Do you find that you spoil your kids?

mckayleesmom wrote: I do......I know I do. I think its because I grew up with 3 sisters and 2 brothers and I always had hand me downs and we were provided for well, but there were things my parents couldn't afford. I envied little girls with nice doll houses and play kitchens. When I was a kid our entertainment was each other....Hide and Seek, Mother May I, Red Light Green Light. We had toys....but not great ones.... . Heck...our slip and slide was a big tube of plastic you put down for paint that my dad had a roll of in the garage....and it was black...


I am very frugile now...but I do find that I spoil my kids.

Edward's Mommy replied: Not yet but I'm know I will!

AlexsPajamaMama replied: Yup I know I spoil my son too

C&K*s Mommie replied: I do. With love and with material things.

That makeshift slip and slide story was funny. In a good way funny, like I am laughing with you now.

Tonight when we went to the dollar store for our usual trip, on Saturday. I allowed the kids to get 4 things a piece. Christian did not understand since I usually allow them to get one or two when we are out getting 'prizes' at other dollar stores, or at Walmart. So when I asked her of which one she wanted, she wanted only what she had in her hand, she did not realize she could get both things, the one she was holding and the one I thought she would enjoy. But yes they are spoiled badly. Everytime I come from the store, they immediately ask "did you get a prize for the girls?" No matter what, I pick up something for them, a ball from the gumball machine, or a dollar toy or a cheap cup/plate set. Anything. And they are spoiled knowing that we do that.

MyLuvBugs replied: I spoil everyone by myself. I'm so bad. I love to spend money on my friends and family. Buying them or making them little gifts and stuff. Just makes me happy. But when it comes to Lorelei....lets just say, I can't go to the store without buying her a little something.

CosmetologyMommy replied: dh comes from a sort of poor family. I come from a family that is pretty priveleged and I was never denied so now DH wants to buy Aidan everything. He stopped getting bday and xmas gifts at a very young age and only got new clothes when he needed them. He also did not really have toys. he does not like to talk about it much. But yes, we do spoil Aidan as much as we can!

Mom2BNTN replied: Dylan is too little to spoil right now, but as he gets older I am not sure who will spoil him more....us or his grandparents! I know he will never do without. That is for sure!!

holley79 replied: I had a younger brother and younger sister. We all had hand me downs our entire life and we did entertain ourselves also. My mom couldn't afford to purchase things for us either but she spent a lot of time with us doing "cheap" things.

I do see myself having the capibility of spoiling Annika.

luvmykids replied: I'm still trying to decide .... I was an only child, so maybe I don't think I was spoiled but was, kwim? So I don't think I'm spoiling them but am? They do have a lot and do get frequent treats, but I don't at all think they're "spoiled" where they are ungrateful or expect it which is where I would have to draw the line.

Nina J replied: I do. I don't spoil Emily to the extent some people do, where there children have everything excluding manners. She's polite, and she knows that when I say no to something it's the end of the matter, but she's just so darn cute I can't hardly ever say no.

PrairieMom replied: I used to, but I am getting a lot better about it lately. Still, he is getting a swing set for his birthday!

A&A'smommy replied: we have spoiled her a good bit but for the same reasons that you spoil your kids.. Jeremiah was number 4 of 4 so he knows how that is and I was the oldest and my parents didn't have a lot of money.. not their fault I know but every chance we get alyssa gets something whether educational, toys or clothes

MamaJAM replied: Well - like your family growing up....our kids wear 99% hand-me-downs (not just from each other -- but we get clothing from friends/family)....and they don't have all the fancy, new toys.
BUT....they do have everything they need -- and plenty of what they 'want'. We do like to treat them when we have a little money.

I wouldn't say that we 'spoil' them.....but I will say that they are happy.

My3LilMonkeys replied: My kids are spoiled with toys, but most of them come from grandparents and aunts. We do buy a lot of "wants" too though.

redchief replied: No... I wish we could have spoiled them a little bit though.

moped replied: I spoil Jack with Love and kisses and the odd toy LOL, but not too much - he gets toooo many toys throughout the year from family....but I do spoil all my family and freinds when I can - I love to surprise people wiith gifts and see them smile!

Just this weekend he has gotten so many gifts and money from family.

Bee_Kay replied: I (thinking about it now) find that I do over-indulge with my children and I always have.

They do have alot and they don't want or need for anything. We over-indulge in hugs and kisses, in "i love yous" and also material things.

I didn't grow up necessarily poor, but not really priviledged either, kwim? new clothing came only 2 times a year.... before the school year and a couple at x-mas.

So, yes I spoil the heck out of them, but I have also drilled into them appreciation. I have taught them to not EXPECT things, but be thankful when they get it.

MommyToAshley replied:
Same here... that's how I grew up.

Ashley has more toys and clothes than I ever did. And, I will admit that I do over-indulge sometimes. But, I do try to teach Ashley to be appreciative and to give to others. She loves to put money in the charity boxes to help others, and donate her old toys at Christmas time.

The one thing I do think I go overboard on is the activities. Both my parents worked when I was growing up and since I was the second oldest, I was the designated babysitter. I didn't get to do a lot and we seldom went on trips... and I think alot about that now that I have my own child.

So, I let Ashley take up to 3 activities at one time (she would do more if I let her) and we try to spend lots of time together as a family. We go to parks, walks, and spoil her with lots of attention. We do a lot of things together like shows, fairs, and the circus. Those things add up and can stretch our budget, but you really can't put a price on family time. So if that is spoiling her, then yes we do... but it's so much fun.