Shut Up It Isn’t Your Birthday

By On 2011/04/23 · 6 Comments · In A to Z Blogging Challenge, Solitary Mama, Wisdom You Won't Use Anywhere

I’m noticing something lately and I’m not sure if it has to do with the fact that I’m getting older and craggier or whether it’s because I’m a parent.

Children/teens/young adults really think we (as in the entire universe) owe them something just for being here. No, I’m not referring to the obligation that we have to insure that our kids are equipped with whatever is necessary in the process of sprouting from infant to productive adult. We do owe them that. I’m talkin about kids that think they don’t have to do shit but should somehow have shit…just because.

What really bothers me is if something “bad” has happened to them. Game over, I guess. If their parents are divorced, didn’t attend their little league games, if they were poor, if they didn’t have any friends, if they didn’t get special snacks like everyone else….whatever. (Here, bad means something they think is unfair, not bad as in almost killed or anything.) If children have any idea that life has somehow ripped them off, they oftentimes have accepted this as their excuse to never have to do anything and are no longer accountable for themselves.

These foolish people are on Facebook complaining about a hard day at school, cussing out old people and relatives and talking shit about their parents. They’re saying crazy things about their part time employers and then wondering why they’re fired. They’re calling people ignorant and spelling it incorrectly. Really? How about we make them take a test about their contribution to the world before we allow them to post about how the world owes their useless and unproductive asses anything. True, I was one of the unproductive at one time. I don’t believe I ever felt like anyone owed me anything though and I damn sure wasn’t talking crazy stuff on Facebook (for one, it wasn’t invented at the time).

But yet, they should still have everything because they’re here dammit, and the world better recognize.

***

During my birthday planning frenzy for my daughter, I remember a coworker telling me not to do the special gift bags for everyone that attended the party. She said it’s a waste of money, the parents of the children don’t want all that extra junk around the house, and the other kids shouldn’t expect to get anything anyway. It’s not their damn birthday. I did the bags because everyone else does them and because I felt like it would be unfair to the other children to not get something at my daughter’s birthday party. How lame, I know. I get the point though. Totally.

Do you remember when only the birthday child received presents at the birthday party? That’s because the rest of the kids got stuff on their birthdays. We understood that we wouldn’t get anything at Susie’s birthday party (except cake and ice cream) because her birthday party is about her– not the people that showed up. Maybe it was just my life growing up, but I don’t remember getting all of those special treats and presents and prizes just for going to someone else’s birthday party.

***

No one owes you anything, young(er) people. You want something extra, you should probably figure out how to get it and work for it because ass-sitting is only going to result in an extra large ass. I’m going to save you a lot of waiting and tell you now…no one is bringing you anything.

Sorry. You don’t get special treats just for being here.

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  • http://robertlarend.blogspot.com/ The Robert

    I especially deplore those who go out of their way to remind everybody their birthday is coming up. How narcisistic that all is. Myself, I can’t recall ever being anything but reluctant to tell friends my birthday, because I hate fuss about it, especially the awkwardness of being given presents.

    Most times I just hide away from everybody until my birthday passes.

    This may sound strange to some, and I really don’t know what makes me like that. It’s just the way I am….

  • http://www.laugh-quotes.com Rhonda at Laugh Quotes

    You said this so well. Kids today really don’t get it. I so agree with you on the problem, I just wonder what is the solution. And as for those little gift bags, we don’t give them out, but then again, most people don’t here in NZ. I wonder what I would do if I still lived in the states.

  • http://www.thewritingnut.com nutschell

    Birthdays are a great excuse to go treat yourself to a nice dinner or a spa without feeling too guilty about spending too much money.
    Great meeting you through the A-Z!

    nutschell
    http://www.thewritingnut.com

  • Derek Odom

    Oh man, oh man, I loved this post. I’m the same way, and I guess it is a generational thing. I understand that each generation thinks the one after it is just horrible, but the teens today really scare me. They can’t read or write or spell, they know more about Call of Duty than actual wars, and they feel entitled to whatever, simply because their hearts are beating. Not so, my friends. Not so.

    LOL @ the birthday bit. I grew up in middle-class Colorado and I can tell you, nobody but the birthday boy or girl got gifts at parties. I mean, the attendees already got cake, pizza, soda, and to have a fun day. They need loot, too? I remember sometimes there were games that may win prizes like some bouncy ball or the plastic thing with a rubber band that when let loose, flew about fifteen feet before crashing. Or the whistle/horn thing that sounded like a kazoo but extended like a chameleon tongue. Party favors. Not presents.

  • http://annienygma.com Annie

    Amen! When I was 18 I went out and got a job and started working for a living. I would have had one even younger but my parents would not allow it, so I had to wait until I was 18 to avoid needing their permission. Even at that Mother refused to drive me to work so I drove myself–with nothing but a permit. by golly I WANTED to work!

    Nowadays these kids won’t hardly take a job if you beg them too! I know of so many who just expect mom and dad to pay their way forever, and my middle daughter just started to stay with me on the condition that she get off her ass and get a job. I am NOT going to support a deadbeat, even if it is my kid!

    I have no idea what happened: I guess when it became illegal to spank them and teachers started turning them into pansies the kids thought they had it made. Like seriously, the world would be a much better place if these kids were left to fend for themselves–they would stop all the tattoo and piercings and go out and get jobs instead.

  • http://ashleymashley.com Ashley Mashley

    You know, I do remember getting those good bags as a kid at other parties, but it was just filled with nonsense that I got bored with 2 seconds later. I prefered the cake and ice cream!
    Ashley Mashley recently posted..Football Friday!