Posted on 12/25/2004 1:09:01 AM PST by martin_fierro
Texas Dad Sells Christmas Gifts on eBay
HOUSTON - The kids were naughty, Dad put the presents on eBay instead of under the tree — and Mom's been crying ever since. Now, even the tree's down.
Saturday morning was sure not to be very jolly for three brothers — 9, 11 and 15 — who didn't straighten up when their father told them Santa wasn't too please [sic] with their fighting, cuss words and obscene gestures.
Dad and Mom had warned their sons that the Nintendo DS video system — and the three games that go with it — were headed for the auction block if they didn't get their act together.
"No kidding. Three undeserving boys have crossed the line. Tonight we sat down and showed them what they WILL NOT get for Christmas this year. I'll be taking the tree down tomorrow," the man announced in his eBay posting.
"If you don't buy them, we'll return them to the store," the seller known online as magumbo_2000 reported on the site.
Thursday night, the auction wound down with bidding at $465.01 — below the price the man had set. He said he would probably list the items again.
A single day of particularly bad behavior set the Christmas crackdown in motion.
"These are normally really good kids," said Dad, who asked the Houston Chronicle not to reveal his name. Dad even admits he and Mom are partly to blame for being too lax at times.
But enough was enough. The warning of an impending sale came earlier in the week at a sit-down between offspring and parents.
"We told them they were destroying each other and the calm and peace in the household. It had to stop," said the man, who did tell the paper that he works as an information technology specialist and lives in Pasadena.
The boys pledged to be nice, but were back to their old ways the next morning.
That night, Dad announced that he would indeed be putting $700 in video games up for sale on eBay. The oldest boy double-dared his dad to make good on his word.
Dad said Mom has been in tears since the showdown.
"I don't do it outwardly," he said, "but I'm crying on the inside."
| Father Of 'Naughty' Kids Sells Their Gifts On eBay |
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| Posted by KidGlock On News/Activism 12/24/2004 8:06:09 AM CST · 45 replies · 1,653+ views WFTV ^ | 12/24/04 Father Of 'Naughty' Kids Sells Their Gifts On eBay HOUSTON -- A father of three children in the Houston area has gone from playing Santa Claus to playing the Grinch. The man decided that his children were being naughty instead of nice -- and he's taught them a lesson by auctioning their presents on eBay. The man, who asked the Houston Chronicle not to reveal his name, decided to sell off the presents because the youngsters had misbehaved. His children are 9, 11 and 15. His posting on the eBay Web site says, "Bad children get no Nintendo DS. Santa |
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Aw, poop.
Oh HELL no! That'll do it everytime!
You go pops! Guarantee that boy will have a new found respect for dad after this little episode.
Dad 1
smartass 15 year-old son 0
I'm impressed. A parent who actually follows through on his threats. I'm betting the boys' behavior improves significantly after this.
Would be hard to do, but he's making the right call. Especially with the oldest taunting him to do it.
It's better mom and the boys cry some now, then he's bailing the kids out of jail a few years from now because they didn't learn the meaning of respect and dignity.
This is a GREAT idea and I bet you a million bucks those kids straighten up. Tough Love in practice.
***I'm betting the boys' behavior improves significantly after this.***
I'm betting the whole thing is a gimmick. Look at the publicity he's gotten from his statement. Smart merchandising. Smart advertising.
***I'm betting the boys' behavior improves significantly after this.***
I'm betting the whole thing is a gimmick. Look at the publicity he's gotten from his statement. Smart merchandising. Smart advertising.
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Some human rights watch group will probably be on his butt now.
While I do not recall anything about gifts being an entitlement in the Constitution, I also do not recall seeing anything about abortion being an entitlement in the Constition either, and the lawyers got away with that one, too. Dad just might be starting a new thing for the lawyers! And have a MERRY CHRISTMAS, ONE AND ALL!
Lumps of coal for the lot of 'em.
A judge shouldn't be the first person to tell children "no."
Que the refrain form the song "Life is unfair!".......
A kid who would stand and double dare his dad to place the gifts on ebay is to far gone for this to help. I praise dad for trying but its too late, his mistakes were made when the kid was 3.The only thing he will get out of this kid now is more of the same. If my kid had done that at 15 I would have had to spend the money at the dentist getting this punk a partial plate, and he knew it too. Thank God mine is 40 now and his kids are well behaved because he knew you cant spoil them till they are 15 and then expect them to straighten out
Hey kids! I really dig your new game. Thanks!
$700 in video games.
There's one problem.
Sorry, I just think everyone gets too much.
Awesome - you go dad! I've felt like doing this several times in the 13 years I've had children. One year I put lumps of coal in a particularly crabby 8 year old's stocking . . .his attitude changed - for about a day.
Lumps of coal are under rated. I like them.
lumps on their bottom during the year would have been a lot more effective...still, props go to a parent following through with their threats.
It would have been a breach in etiquette to go for the Triple Dog Dare.
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