morning comes around and she opens the sheepskin boots with a confused look on her face. She searches the heel of the boot, looking for the infamous "Ugg" logo, which obviously isn't there. She looks up at her smiling mom and says "These are *not* the boots I wanted. I'm not wearing cheap fakes".

My Aunt assured my cousin that they weren't cheap and that they would probably look very nice on her. She also told her that she was unable to find Uggs in that color. My cousin simply mumbled to take them back, and then went up to her room, locked the door and cried. My Aunt has always tried to raise her kids with a good heart and appreciation for things. They don't have a great deal of money, and never had name brand items.

All of the things on my cousin's wish list were expensive and name brand. Is the teen generation simply fueled by greed??

Answer 1

Frickin disgusting. I am a teenager and girls like that are such an embarassment and give us such a bad reputation.

Answer 2

The aunt should do as her daughter requested and return the boots.She should donate some or all of the refunded money to a children's charity and make the donation in her daughter's name.If her daughter still wants only the best at 16 she can get a part time job and work and save her money to buy "the best".Kids in some areas going to school that have no breakfast, no warm coat or boots and probably little or no Christmas gifts.Your cousin sounds selfish and put a damper on the Christmas celebration for her family.I think having to work hard for something will give your cousin an appreciation for a dollar.

Answer 3

How snobbish!

Though I do know quite a few teenagers that won't wear anything until they see American Eagle, A&F, Aeropostle, Hollister, or another teen brand stamped prominently across it. It's sad.

I was looking and those EMU boots are as much as 6 pairs of the shoes I wear! Granted, the UGGs are $100 more, but still...

Plus, you know they'll be out of style in 2008, the way teen trends go.

That was really inappropriate of her to do. That's very greedy.

As for your comment on all the teens running on expensive brands...

Yes, I shrieked and jumped up and down when I opened my Costa Del Mar sunglasses. Yes, my mom probably paid way too much for them, since they are all above $100. Yes, I love my Sperrys, which from experience are usually around $80.

The reigning gift of 2007, though, was my craft tote, which I know my mom bought for $35. It has brought me the most happiness and enjoyment so far, and I know I will use it more than the sunglasses and shoes.

Answer 4

Mixture of peer-pressure, Attention & part parenting skills!!

If I think back to high school getting those boots would be like in the 1980's..asking for a members only jacket and getting a knock off brand. Just wouldnt work Sad but true...even way back then!

The parenting skills are also at play since she wouldnt dare do that if 1) she appreciated gifts 2) respected her Mom 3) would be punished for her bad behavior...Why change if no repercussions 4) possibility that she would rather have love and personal Mom attention instead of money or gifts. far stretch but never know.

Hate to admit but a bad pastime habit I had was to throw a hissy fit to ensure my Mom would go out the next day and buy me the Ugg boots.

Solution I wish my Mom would have done:
Taken back every gift bought for me and returned them to the store!Or if thats taking it too far, atleast return the boots and not buy me what i threw the fit about along with being grouded this weekend.

Bet it wont happen again and when she is older she will tell that story to her kids while laughing!!

True story!! Mele Kailikimaka!!!

Answer 5

It really is too bad that our culture has molded these kids minds to think there are only certain brands acceptable. That being said, I do understand her disappointment. If Uggs could not be found, no boots would be better than an "imitation" (in her eyes). No real harm done, just take the EMUs back. The girl will get her tears out and move on. Didn't she get something on her list? Well she needs to focus on that as one of her blessings...cause plenty of poor kids don't get ANYTHING new.

This reminds me when my daughter was about 5 or 6 and she wanted a Cabbage Patch Kid. I bought a Doll Baby head and body from the craft store (cheaper than CPK and we had little money to spend. We got most of our toys from Salvation Army and garage sales). Anyway, I was so proud of myself for making that doll. But even at that age she cared about the difference and would not accept that doll. I hated to see her cry but what could I do?

Answer 6

That is really sad. Some teenagers can be so spoiled...she should have been happy that her mother went out and busted her butt trying to find the Uggs and still got nice boots. There is lots of kids in the world that probably would have been happy with those boots she got and probably plenty of parents in the world who wished they had the money to go out and get a gift like that for their kids (or had the money to get any gift for that matter). Your aunt's daughter should be happy that she has a mother that loves her that much...some kids don't even have family that love them.

Answer 7

My first thought was that she was really selfish and not understanding the true meaning of Christmas. But as I read more of the details, I started to think that maybe she is just embarrassed and doesn't know how to express herself.

Teenagers are under a LOT of peer pressure. Teenage girls can be especially cruel to each other. Perhaps she feels left out because she is the only one that doesn't have a pair of Uggs. That doesn't make her reaction right but I remember being the teenager who didn't have anything name brand even though my parents tried their best. I remember crying myself to sleep - not because I was ungrateful for what they did but because I wanted to be like the other gals at school and I was tired of being made fun of for wearing "imitations" rather than name brands. I know that I hurt my parents' feelings on more than one occasion with this type of stuff. When I finally turned 16 and was able to get a job on my own and use my paycheck to buy some of the things that I really wanted myself, things did get better.

Again, I'm not saying that this is the case in your situation, but maybe you could talk to her and see if she'll talk to you if she can't talk to her mother.

Good luck.

Answer 8

When I was a teenager most of my clothes were no-name brands from Wal-Mart and similar stores. Actually I'm still wearing many of the same clothes as I did years ago (I'm 21). But then again I'm a guy and never understood the name brand attraction that some girls do.

I think you should tell her to either take the EMU boots or don't receive anything at all. (I've actually never heard of Ugg before seeing another Yahoo! Answers post, or EMU until this post). But while I think she does need to grow up, all this "spoiled child" talk leaves out who's really pulling the strings here. Imagine the marketing director of Ugg reading your post - he'll be laughing his *** off because the branding power of his product has succeeded over the most vulnerable in society. In today's society, brand names are the iron grips of corporations, strong enough that unfortunately even good parenting and friendship can't overcome.

Answer 9

Disgusting. I think that your Aunt's daughter needs to be grateful for what she has and remember that the real meaning of the holidays is not about getting the hottest new toy or the fanciest shoes. I can understand being a little dissapointed in what you get, but to act like an ungrateful brat and cry about it is too much. Perfect example of why christmas is becoming less and less meaningful. Maybe your aunt should take her down to a homeless shelter or something so she can realize how lucky she really is, or even better, take the little **** by her hair down to the store and make her return every single gift she got. That will teach her how to be grateful.

Answer 10

Call it greed, spoiled brats, all the same That girl should get a job and work for the boots if she wants a specific kind. The funny part of the story though is that Ugg boots have been over for about 3 years now. If she's that concerned with fashion and labels, she should have known that.

Answer 11

ITS THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS!

we all get ugly gifts we dont want from time to time, but theres no need to cry about it. A gift that is filled with heart and love is so much more than a $1000 purse from prada. Although the purse would be nicer and in evrybodies best interest, the fact that someone put more love into something makes it more meaningful. Infact we'd all be better without material goods and gifts, some people have to spend christmas in the gutter and would kill for that kinda gift!

Merry christmas from yesterday
xx