Books for Christmas?? What the heck is THAT?!?

[VAfamily1998]

Apparently my kids are strange because we let them open 1 present this AM & I chose the books for them to open. They were THRILLED. DD even started reading one right away.

My kids would be the same way! They LOVE books, have always been excited to get new books!

Then again, with 4 kids in the family, and living on one military income (I'm a stay at home mom) don't get new things that often. Anything new--toys, books, clothes, socks--are exciting for them.

 

[nmmom95]

The year my son was almost 2 his favorite gift was a bar of Johnson's baby soap... he walked around with it all day saying "Want to 'mell my toap?"

I think the parents laughing and sharing this video with the world is the problem- I might have laughed about it later in private with my dh with more of a "can you believe what a little brat he was this morning?"- but not in front of him when his behavior was so inappropriate. Kids learn how to act from watching us- as the saying goes "Children learn what they live"

Now that is adorable!

 

[moon]

For my fourth or fifth birthday (can't remember which) I didn't have a party; we just had a little reunion with the family. My two uncles and their wives were invited.

So first uncle and aunt arrive and give me my gift. I enthusiastically rip the paper like only a little tyke can, to see that they had given me......underwear. I was really disappointed but had ben taught how to react to any gift and politely said "Thank you". The second set of uncle/aunt arrive and I happily rushed to get my gift. This would surely be something fun!

The package felt soft....hmm......it was exactly the same set of underwear I had just gotten. I knew these were the only two gifts I was going to get, so I was devastated and just let out a "Oh, no, the SAME thing". Everyone laughed, but my mother made me apologize and say thank you. I just wanted to cry but did as told.

Turns out the family had credit at this store. I was familiar with the store and they had many toys and games of various prices. I still think it was pretty crappy of the aunts who wouldn't even give a thought about me and probably just went in and out of the store as fast as they could.

However, I don't find the video cute. he has good toys and he reacts that way over one? I know he is very small, but the fact that the parents laughed and published it is telling. I hope I'm wrong, but it seems they are accepting of such behavior from him

 

[Ppufi]

How sad. Books were always at the top of my Christmas list. I'm disappointed with how the parents (appeared) to handle it. Accepting poor behaviour is partly why kids and people are so greedy and self-centered these days.

 

[MM27]

I don't blame the kid for anything here, because he's 3. However, I don't think it's cute and I don't understand why it's getting so much attention.

 

[Disney_Love]

If a child can use a word like that to describe a gift than in my opinion it is time for the parents to teach the child to have some manners. It is the thought that counts...not the value of the gift.

 

[handinpocket]

Pretty normal 3 year old reaction - but not something I'd film and share with the world either.

This. 3 year olds are selfish by nature, and this shows a 3 year old perfectly. For all those saying a selfish, spoiled brat....you must not be parents.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

It was humerous. I don't know why it went viral or warranted a Today Show interview. And after mom was interviewed and shared how he really is a good boy who loves reading that they are trying to teach good Manners, the toy story toy backfired.

I'm not sure he will grow up bratty amd ungrateful. Kids thy age are still quite egocentric.

Even after the toy faux pas, mom, I thought, handled it well and got him to immediately say thank you.

 

[rie'smom]

Brat

 

[TLuvsD]

My favorite Christmas memory for this year....walking into the living room at my Dad's yesterday to see all 3 teenage grandchildern engrossed in a book they had just received...even my very musical nephew was busy with his book.
It's odd to me that the parents would share this with the world. The family is one thing, but the world. It seems to me that people don't really value privacy anymore...even the privacy of their children.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

Okay, so I've been hearing people talking about this for a couple days but hadn't seen the video until just now. THAT is what people are all up in arms about?! Good grief.

I thought it was hilarious. And obviously the parents did too. I doubt he'll grow up to be an ax murderer. Enjoy the moment. That's what the parents were doing.

When my sons were about 4 I explained how people make a certain amount an hour. I'd say, if they make $8.00 and they spent $16.00 on your gift, that's two whole HOURS (4 tv shows!) that they were working non-stop to be able to buy you that gift. That seemed to sink in a little better.

That's how I decide whether or not to buy stuff... I figure out how long it takes me to earn the money! LOL.

 

[rileyroosmom]

I can't believe how negatively people are responding to this! He is a little boy and little boys want toys. Yes, his parents laughed, but you don't know what was said off camera.

Just to ease everyone's mind. My own son did the exact same thing when he was 3 (he's now 17). We just retold the story on Christmas Eve. He was opening his gifts on Christmas. His uncle gave him his gift. When my son unwrapped the books he said, "This is exactly what I didn't want! Why did you have to go down this aisle?" Did we all laugh? Yes! Did I use it as a teaching moment? Yes

He's 17, loves to read any book and graciously opens any gift and says thank you. So it all turned out ok people. I'm sure it will be fine for that little boy. As they say, "out of the mouths of babes"

 

[Magpie]

Both my kids had moments like this when they were little. My son once opened a birthday card - his third birthday, actually! - and a twenty dollar bill fell out. He looked at the little boy who'd given it to him and said, in an outraged voice, "That's not a present!"

We laughed, chastized him, made him apologize and say thank you nicely, and then laughed some more - because what else can you do? Kids exist to embarrass us.

However this past birthday, when he turned 13, ALL he wanted was money or gift cards to EB Games. That's all his friends gave him, and he was thrilled.

Whereas the Christmas my daughter was four (almost 5), everyone knew what an avid reader she was. Since she loved books, everyone gave her books for Christmas. After all the present opening was done, the child told us sadly that "books aren't presents". Poor kid!

But the next year, because everyone had heard the amusing story of her reaction, no one gave her any books, and she was sad because all she got was toys!

This year she's fourteen, and by her own request most of her presents were books and gift certificates to Amazon. Except for ONE present, from me, that was a toy. She looked at the little electronic game I got her with an expression of "is there some mistake here?" and I said, "Honey, everyone should get a toy for Christmas." Today, she made a point of playing with it! She's a great kid.

All small children have their ungrateful moments. And some are just literalists - they might love books or money, but to them a "present" is a toy. Anything else is not a present. It's normal and it doesn't make them bad kids. I thought the little boy in the clip was funny - I'm sure I would have been laughing just as hard as his mum and dad, if I were there! - and his 30 minutes of fame will be over and forgotten soon enough. And I have no doubt he'll grow up to have perfectly fine manners.