My niece, Penelope, 13, has been staying with me for four days while her mom is away on a business trip. At first, I thought it would be fun — a chance to bond and spend some quality time together. That quickly changed.
Penelope is bratty, spoiled, and entitled. She throws fits like a toddler when she doesn’t get exactly what she wants, when she wants it. I’ve been trying my best to manage her behavior while keeping my own household running smoothly.
Two nights ago, we decided to order takeout. My plan was simple: pizza and sandwiches from a nearby place that everyone enjoys. I told the kids to pick whatever they wanted, hoping for a peaceful dinner.
Penelope immediately looked at the menu and declared she didn’t want anything on it. Everything was “disgusting,” she said, and she wanted sushi instead. I explained that sushi wasn’t an option that night and asked her to pick something off the menu.
That’s when things escalated. She threw my phone at me and refused to tell me what she wanted. I had to catch it before it hit the wall, and I told her clearly: if she couldn’t choose from the menu, she would get a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
She still refused to respond. Meanwhile, my two boys had already decided they would share a small pizza. I took note of their orders and reminded Penelope again to choose something from the menu.
She completely ignored me. No response, no acknowledgment — just silence. At this point, I realized the only way to maintain order was to proceed with the other orders and deal with her later.
I called in the orders for everyone else and prepared a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for Penelope. It wasn’t ideal, but it was fair and simple. I figured it would send a clear message that throwing a fit wouldn’t get her what she wanted.
An hour later, the food arrived. I plated everyone’s meals, making sure my boys were happy with their pizza and sandwiches. I then brought out Penelope’s PB&J.
The moment she saw the food, she suddenly changed her tune. “Oh, there’s pizza? I’ll have that,” she announced, as if she had never refused earlier.
I told her no. The decision had been made: she didn’t get to dictate the meal by throwing a tantrum and throwing my phone. She looked shocked and tried to protest, but I held firm.
My boys laughed quietly, and I reminded everyone that the rules were clear. Behavior has consequences. You can’t throw things and expect people to bend to your whims.
Penelope’s mom isn’t here to enforce rules, so I had to step in. I explained to Penelope calmly that throwing a fit would not get her what she wanted. If she wanted a different meal, she needed to communicate politely and respectfully.
By the end of dinner, Penelope was quietly sulking over her peanut butter and jelly sandwich. She had learned, at least for that night, that tantrums don’t pay.
This experience reminded me that handling entitled behavior requires consistency and firmness. Even when it’s frustrating, kids — even teenagers — need to understand boundaries and consequences.
Ultimately, I hope Penelope remembers this lesson. She might be bratty now, but consistency and clear expectations can help her learn respect and patience. And as for me, I learned that sometimes, the best way to manage a tantrum is to stay calm, stay firm, and let the consequence speak for itself.