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No thanks.

(103 Posts)
Sueinkent Thu 25-Dec-25 21:51:37

I have two GC of 16 and 13, each of whom I gave £50 for xmas. I have heard noword of thanks from either of them even though I have seen them today. They used to be very polite and always did the right thing in this respect but lately they don’t acknowledge any gifts. It is the same for their birthdays. I don’twant them to grovel and I understand how young people get distracted by busy goings on with their mates etc but when I was young my parents made sure I showed respect and appreciation for things like gifts. Am I being a grouch?

DianneAngel Thu 25-Dec-25 21:58:42

Im lucky if I get a thank you text these days. My Grandson is 14 years and my Son is nearly 40 years. They live 200 miles away. My other Son is always appreciative but then I see him every week. hugs

NotSpaghetti Thu 25-Dec-25 22:02:07

Wondering how the money was given if you'd seen them today?
Do they actually know you have given it?

Maybe not if it was in a card left (say) on the mantlepiece or cash paid into their banks? They probably wouldn't have noticed.

Yes rude if you'd handed it to them in notes in an envelope and watched them open it...

travelsafar Thu 25-Dec-25 22:18:03

I'm sure no one would think you are a grouch. This happens all the time to so many people sadly. I put it down to a sense of entitlement by some young people these days..... I include some of my grandchildren in this. 😒

Toetoe Thu 25-Dec-25 22:20:53

Yes it's rude and must be hurtful . Manners and politeness so important. Maybe in a week or so ask what they bought with your gift .

Cabbie21 Thu 25-Dec-25 22:25:22

Two of my grandchildren were like that during their teens but are better now they are a bit older.

Sueinkent Thu 25-Dec-25 22:33:11

Toetoe: That is a good idea. I will. Just for info, I bought Amazon vouchers and sent them in a card.

Wyllow3 Thu 25-Dec-25 22:40:27

Cabbie21

Two of my grandchildren were like that during their teens but are better now they are a bit older.

I think it can be a bit like that.

it doesn't mean they don't love you, yes, rather taken for granted - teenage lives can be difficult - yes I would if I were their mum ask them to say thanks, granny....but is is worth making a point of it, or better left? Only you can know your own family?

SueDonim Thu 25-Dec-25 22:49:09

I’ve just spoken to my GC in the US on FaceTime. They’re almost 13 and 16 and were full of thanks for their physical gifts and Amazon vouchers.

nadateturbe Thu 25-Dec-25 23:27:57

No thanks here, either, GSs live in England but I will ask tomorrow, did you like your presents. Maybe caught up in the fun of Christmas day.

nanna8 Fri 26-Dec-25 00:25:56

I remember my Mum sitting over me whilst I wrote thank you letters to my aunts and uncles and grandparents. She was right to do it. So much easier for them with mobiles these days but some are not taught to thank people. Most of ours are pretty good but not all of them. Entitled generations.

Doodledog Fri 26-Dec-25 00:57:22

Did you say anything when you saw them, OP? If not, why not? It does seem as though saying thanks is going out of fashion, and I don't know why. I don't have grandchildren, so am a bit out of that loop, but there are so many threads about grans getting upset at the lack of gratitude from their grandchildren that I can see it's going on.

I wouldn't like it either, but I would speak to them and ask what they feel about it. Maybe nobody has taught them that thanks make others feel good, which is a fair exchange for the gift, maybe they feel embarrassed to say thanks (odd, but teens can be), or maybe something else.

You won't know unless you ask, and I doubt any of the generation on here will be able to explain it, as it is outside of our experience, on the whole.

NotSpaghetti Fri 26-Dec-25 01:00:44

Do you know they have a) received them and b) opened them?

Just wondering...

Purplepixie Fri 26-Dec-25 03:30:02

Yes! Extremely rude.

BlueBelle Fri 26-Dec-25 06:40:22

No you’re not being a grouch
We don’t know the details Purplepixie poster said it was sent in a card does she know it arrived and if it had arrived does she know if it was opened yet I do now realise teens of today are often not into cards
I have seven adult grandkids, scattered around the world , all had money this year I have heard from six I ve had phone calls off each and they were all very grateful and full of what they will do with the money
The seventh and eldest rarely thanks me unless reminded but I think she is perhaps a bit entitled and not so thoughtful of others but I won’t treat her any differently in the future she is still my first grandaughter

silverlining48 Fri 26-Dec-25 06:51:33

I noticed that yesterday with my 16 and 13 year old gc. From always writing thankyou letters as younger children they now barely acknowledge gifts, even if we are in the same room, manners don’t seem to be important nowadays.

Aveline Fri 26-Dec-25 07:12:25

One of my DGCs did text to thank me last night. I suspect at the prompting of his mum though. Nothing from the other one.
It's slightly different but a relatively remote relation has come to uni here. From time to time DH and I take him out for a good lunch then sightseeing then a visit to a farm shop or supermarket to stock up on treats for the next week. He is polite and socially adept yet no thanks or follow up thank you text. I know he does appreciate these outings as his mum always texts me later to thank but nothing from the lad himself. Disappointing. I too have memories of labouring over thank you letters after Christmas and birthdays. It wouldn't occur to me not to do that.

TerriBull Fri 26-Dec-25 07:25:45

Like nanna8 I always had to write a thank you letter as a child. As we opened the present, my father would have pen and paper in hand to note what we'd been sent by whom so we could specifically mention the gift in the letter. I think that's the way it was done then. Now it's a text unless we see them on the day as we did yesterday. I agree a non acknowledgement isn't good. How much time does it take these days for a WhatsApp. No I don't think you're being a grouch it's quite hurtful to have no acknowledgement.

Humbertbear Fri 26-Dec-25 07:39:50

I’m totally taken for granted by my GC. I pay money into their bank accounts every month and give them a larger sum for birthdays and Christmas. We usually print mock cheques which we give them in a card, If we present these in person we will get a cursory thank you. They are all older teenagers and they never visit and never phone. If we visit their home they will eat with us and disappear. They came for lunch with their parents last week and never said a word to me. When they were little I thought we had a good relationship, but now I feel like calling it a day. Sorry - I had a bad day yesterday with DH and this is a subject I am seem to be unable to discuss with anyone.

Sarnia Fri 26-Dec-25 08:03:08

I have 9 grandchildren who all had money this year. So far I have had 3 messages of thanks. One from my eldest GD, one from her sister in Brisbane and the other from my only GS who is autistic but can remember his manners.
My Boxing Day mornings in the 1950's were spent writing thank you letters to everyone who had been kind enough to give me a present.
My eldest DD who is Mum to the 2 GD's who did thank me said to keep my pension money for myself in future and not send to those who cannot say thank you.
I have to say it's tempting, then I wouldn't have to get so het up about it.
It's the world these youngsters live in I'm afraid. They have far too much, far too easily and don't appreciate what it means to work for anything or go without.

Sarnia Fri 26-Dec-25 08:06:56

Aveline

One of my DGCs did text to thank me last night. I suspect at the prompting of his mum though. Nothing from the other one.
It's slightly different but a relatively remote relation has come to uni here. From time to time DH and I take him out for a good lunch then sightseeing then a visit to a farm shop or supermarket to stock up on treats for the next week. He is polite and socially adept yet no thanks or follow up thank you text. I know he does appreciate these outings as his mum always texts me later to thank but nothing from the lad himself. Disappointing. I too have memories of labouring over thank you letters after Christmas and birthdays. It wouldn't occur to me not to do that.

It wouldn't occur to me not to do that
I suspect like many of us it was non-negotiable. Our parents said write thank you letters and we didn't argue. No point.

BlueBelle Fri 26-Dec-25 08:14:54

I don’t think it’s necessarily about them getting too much as I said I got 6 thank yous out of 7 but all of them earn more than me
I got lovely presents off 4 out of 7 and one other always does send so it may be in the post Just the two furthest away in distance don’t give me anything but one does always thank me the other has only ever thanked me after prompting.
Still my grandchild though warts and all

I always had to sit and write my thankyou letters my children all had to as well and one daughter carried the ritual on, the other two let it go.

Iam64 Fri 26-Dec-25 08:28:55

Things have changed gradually, it seems, with thank you letters, even texts, from grandchildren less likely. I was with my younger grandchildren as they opened endless gifts yesterday . They shouted thank you and gave hugs as they went.
Not a peep from the older grandchildren. I’m not taking it personally but I am wondering at what age we stop gifting

Aveline Fri 26-Dec-25 08:28:55

One year an elderly family friend sent her usual Christmas card which usually contained a cheque for me to divide between my two children. However, that year her message read 'Please give the children £15 each.' Unfortunately, no cheque was included! She had forgotten. Nevertheless, both children duly wrote her a thank you letter. We did chuckle though.

Magenta8 Fri 26-Dec-25 08:43:39

I remember being sat at the table on Boxing Day with my brother. There was the Basildon Bond, two proper Parker fountain pens, filled with Quink permanent blue black and 'The List.' Mother would be standing by flexing her arm muscles and occasionally cracking the cat o'nine tails.

Those were the days!