Does it ever seem like kids have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas? They can be too obsessed with getting the perfect gift, and who knows how they'll react if you don't get them the EXACT video game they want.
Christmas is a beautiful time of generosity and giving, but sometimes kids can be so ungrateful. It used to be that Santa only gave presents to the kids on the nice list, but now the threat of Santa's naughty list doesn't seem to have any effect.
That's why mommy-blogger Lisa Henderson and her husband, John, decided this year their kids aren't getting any Christmas presents.
Sounds harsh, right?
Lisa and John will still celebrate the spiritual side of Christmas, but they're going to donate the money that would be used on presents to children-in-need. As Lisa says on her blog, "John and I feel like we are fighting a very hard uphill battle with our kids when it comes to entitlement. Our kids have been acting so ungrateful lately. They expect so much even when their behavior is extremely disrespectful. We gave them good warning, either it was time for the behavior to change or there would be consequences. We patiently worked with them for several months and guess what, very little changed."
Scroll down to learn more about how the Hendersons put this into effect, how it changed their children, and how people have reacted to their story. At the bottom of the article, please watch a video of the family on Good Morning America.
Are they cruel or smart? Let us know in the comments and please SHARE so people remember the true reason for the season.
Lisa and her husband reached a breaking point when they decided to cancel Christmas. It seemed that no other punishment was making their kids behave or stop acting disrespectful.
As their 11-year-old Caleb says, “We would hit each other. We were fighting. Crying."
Naturally, the boys were upset at first. They cried a considerable amount, which is not too surprising, but they also had to think about why they were being punished...
Lisa encouraged them to remember the true reason for the season. She told them about children in a Filipino Village whose lives were destroyed by the typhoons last year. The boys organized a clothes drive and donated their excess Halloween candy. They enjoyed the generous act so much they wanted to find more ways to help!
The family also started an "Adopt A Grandparent" program. They invite senior citizens and widows over to the house for dinner to keep them company. The boys loved seeing how they could make people happier. They were learning what Christmas spirit is all about.
Of course, some of Lisa's readers thought that she was overreacting and that she should let kids be kids. Some commenters even called her "an idiot."
Yet, other commenters supported Lisa and her decision. This teacher commends Lisa for stopping a behavioral problem before it escalates.
Lisa and her husband say that they obviously love giving their kids gifts, but they had to stop the problem while they could. The boys were upset at first, but they've been learning about charity and good-deeds. They've moved from the naughty list to the nice list.
Do you know any kids (or even adults!) who aren't embracing the Christmas message of gratitude and generosity? Then maybe this is the year to skip Christmas presents and just focus on the message.
It worked for the Hendersons. There may be fewer presents under the tree this year, but the boys were given a gift that will last their whole lives through.
Please SHARE if you love stories about the real reason for the season and watch the video below of the Hendersons talking about their decision.
