This was helpful to make me feel not alone in this situation. This week I got a call from my grandson who is almost 20. He yelled at me I make it all about me when I asked for a "thank you" for paying his college tuition for the last 3 semesters. I am retired and have a teacher's pension and no soc. sec. with the offset rule. The 529 money comes out of that pension monthly. He says he didn't have time to thank me because he had to work and take care of his dog. He won't even let me know if he gets gifts I send. Hurt to my core, I did a lot of soul searching the past few days. Listening to many of you, these poor kids are missing out on the life qualities of thankfulness and gratitude that lifts up the giver and the receiver. I find those positive behaviors are so helpful in interactions with people everyday. If my husband goes to the market for me or with me to the doctor, I let him know I appreciate his effort and him. I sent a thank you note and candy to a hotel manager who took the effort to help me locate a 3rd party booking to get me a $400.00 cancellation refund. I believe in lifting up people with even a few words of gratitude and appreciation. Unfortunately, so many of our kids today do not have these qualities and are not taught how they enrich the human spirit in both directions with a few simple words. Unfortunately, grandma is tired of crying and my grandson will learn a life lesson the hard way by paying for his own tuition while grandma enjoys going to New England to see the fall leaves with that money.