Christmas is supposed to be a time for loving and appreciating your family, but not everyone seems to have got the message. On Christmas Day a guy with the charming Twitter handle of @Fart re-tweeted messages from disgruntled present recipients, and the results were pretty disgusting. Here is a sampling:
“Yeah she was saying she was going to upgrade my black IPhone 4 into a white one but she didnt so its #f–kmom”
“After opening the presents I should have saved the $ I spent to get down here and bought myself an iPad since I didn’t get one. Wtf family!”
“My parents are the worst mother F–king parents in the world f–k you mom and dad for not getting me a Iphone. F–K YOU. FML. #Iphone”
When I looked at the avatars accompanying these tweets I saw they were largely written by teenagers, and wondered if the teenage Mike would have ever said anything like that. After much consideration I decided that, while I wouldn’t have said anything that snotty, there were presents I lusted for, and I likely was pretty obnoxious about it (as only teenagers can be).
Imagining my life as a teenager reminded me of a promise I made to myself back in the day. I pledged that, when I grew up, I would never forget what it was like to be young and dedicate my life to showing adults they weren’t as right about things as they thought they were.
But then a funny thing happened… I got older, lived a little, and started to see that adults were actually right about a lot of things. In time I even came to realize that (gasp) young people could be pretty dense about life – a fact that tweets like the ones above demonstrate pretty well.
So here’s the thing, young people… the real gift of the holidays isn’t found in any wrapped box or stocking, but in the moments you spend with your loved ones. This must sound terribly cheesy to you (and it would’ve sounded that way to me as a teenager too), but time has taught me the hard way that what really matters are moments like these:
Christmas 2008
Christmas 2011
The shiny iPhones, iPads, and all the rest are ephemeral… you won’t still use them or even know where they are in twenty years, but the memories you made with your family and friends will still be held close to your heart.
Roll your eyes if you must, but someday, when you’ve seen more years and cried more tears, you will know what I mean. And while I am not deluded enough to think that I can convince you of this now, I hope that I can at least convince you to lay off all of the “F–k my parents” crap. As hard as it may seem to be believe now your folks won’t be here forever, and one day there won’t be a present in all of the world that you would exchange for just one more Christmas with them by your side.
Ms. A says:
Well said, Mike.
Kate says:
This post has moved me to tears.I am so fortunate to have what I have and whenever I feel dissatisfied in life I try to think what it is like for someone who doesn’t has what I’m blessed with. That can be anything from material possessions to relationships. I feel sorry for that guy whatever his name is whose comment you’ve mentioned in the post.
Sarah G says:
Agree totally. Experiences make us happier than possessions. Spend accordingly.
Pol says:
I am just astonished that people can be so ungrateful – I am perfectly sure that I never would have said anything even remotely like those tweets as a teenager (though at age 5 I did exclaim “not another lego” at Christmas – and was never allowed to forget that!)
A very heartfelt post Mike – thanks for sharing
Cathy K. says:
Well said.
katrina @ They All Call Me Mom says:
Very well said. Nothing could be more true. I hope some teens do read this… and have a change of heart. Sometimes I think they are just writing those things to look “cool” to their friends…but deep down, do they really mean it? Maybe some do, but I’m willing to bet that most don’t.
At least I hope not.
stacy says:
Well put my favorite part of Christmas this year was seeing my parents open their presents my husband, sons, and I bought them those memories will last forever!
Sue says:
You said it perfectly, Mike!
Lisa W says:
Very well said! We lost our beloved Granny unexpectedly just days before Christmas this year and my 6 year old said if he could have any gift he wanted it would be Granny still here..
Tracey says:
Well said Mike. And you are correct. And teenagers can learn this lesson. We were devastated by Hurricane Irene this year and lost EVERYTHING in our basement – Electric Panel, Furnace and AC, Hot Water Heater and I have been unemployed for 2+ yrs. My Kids asked for NOTHING this year and said to me being with me was present enough. (Made me cry). I was fortunate enough to get a seasonal job so there was a little money for christmas presents for the kids and this year they were so grateful to get what they got. Made me glad I couldn’t go all out – I think they have learned what is important. Kids don’t need tons of presents – they need the important stuff – us!
Merry Christmas
Holly says:
Beautiful post, Mike!
Sarah says:
Truer words could not be said Mike. I would give every gift I received in all the years for one more Christmas with my Mom who we lost this year. Things will just never be the same without her, especially Christmas.
Tonya says:
Amen! I may have been a bit ( a lot) jerky as a teen, but I NEVER would have made comments like that. Nor would I have felt that I was owed an expensive gift like an iPad. Entitled little monsters like that are CREATED by those parents they’re cursing.
Christine says:
I’m part of the younger generation, a mere 20 years old and I would MUCH rather make memories and spend time with my family and see them happy, which in return makes me happy. It took some a major life change (my sister passing away at 14), but since then memories are all I want, because those, you can never replace-gifts you can.
Mary Ann says:
After spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2004 in the C ICU watching my father slip further away the holiday has taken on new meaning for me. It really isn’t about presents but the present and spending time with those you love. Even though it was the worst Christmas of my life I was still happy to have had one more Christmas holding his hand and spending time together I would give everyting in the world to have that again. It’s sad to see how selfish some people are, the greatest gift anyone can have is family and friends. That Christmas made me realize how stupid it was to stress over the gifts I was giving, none of that matters. Do you even remember what you got last Christmas? Most people probably don’t but I am sure you remember those moments you spent together. Well said Mike, Annie has great role models. Happy New Year!
Brooke says:
I can say without a doubt that I would have never said anything like that. I lost my mom when I was 13 and I would have given up Christmas for the rest of my life if I could have just had her back. My dad gave us nice gifts and made sure we had a nice Christmas and maybe it wasn’t what we wanted but we never would have acted like that.
If my child ever acts like that I would like to think I would teach her a lesson in humility by returning what gifts I could afford for her and give the money to a charity.
Rebecca says:
Oh Mike, you made me cry. But yes, teenagers are awful. I wanted a CD player really badly one year but when I didn’t get it (too expensive) I realized that I was with my mom and dad and they did the best they could with the clothing that I needed (warm coat) and some lip gloss along with some candy.
Nancy Smego says:
I couldn’t agree more Mike
marilyn tobin says:
Once again, nail on the head! happy new year!
Trisha says:
Well said my friend!
Chantel says:
Beautifully expressed, Mike!
tauni says:
Perfectly put!
AD says:
So true. I lost both of my parents this year and you’ve said this perfectly.
Gabby says:
Social media makes it easier to be a snot in a public way, where years ago a disappointed teenager might have written in a private journal. While there’s no good reason to write “f–k my parents” all over the internet, I remember being angry at my parents as a teenager and the temptation in the heat of the moment to climb to the top of the house and scream “you suck.” Never over a gift.
But yes, those tweeters are missing what Christmas and gift-giving are all about. This makes me thankful to have a (teenage) little brother who is perfectly fine without a gift, gets excited over a survival book and Zippo lighter, but would rather hang out and spend time with people.
AngieM. says:
very well said. it made me think..back when i was a kid, i don’t remember any gift i’ve ever received but i DO remember all the family getting together and my uncle always dressing up as santa for us kids. best memories ever!
also- those teens that tweeted that are a bunch of little shits, sheesh!
Katie (Overflowing Brain) says:
I was horrified when I read those tweets. I mean truly sickened, so was my husband. We decided that if our child(ren) ever wrote or said anything like that, that they’d be donating all their gifts to a local shelter and they’d be spending Christmas day that year and several to come at local soup kitchens serving the homeless.
And it makes me seriously consider adding something like a trip to serve at a soup kitchen into our yearly routine, just as a reminder to all of us of how fortunate we are for our friends, family, the roof over our head and any gifts we are lucky enough to receive this time each year.
Amy ~Hamlet's Mistress says:
This is lovely. And so true. I hate kids today. They think they’re so entitled. It’s disgusting. We all had things we wanted for christmas we didn’t get growing up and we may not have always been super gracious about it. Buy this rampant sense of entitlement? This is new.
statia says:
I swear to all that’s holy, if my kids ever talk like that in regards to Christmas or not receiving presents, they’ll never get anything again.
Audra says:
I saw this same set of re-tweets on Facebook and assumed they were fake, because, NO ONE could be so shallow and self-absorbed to even think this stuff, much less say it, right? But since you ‘ve also posted them, I guess they are real and that is so sad.
I can’t imagine living a life where the color of my iphone would make or break my day. I feel sorry for those people. Their lives must be really vapid and hollow.
They need some perspective. One of my friends and co-workers was in a near-fatal car accident on his way home from work at the beginning of our Thanksgiving break last month. His family, including two children, ages 10 and 7 spent this Christmas praying that he would wake up from the coma he’s been in since 11/22. I’m sure that both of those children would gladly agree to never receive another toy again if it meant that they could have their daddy back.
Anna says:
My family decided to take it easy on the presents this year, and it was one of the most relaxing and enjoyable holidays I can remember. It really helps you focus on what’s important.
Sunny says:
Allow me to share a young friend’s status update from Facebook, just so you know that not all teenagers are jerks. Now 15, she was a preemie, born at 31 weeks. Her mother had pre-eclampsia, and young K suffered from intra-uterine growth restriction. She was less than 2 pound at birth.
“Me: I love this blanket so much… Mom: is that the thing you most happy with? Me: omg yes! Mom: with all the money I spent on christmas you happy with the blanket the most… Me: yes by the end of the week it won’t be soft anymore! Mom: yeah with the way you’re manhandling it no probably not!”
She was happiest with a blanket!! Her Christmas Eve status was this:
“cant wait to be with the family tonight :)”
She’s a gem, that’s for sure. Good teenagers DO exist!
Leslie says:
This made me cry. Yes, I would have given it all to have my dad see my 3 year old this Christmas…or to have met her at all….
Karen says:
Hear, hear.
The other sad part is that, deep down, many of these people aren’t even this selfish at heart. As the social networking phenomenon continues to explode over the internet, we see more and more of this “complain and be credible” mentality. You get a bunch of people together who decide they need some kind of mutual agenda and one of the most popular ones seems to be to find something to put down and share communal outrage at.
The Age of Entitlement is bad enough without people deciding its a cultural event that can’t be missed lest they appear uncool. Oh for a way to make good vibes fashionable!
Amy says:
I agree completely.
J. P Martin says:
Let me join in on the “well said” band wagon! Happy Christmas to you and your family from Toronto, Canada.
AmazingGreis says:
Great post Mike!
Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!
Hope to see you all again at some point in 2012.
Jennifer says:
This made me cry. Thank you.
Alexandra :) says:
Im a teenager. Thank you for that.
And LOVE that pic of you and Madeline.