Ok so am I crazy for buying my 8 year old son a PSP?

[Epoman]

Originally posted by: Rayden

Originally posted by: Epoman

Originally posted by: Rayden
My parents would never have bought one for me. I'm not sure a young kid like that needs a $300 birthday gift. If he did simple chores around the house and worked extra hard to get one I wouldn't see a problem. I don't know. It just seems like spoiling him. Get him some legos. 🙂

Please read my earlier post about the chores he does. And he has ALOT of legos, I would say about 5-6 thousand pieces.

Please don't misunderstand. I trust that your son is very mature. But what does giving him expensive gifts, and in my opinion ridiculously expensive parties, teach him about expectations? I am sure he could be happy with much fewer toys. I guess a lot of it is lifestyle and my parents aren't terribly rich and didn't shower me with gifts.

Congratulations on raising your kid. Does he need so much? That is my opinion and I will be the first to say that it is heavily influenced by how I grew up.

Well maybe I over compensate for not being able to afford a house (In my area a 3 bedroom small house costs ($500,000+) So if I can't give him a house with a dog and a backyard I will make sure he has nice things. Since he does deserve it. The most important thing in my life is my son and everything I do is because of him, nothing else matters to me. I enjoy making him happy with toys because he enjoys making ME happy, and he does that by working hard in school.

 

[Epoman]

UPDATE

Ok so I bought the PSP for my son and I opened it and I charged it and bought him a 512MB card put some MP3, Pics, on it and now I am Scared. I now realize how fragile this damn thing actually is.

PSP $249.99
Case $9.99
Car Kit $14.99
512Mb MS $64.99
Game $29.99
Game $39.99
Game $39.99

TOTAL:
Including tax $487.05
Although 2 of the games came from family members and the 512 MS came from grandpa.

Still He will be carrying $500 worth of crap on him when we go out. He hasn't got to touch it yet because his birthday is on the 7th.

 

[MetalMat]

He would have been just as happy with a way cheaper gba sp.

 

[eakers]

you know, if you can spoil your kids and have them not act spoiled then go ahead! if he isn't acting rude or selfish or spoiled then go nuts. you know your kid the best out of everyone and if you think he is ready for the responsibility that comes with owning such an expensive toy then who cares what others say?

There is a big difference between being spoiled and acting spoiled.

 

[Epoman]

Originally posted by: MetalMat
He would have been just as happy with a way cheaper gba sp.

Yeah he has had his SP since it came out, He also has a PS2, Xbox, Gamecube. Well the Xbox is really mine but we share. 😀

 

[Epoman]

Originally posted by: eakers
you know, if you can spoil your kids and have them not act spoiled then go ahead! if he isn't acting rude or selfish or spoiled then go nuts. you know your kid the best out of everyone and if you think he is ready for the responsibility that comes with owning such an expensive toy then who cares what others say?

There is a big difference between being spoiled and acting spoiled.

:thumbsup:

 

[blinky8225]

Originally posted by: Epoman

Originally posted by: aplefka
Man, you are one brave father. Just hope that everything you think has been instilled in him has truly been instilled in him in stone, otherwise, in 8 years, he's going to be one giant pain in the ass.

And what's this bullshit with E's? I hate how much people try to be politically correct and not "hurt kids self-esteem" and whatnot. What a load of fvcking bullshit!

E's and S's is what you get in grades k-3

I actually have E's in high school. Except my E's are inbetween a D and a F. 55-59

 

[joecool]

yes

 

[CarlKillerMiller]

Originally posted by: Epoman

Originally posted by: tk149
At what point are you going to teach him the value of money, and how hard it is to acquire? If you get him stuff like this now, where does it end? Are you going to buy him a Porshe at 16? A house at 21? A yacht at 25?

If you think he's earned it, then so be it, but be careful with the precedents you're setting, or life is going to kick your son in the teeth really hard some day.

Well I'm not sure. I do NOT want him to have a part time job when he's older. I want ALL of his time going to school, community service, sports. I want him to go to college FULL time, again no part time job. so his first job will be when he graduates in what ever field he chooses. So as most kids will be flipping burgers and asking "you want frys with that" learning the value of a dollar while in HS. Hopefully my son will be keeping his 4.0+ GPA and spending his free time volunteering at community services. Will he learn the value of a dollar? I'm not sure but he will learn to help his fellow man which I think is far more important.

Also I will buy my son a car, if he deserves it. As he will need it to deliver food to the poor or disabled (Meals on Wheels). 🙂

You know, you're really proof that this type of child-rearing can work, a direct opposite to the current model of giving a child too much independence.

Maximum kudos to you, Epoman! Wish your kid a happy birthday for me!

 

[Epoman]

Originally posted by: CarlKillerMiller

Originally posted by: Epoman

Originally posted by: tk149
At what point are you going to teach him the value of money, and how hard it is to acquire? If you get him stuff like this now, where does it end? Are you going to buy him a Porshe at 16? A house at 21? A yacht at 25?

If you think he's earned it, then so be it, but be careful with the precedents you're setting, or life is going to kick your son in the teeth really hard some day.

Well I'm not sure. I do NOT want him to have a part time job when he's older. I want ALL of his time going to school, community service, sports. I want him to go to college FULL time, again no part time job. so his first job will be when he graduates in what ever field he chooses. So as most kids will be flipping burgers and asking "you want frys with that" learning the value of a dollar while in HS. Hopefully my son will be keeping his 4.0+ GPA and spending his free time volunteering at community services. Will he learn the value of a dollar? I'm not sure but he will learn to help his fellow man which I think is far more important.

Also I will buy my son a car, if he deserves it. As he will need it to deliver food to the poor or disabled (Meals on Wheels). 🙂

You know, you're really proof that this type of child-rearing can work, a direct opposite to the current model of giving a child too much independence.

Maximum kudos to you, Epoman! Wish your kid a happy birthday for me!

Thank you, I just hope he stays the way he is.

 

[mooncancook]

sad. Potential victim of video game addiction.

You can buy him more educated toys like Lego Robotics, or a build-it-yourself real RC car so he can gain some mechanical skill and learn some physics while still having a blast.

 

[Epoman]

Originally posted by: mooncancook
sad. Potential victim of video game addiction.

You can buy him more educated toys like Lego Robotics, or a build-it-yourself real RC car so he can gain some mechanical skill and learn some physics while still having a blast.

Funny you should mention this. Right now my son and his friend are painting there Model Rockets, getting ready to blast them off this weekend. :thumbsup:

I love it when people assume. 😉

 

[mooncancook]

Originally posted by: Epoman

Originally posted by: mooncancook
sad. Potential victim of video game addiction.

You can buy him more educated toys like Lego Robotics, or a build-it-yourself real RC car so he can gain some mechanical skill and learn some physics while still having a blast.

Funny you should mention this. Right now my son and his friend are painting there Model Rockets, getting ready to blast them off this weekend. :thumbsup:

I love it when people assume. 😉

so your son already has enough toys? well i guess he really has too much stuff... kind of wish your were my dad too... well...

 

[Mildlyamused]

Originally posted by: keeleysam

Originally posted by: shilala
I think you did the right thing.
Kids learn responsibility by giving them responsibility.
Last week my 8 year old daughter broke the antenna of of her wireless g usb adapter. She came and showed it to me and I was pretty upset because we had an argument about mounting it where it wouldn't get broke and she refused to do it.
The next day I went out and bought her a new one.
I gave it to her and told her I bought it because I was proud of her recent efforts. She's been making a conscious effort to clean up her room and her generally hoggish habits.
I also took opportunity to once again explain how sensitive these kinds of things are and the care that has to be given to them.
She installed the new adapter, mounted it where it couldn't be broken, and everything is fine.
It was a VERY well spent 40 bucks.

Damn! an 8 year old w/ a laptop!

I got a laptop when I was 7....

 

[sonambulo]

i genuinely hope this kid supports you when he grows up.

 

[Epoman]

Originally posted by: sonambulo
i genuinely hope this kid supports you when he grows up.

Well hopefully. 😀

 

[suse920]

TOTAL:
Including tax $487.05 :Q
Although 2 of the games came from family members and the 512 MS came from grandpa.

Still He will be carrying $500 worth of crap on him when we go out. :Q He hasn't got to touch it yet because his birthday is on the 7th.[/quote]
\thats my birthday too... happy birthday to us both

 

[Brackis]

There isn't some uber case you can buy to protect screen and hardware?
Perhaps the rule is only to be used in the house or in the presence of parents?

 

[Epoman]

Originally posted by: suse920

TOTAL:
Including tax $487.05 :Q
Although 2 of the games came from family members and the 512 MS came from grandpa.

Still He will be carrying $500 worth of crap on him when we go out. :Q He hasn't got to touch it yet because his birthday is on the 7th.

\thats my birthday too... happy birthday to us both
[/quote]

:gift: 2U

 

[Juice Box]

He hasn't got to touch it yet because his birthday is on the 7th.

So...you are one of THOSE types of parents....😛
Haha I had to put up with the same rules... NO TOUCHING till its THE DAY!

 

[veloc1ty]

let us know what he thinks of it. i think its a good idea, good luck and hopefully all goes well.

 

[Epoman]

UPDATE2

OK I know all about how Hard drives and memory cards are not what they advertise. However I bought a 512mb SanDisk and I only have 468mb that is too much of a difference. I see some people talking and they have 488 on their card which sounds about right. But I am missing 44mb WTF? is the card defective?

 

[monzi]

Originally posted by: Epoman

Originally posted by: Coquito
Buy the kid a basketball & a hoop to shoot at. Too many electronics, not enough exercise. Hopefully when the psp is recharging, he'll step outside more often. 🙂

Ah the old "ASSUME", actually he is very fit infact he is a "Green Belt" in karate. and he prefers playing outside to playing video games. He is AWESOME I am very blessed. I love my son so much he is awesome. ALOT of parents tell me how lucky I am.

I think alot of how well my son does in school is because I work with him ALOT and I have volunteered at his school EVERY thursday for the last 3 years and I am a active member of the PTA and I help out at EVERY school event.

Even with all my MASSIVE health problems I focus all my strength on my son.

Perfect kid, perfect dad.......

Im glad other kids had a dad like mine. May god bless you--and evrything you are doing, giving your kids more then what you have.

-Monzi