Lack of appreciation reached breaking point...

[kawazuki]

totally understand where your coming from, we have same issue with DS at the moment.

your very rbave, and good luck will be waiting to see hwo it turns out.

i think we need to do this with DS as well. turn off his computer, take away the ipod, only entertainment will be reading adn his imagination.

school lunches may become boreing as well i think,

you have given me some food for thought.

but i agree some children these days have no idea of just how lucky they are adn how privilaged they are.

[Muppity]

I didn't live a deprived childhood one little bit and these were the staples that we had:

* no TV during the week. There is a yard - use it
* get home, get changed, clean school shoes, wash lunch box, do music practice, do homework, feed chooks or dog, set table or bring washing in from the line (depending on which week it was)
* school lunch consisted of two pieces of fruit, sandwich (usually vegemite) muesli bar and a bottle of drink (occasionally a popper)
* if you were hungry when you got home you knew where the fuit bowl was (no way you went near the biscuit tin unless it was offered) and there was always milk and water in the fridge if you were thirsty.
* dinner was always sitting at the dining table and it was someone's turn every night to lead the conversation generally starting with a something interesting that they saw/learned/thought during the day.

I kind of wish that I could bring up my kids the same way - but I think that society will be working against me

[Glamourcide]

F. Yes.

Excuse my French, but you go, mama!! Miss A will biatch and moan for a whole week, and then she'll probably thank you when she wakes up to herself That is an ace way to put your point across. Best of luck with it, I really hope it gets the results you're looking for! Keep us posted, please!

[MrsFabuloso]

I think it's a great idea! Good luck with it all. I would love to do something with my DD, but she is only 2 3/4! She doesn't understand the concept but I wan't her to learn now. I have no idea how to teach a toddler appreciation and gratitude!

[Inertia]

Thanks ladies.. good to hear that its not a knee jerk overreaction by DH and I. They just stopped saying thank you, and spend more time complaining about what we wont get them than anything else. Today the school sent a note home to return the library books Miss A and Mr C have borrowed and not returned seeing how they have moved into HS... Alternatively we can pay $200 to replace them.... $200 worth of books!?!?!?!?! been finding them all over the place. Miss A stands there "But I returned this mum" - well CLEARLY you didnt, its in my flaming hand!!!! I have a stack of 20 odd books here that belong to the school. I didn't even know they had all these! I went to check Miss A's room and she pipes up "There is no school books in there mum"... No, except this one, and this one, and this one, and this one..... No appreciation, no respect. I would normally ask where I went wrong but I can clearly remember a time when these kids had both + Manners. *sigh*

Sorry, vent, lol. I'll keep ya all posted!

[DaintreeDream]

Good luck Inertia. Be sure to keep us posted.

[AliBaby]

You're a good mum.

is she in year 6 at school? Might be a case of being a bit to big for her boots at the moment.

i think its a great idea to do retro week. Keep us updated.

[Lulu]

Cool, keep us posted!