A mother has shared her extreme reaction after her seven-year-old daughter's 'ungrateful' behaviour on Christmas Day, revealing she contemplated returning every single one of the child's gifts.
The Christmas Morning Discovery
Courtney, a mum who documented her story on TikTok, explained she had stayed up until 3am on Christmas Eve preparing for the big day. Her children, including her daughter Riley, woke up at 7am. However, the festive spirit was quickly shattered when Courtney's boyfriend alerted her to something Riley had done.
The seven-year-old had crept into the living room after her mother went to sleep and had begun unwrapping the presents already under the tree, simply to see what she had received before the official opening.
A Moping Attitude and Disappointed Wishes
The situation worsened later that morning when the family gathered to open gifts together. While the other children enjoyed their presents, Riley sat on the couch "moping" with a disgruntled expression. When Courtney asked what was wrong, Riley complained in a sad voice that she hadn't received anything she had asked Santa for.
Courtney recounted her daughter saying she wouldn't play with any of her gifts and didn't like them. The specific item Riley had wanted was a large inflatable castle for the garden, which retailed for around $800, or approximately £609.
The Mum's Drastic Decision and Online Reaction
Frustrated by what she saw as extreme ingratitude, Courtney announced in her video, "I'm returning all the gifts that Santa got for my seven-year-old." She expressed disbelief, stating she could never have imagined speaking to her own mother in such a way at that age.
The story sparked a significant debate among other TikTok users. Many agreed the child's behaviour was unacceptable, but opinions were divided on the mother's response. One commenter sympathised, writing, "On one hand I get she needs to act grateful but did you get her what she wanted? Cause I'd be upset too if I didn't get anything I wanted."
Another user shared a similar personal experience: "I went through that and I made my daughter pack them all up and give them to a needy family and after that they only got 3 gifts." The incident has opened up a wider conversation about gratitude, expectations, and parenting strategies during the festive season.
