My kids fail at appreciation. Dreadfully. We are hardly "pov" and they do not go without on basics, treats and affordable stuff, but when you say no to something silly like a DS or a mobile phone with coke and fries, they get all uppity and snippy at us..

The camels back copped one straw too many the other day when as per usual, my children, asked to clean up their own mess, started the usual job designation fight. Miss A as always takes over and gives herself the easy job and assigns everything else to everyone else, causing a circus parade for me of younger kids coming in to gripe about Miss A. This is followed by me going to talk to Miss A and her whinging about every thing the younger ones do, up to and including the fact that they are breathing...

This time I looked at Miss A and advised her that she had better find a way to get along with everyone because she will be living with us for some years to come... To which she spits at me "Unfortunately"

I was naturally floored by this venom laced statement and didn't talk to her for several hours while I calmed down. Then I asked her later to please tell me real reasons, not teenage drama induced reasons with ample evidence to the contrary, why its so unfortunate to live here. She hides behind "I dunno" and eventually we get "we yell at her" out of her but I am sure she has a lot of silly ideas in her head about how we dont give her all the cool crap in the world...

So DH and I have decided to take the kids to Retro World, New Millenium Style. We are taking away all the extras they get... Bare necessities only, just like when we were kids. I've hidden her laptop, there will be no access to the computer, all but the FTA channels are locked on foxtel... They want an afterschool treat, there is vegemite in the cupboard. Thirsty? Drink Water.

For now its just for a week, but if they still have no recognised how much we do do for them that we have absolutely no obligation to do, then it might stay for an encore.

Wish me luck!