12-year-old godchild calls her gifted tablet "basic" behind her godmother's back, expresses no gratitude for the gift: 'No thank you. No excitement. Just that'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Dec 21, 2025 10:00 AM EST

Receiving a gift is just as much of an art as giving one. There is a proper and an improper way to do it. You have to express gratitude no matter what. No matter if you hate it and plan on regifting it immediately, you need to slap a smile across your face and come up with some nice things to say about it. Because that person put effort into giving you something, and that deserves respect. Even if it's a sweater that you would never wear in a million years, you should put it on and say "This is niiiiceee" like it's your favorite gift in the world. This is just the way things are done, and that's how you keep friends around. But we all learn this at different ages. 

Sometimes it takes kids a while to learn that they should put on a happy face. And some kids just have entitlement coming out of their ears. They usually learn it from somewhere, so you should be vigilant about the influences in their life. You would hate for them to turn out like a brat. 

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • A tween girl sits on the floor and receives a present
    via Unsplash+ (Kateryna Hliznitsova)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • But that's what happened in this story, where a young woman didn't give a certain gift the due it deserved. It was an expensive gift, after all. Her godmother was left wondering who in her life taught her this kind of materialistic behavior. Scroll on to see what happened. 

  • My godchild called her bday gift "the basic version"

    I've been my godchild's godparent since the day she was born and I've always tried to show up. Birthdays, school stuff, little extras when I can. This year, for her 12th bday, I bought her a tablet she could use for school and everyday stuff. Brand new, sealed, not cheap.
    via u/JaguarNoClick
  • So when I handed the gift to her, she opened that box, look at it for a second, and asked "is this the one without the pen?" I said, "yeah, but it still does everything you need for notes and classes." She shrugged and went "oh... okay I thought it would be the other one." No thank you. No excitement. Just that.
    via u/JaguarNoClick
  • Later in the afternoon I overheard her telling a cousin "godparent got me the basic version. I might upgrade it myself later." That stung, but I let it go. Here's the twist. About a week later she texted me "Hey, can you buy me the pen? It should've come with the tablet anyway." I replied "no, the tablet was the gift." She didn't answer. Didn't bring it up again either. Funny thing is, every time I see her now, she's using that same "basic" tablet nonstop.
    via u/JaguarNoClick

  • Commenters agreed that this was outrageous.

    PieSuccessful7794 I guess someone is getting a "basic" gift card next year (if anything!).
    via u/PieSuccessful7794
  • Mamamagpie That sort of materialistic greed is a learned behavior. Have you tried to figure out where they learned it?
    via u/Mamamagpie
  • JelloOverall8542 Sounds like your godchild has a parenting problem. I would never give her another gift until she learns how to properly deal with them.
    via u/JelloOverall8542
  • A young woman opens up a box
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • baka-tari Sounds like she just asked for a basic greeting card for any subsequent holiday. "I wish you well" and gift problem. solved
    via u/baka-tari
  • Surleighgrl I think you have an opportunity to teach her that what she said was rude and that the appropriate response when receiving a gift is to say "thank you" to the giver. I would be mortified if my child acted that way and we would have a conversation about manners.
    via u/Surleighgrl
  • Silvaria928 It sounds like her parents haven't taught her the fine art of being gracious. I used to have a boyfriend who had a niece, I think she was around 8 years old. One Christmas I really put a lot of effort into picking out a toy for her after talking to her parents, and it wasn't cheap.
    via u/Silvaria928
  • Christmas morning, Niece started opening her presents and it went exactly like this: Rip open the paper, look at the toy with a bored expression, toss aside. Rip open the paper, look at the toy with a bored expression, toss aside. And so on.
    via u/Silvaria928
  • Neither her nor her parents ever thanked us or any of the other family members who had spent time and money trying to get something she would like. Needless to say, the following Christmas, I didn't bother with much effort or money.
    via u/Silvaria928
  • Interesting Wing... I would have taken it home with me.
    via u/Interesting_Wing_461
  • Realistic-Major4... I heard books about basic social behavior make great gifts for a thirteenth birthday!
    via u/Realistic-Major4888
  • kmflushing I'm sorry, but that "basic" gift would have been returned by me.
    via u/kmflushing
  • ChoiceD You should have taken it back and bought her a "basic" paper writing tablet. And a pen.
    via u/ChoiceD
  • beatissima I think you should have a conversation with her parents about this.
    via u/beatissima
  • Really-ChillDude I get it. My granddaughter is the same way. She is always pushing the envelope. We did Christmas in November, when they could come visit. She texted me a few days before her trip asking for money. I said no! She didn't talk to me again till she got here. She is 12.
    via u/Really-ChillDude
  • Funny part is I got her most of what she asked for, and a few other things. But she saw her brother got a gift card for a video game they both play, and looked dejected because she didn't get one. I am like: dude, I spent about the same on you both.
    via u/Really-ChillDude
  • Jemma Mimic Her parents should have taught her some things, like saying thank you.
    via u/JemmaMimic
  • HunterGreenLeaves That was a really nice, generous gift, but it sounds as though you didn't check with her parents before you got it, to make sure it was functional for her. Not everyone uses a pen with it, but if it's primarily for notes. and classes, it'd be pretty. normal to want to have one.
    via u/HunterGreenLeaves
  • I realize the word "basic" has been used as an insult, but that might not be what she meant by it. What you're describing is a basic version, which doesn't have a pen. Do I think she could have been more polite about it? Of course. Children do tend to be entitled unless they're taught otherwise.
    via u/HunterGreenLeaves
  • Did it work out in the end? Yes. It sounds as though it's a very appreciated gift. If you feel the need to have her confirm that it's useful, you could check-in with her "It seems to be working out?" kind of question. You could also mention it to the parents, though this much after the fact it's a little late.
    via u/HunterGreenLeaves
  • AIX-XON 12 year olds suck, don't take it personally, just go with the 67.
    via u/AIX-XON
  • catladyclub Well now you know not to get her the least you can!
    via u/catladyclub
  • JayEll1969 Wait a few years then get the pen, once that tablet is totally obsolete.
    via u/JayEll1969
  • JEWCEY Get her a card that says Basic and put a $5 bill in it next year. Ungrateful twits don't get great gifts
    via u/JEWCEY
  • MaryJaneMuffins So, an important tool she needs for her education shouldn't be left to a Christmas present. That's the sort of thing her parents should be supplying.
    via u/MaryJaneMuffins
  • TheQuarantinian Nature designed 12 year olds to be stupid. I'd chalk this up as less entitled and more kids still in the learning phase.
    via u/TheQuarantinian

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

godchild ipad godparent christmas gifts gift bratty child tween entitled people
Scroll Down For The Next Article