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Bought hex's present...

Toastergirl's picture

Often times, My SD makes a confused face, which is usually followed by a smartass comment. She pretends to act confused because she is under the assumption if she does she will be excused from being a smartass. This is akin to the "do something wrong and then act innocent afterwards like I didn't know it was wrong". Please keep this in mind for the following conversation:

Me: okay SD. We are about to go to the mall and go to Macys. I am going to give you 15$ to spend on a present for your mother. You can spend that AND bring your money that you earned doing chores in case you see a present and want to go over that amount. Okay?
SD: but...what? That makes no sense. My mom bought you several gifts.
Me: you can choose several gifts. It doesn't have to be one gift. You can go over fifteen dollars, but you have to use your allowance money for the rest.
SD makes her confused face:
My mom spent more than 15$ on you. Isn't that embarassing for you?

BOOM. I KNEW this would turn into some kind of pissing contest. SD does this. Tries to get hex and I to outdo the other. I did not know how to respond to this. Honestly, if my kid said that to me I would go off on her.

Me: SD, it is not the amount of money nor the amount of gifts that matters. You can spend a hundred dollars or buy a hundred gifts, but If it has no meaning than it is worthless. This is about YOU getting your mom a nice gift. It is not about her or I. If you are unhappy with the amount, you can just color her something instead.

SD: okay. Just know that my mom spent 40$ on you.

At the mall, SD beelines straight to the jewelry counter. She asks the clerk for emeralds, bc her mom loves those. I redirect her to the cheaper, on sale jewelry. Macys has some great sales-60% off! SD grimaces, and says her mom only likes x brand. Whatever kid. SD then says she knows her moms shirt size, and wanders towards women's shirts. She peruses for the longest time, glancing at everything. And then she finds it: the perfect gift- a black shirt.

She proudly hands it to me. A plain, black shirt. Her mother LOVES black. With ugg boots. It's the signature look, SD informs me. I tell her it is beautiful, and her mother will appreciate it. SD is happy. Yayyyy for the 14$ black shirt!
But the more I think about this, the more annoyed I get. She has NO concept of money. Yet I enabled her-I allowed her to pick out a gift. And hex will inevitably ask SD how much it cost, to which some snooty conversation will occur.

Whatever. Enjoy the shirt hex. It will go well with your pitchfork.

Comments

Toastergirl's picture

In all actuality, I am happy with the gift and the job she did. She knows her mom loves black outfits. She did spend a good 45min looking. I thought this was a good lesson for her, I just get irritated with the whole, "I need something that costs the most" attitude she gets from her mom and trying to get us to compete...which Idk where she gets that or why she does that...

I am very curious now as to what hex got me. Its sitting under our tree, SD brought it over this morning.

WTF...REALLY's picture

I hate stepkids today so all I have is what a bitch! I would of not even taken her with that piss attitude.

Toastergirl's picture

If she were my daughter, I would have went off on her. There was a fleeting second where I wanted to slap her.

Disneyfan's picture

The fact that the kid's mom included the OP at all is huge. Purchasing a $40 gift is interesting.

There are several blogs here about SMs wanting to keep gift giving equal between their bios and step kids. It's kind of funny that this kid is having the same feelings about her mother and SM.

Toastergirl's picture

Hmmmmm. This thought never occurred to me, but now from my armchair therapist viewpoint, it is interesting...

SourGrapes's picture

I completely cracked up at the "It will go well with your pitchfork." comment! You did the right thing and made an effort to teach SD what giving is about. How old is she? I'm guessing about 10?

My SO bought a gift for SD4 to give to her mom. He let her pick it out and he gave her a budget. It's an Alex and Ani bracelet. I think it's ugly, but all the better. I wrapped it because she will know that I did it and not SO, and I hope it goes up her ass sideways. Merry Christmas, bitch!

Ninji's picture

LOL, I would never do this. BM gets enough resources from our home. Her new boy toy can buy her gifts. Opps, he doesn't have a job. Ha

Rose.Colored.Glasses's picture

We don't have the kids buy their other BP gifts. I'm not spending my hard earned money on parent's that are almost absent and don't contribute to child rearing in any way.

Ljcapp1's picture

I would put a stop to the gift exchange with the BM - the thought of that makes me gag. :sick: