Anonymous
asks:
Q:
How can we help our pre-teen be less self-centered or less focused on self when it's others' time for attention?
When we buy gifts for our daughter's friends or cousins, or compliment their achievements, our pre-teen daughter's initial response is often, "What about me? Where's my gift? How come you didn't buy that for me? When are you going to buy that for me? Promise you'll buy that for me!", or "What about me? Aren't you proud of me?"
It's very disappointing when this happens, and even worrisome, as her grandmother still often behaves this way in her mid-'50s (to the dismay of many who know her, including relatives!) and we don't want our daughter to be the same way when she grows up.
What can we (her parents) do to help her get over this self-centeredness, so she doesn't think that rewarding or complimenting someone else is somehow taking attention or rewards away from her (or that we have to match the gifts and compliments for others to gifts and compliments for her)? Is there anything we can do to ensure that this is just a phase that she'll outgrow?
In Topics:
My child's growth and development, Parenting / Our Family, Friendships and peer relationships
It's very disappointing when this happens, and even worrisome, as her grandmother still often behaves this way in her mid-'50s (to the dismay of many who know her, including relatives!) and we don't want our daughter to be the same way when she grows up.
What can we (her parents) do to help her get over this self-centeredness, so she doesn't think that rewarding or complimenting someone else is somehow taking attention or rewards away from her (or that we have to match the gifts and compliments for others to gifts and compliments for her)? Is there anything we can do to ensure that this is just a phase that she'll outgrow?
> 60 days ago
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