I don’t know how it happened, and I pray that it’s short-lived. The boys are going through a very greedy phase. Every time I turn around, someone is asking for something, begging to go somewhere, wanting money for something, whining about something they don’t have … It’s maddening.
My boys have never gotten everything they wanted. Saying “thank you” — and even writing thank-you notes, when feasible — is ingrained in them. (Granted, I have to remind them occasionally, but they know what to do. I make them save their own money to buy gum at the grocery store. I don’t shower them with gifts and sweets. Soda is a special treat.
So, how did this happen?
The middle one turns eight tomorrow. I know that birthdays are a big deal, but if I gave him and did for him everything that he has pestered me to do, then there wouldn’t even be time enough in the day to get it all done! We’d start the morning off with breakfast in bed, then lunch at Newk’s and dinner at Red Lobster, not to mention gifts from each of his brothers and the skating party (with pizza & cupcakes) that we already have planned. We’d also go to Great Wolf Lodge and go swimming. I’m sure he’d like to throw in a trip to Disney World, to boot.
Seriously, it’s grating on my nerves. It’s not just him, by any means. Nos. 4 & 5 are constantly badgering me with questions like, “When will we go to Chick-Fil-A?” … “When will you give me my dollar?” (which was promptly responded to by explaining that he didn’t EARN said dollar) … “When can we go back to California?” …
Again this morning, I talked to them in the car and explained that when they pester me for things, it makes me not want to do it at all. I told them that I enjoyed taking them to Sonic for ice cream after dinner last night because it was a special treat that I thought of doing because I wanted to be nice. When they hound me for things or to go places, it takes away my fun from surprising them, and I don’t want to go. Besides, I told them, it’s just plain rude to beg for things.
I don’t know if I’m handling this right, but the begging has got to stop.
faith, sweat & tears 
Hugs! This is something all parents go through with their kids. When our son is begging for STUFF, we handle it one of two ways. He is a big beggar in the grocery store. We let him have the first thing he asks for and we have some control over that because we always start in produce. Mango? Ok. Frosted Flakes? Do you want to put back the mango? The second way that we cope is to ask if he brought his money. If he has to pay, many things looks less wonderful. I’m not saying this phase will be short lived but this has helped.
–SueBE