13 September 2023 , 13:18
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Every parent knows the struggle of facing the dreaded teenage years. From tantrums to mood swings - it's all part of growing up and the joy of parenting. But one mum has had enough of her daughters' bratty attitude and is considering taking drastic measures to try and teach her a lesson.
Admitting that she has spoilt her daughter growing up, she faces a battle everyday with her teen, and is fed up of how she's being treated. With arguments daily, the struggling mum claimed she has raised "entitled monsters" and wants to try and set some better boundaries. Firstly, by cancelling her daughter's birthday.
"I'm struggling with her ongoing defiant behaviour and this morning threatened to cancel her birthday and presents as I've had enough," the mum wrote. She asked other mums if she should cancel her daughter's birthday to try and teach her a lesson as she shared her ordeal on Mumsnet.
The mum claimed she had bought her daughter a MacBook Air laptop and was taking her daughter and six friends for dinner, but feels as if her daughter is unworthy of the generosity. She continued: "Every single day is a battle, she lays in bed until the very last minute refusing to get up, dressed and out of the house. She'll often claim to be getting ready, then at the very last minute announce that she needs to wash her hair and can't possibly go to school without washing, drying and straightening.
"This takes over an hour. This morning I woke her at 6.30 am knowing she needs a shower. I proceeded to call her every 10 minutes but each time I entered her room she screams at me to get out. It's like this every single day and we're constantly late, this makes my other daughter late and impacts my working day."
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As she admitted she feels it's her own fault for raising her two children to be "entitled", the mum shared she has tried to get her daughter to speak to someone about how she feels, as she's worried she may be depressed. Although she wants to cancel her birthday, she's worried the guilt would "get the better" of her as birthday's have "always been a big deal".
She further detailed: "I have always struggled with boundaries. I've been a s***y parent and have spoilt both children over the years. I've created lazy entitled monsters. I suspect my daughter thinks I won't follow through and the guilt I would feel not celebrating her birthday tomorrow will probably get the better of me.
"I thing she might have low lying depression so maybe her behaviour doesn't warrant punishment but help, although I've tried to get her to speak to someone and open up but she says I'm crazy and she is absolutely fine. She just doesn't want to do anything or go anywhere most of the time and she absolutely hates school.
"In this situation would you use a birthday to enforce boundaries or is that a cruel step too far? Birthdays in this house have always been a big deal but I just can't be bothered anymore. My children don't appreciate it and I'm tired of this relentless battle. I'm a single mum and their dad hasn't bothered with birthdays since he split with his girlfriend three years ago. I'm just exhausted trying to do everything myself all of the time…"
Mums were quick to share their advice on how to handle the situation, but it has caused a mixed response. One mum said she should cancel the birthday: "For a start you could chuck the straighteners out. That'll save you some time. Why do you wait? Take the youngest to school and leave her behind. Let her make her own way to school. And yes, cancel her birthday. Tell her she can turn 15 once she acts 15."
However, another said to crack down on boundaries after the birthday and suggested: "I would carry on with the birthday arrangements as planned then crack down afterwards. No phone until chores done, no going out if cheeky or disrespectful. Clamp down just not on her birthday."