People who design purses are popular because of a purse

So! They can be the envy of everybody. Y is everybody asking "since when did a purse make somebody happy" it does. Kids want the latest most expensive shoes, the latest fad. It doesn't make them popular but kids/adults become the center of attention people love that.

I agree with you 12. but I guess it all depends on where you grow up

...I don't think that's the best way to handle this.

That comment sucked dude

Yeah, after she's done being grounded....

Awkward

It's actually better to give an explanation to your kid if you 'punish' them. They need to know why they can't have and do anything they want.

not buying her a purse is not a punishment. there's no need to justify it. you're a parent not a buddy, you don't need to share your financial concerns or trade-offs with your children.

First off, i think it's better when your parent is your friend because then you can go to them when you have a problem instead of doing something stupid. that doesnt mean the parents still arent the ones in charge, it is just to allow the child to trust the parent with personal issues. second, the parent can explain that if she wants something so expensive she can work for it instead if throwing a temper tantrum.

Actually providing children with a reason why you are saying no, can prevent a long tedious argument. If you don't give a reason, the child won't understand why you are saying no... and "because I said so" is not a satisfactory answer to children.

"not buying her a purse is not a punishment." It is for her. If you give a good reason ('I want you to be popular because of your personality, not because of your looks', 'I find that purse too expensive. If you want it, fine, but you'll have to do chores around the house to earn some money', ...), a child will learn something about your ethics. Otherwise, you're just the mean parent who doesn't love his/her children the way the parents of pupil X do, because (s)he gets all the nice and expensive stuff and boohoo it isn't fair!

"and I would have got away with it if it weren't for those meddlesome kids"

But Alan, OP promised her to buy it. If he doesn't buy it now, he teaches his kid yet another wrong lesson. First wrong lesson: if you complain hard enough, I'll get you anything you want. Second wrong lesson: a promise can easily be broken.

Where does it say OP promised to buy her the purse? Because I'm really not seeing that

The user name broke dad implies he's broke because he bought the purse

I'm pretty sure the name means that he's just simply too poor to buy designer bags...

"until I agreed..."

Nevermind. It's agree not agreed.