Every damn kid expecting an iPad or iPhone?

[lowthreeohz]

I want a miniature giraffe, a live one, not a stuffed animal!

For years I've been hoping genetic modification would come along enough that I could have an entire zoo in my back yard. I always thought some mini lions, elephants, and giraffes would be fucking awesome.

[ELVIS]

you aint got your kids an ipad yet?

god bless.

[bird_dog0347]

I always asked for a dirtbike... never got it till I grew up and paid for it myself.

My kids (7 and 4) both have "iPhones" but really they are just mine and my wife's old ones that I've essentially turned into ipods with games and movies to keep them from stealing our phones all the time and killing the battery. They don't get to buy things online, or even have interwebz access but I guess they do have "iPhones". Oh, and we have one iPad for the whole house that very few people use.

[DamonH]

On the returns end they could be returned for things the family needs more. People like to give toys because theyre fun, but the kid or parent may be in dire need of a coat, or worse, food. I know people are gonna cheat the system and use the money for smokes or booze or whatever, but some just have needs that come before wants.

I remember a Christmas I got 1 toy and 1 set of pjs. And that because I was on an angel tree. The toy had to go back for a jacket for me. Not all people have bad intentions, just higher priorities.

We buy angel gifts for kids in Child Protective Services every year. My wife insists that we buy clothes as well as a toy, at first I was like, "I'm sure the kids want toys, not clothes!". Reading your story makes sense, now I'm glad we also get the clothes.

My kids are too young to want cell phones / ipads and stuff, but I'm sure it's coming. My gut says they are gonna need some skin in the game so it doesn't get broken (even though my kids are pretty responsible).

[03mustangdude]

Heard a kid yelling at target the other day since his mom wouldn't spend 600 bucks for a ipad. The kid was still in a stroller.

[bcoop]

You guys are fucking grinches. Like you guys didn't want the latest and greatest thing growing up? Get real. I remember being excited beyond belief when I got a Gameboy the first year they came out. My parents never sprung for stuff like that, but Grandma delivered that year!

Exactly. It's not like the parents can control what their kids ask for. And why wouldn't you want a good, responsible child to have the cool things you probably didn't get when you were a kid? Both of my kids have iPhones, though the youngest doesn't have cell service. She's also getting an iPad for Christmas from her mother. It's the only thing she asked for.

Kids shouldn't have to suffer because Mom/Dad may be having a hard time. And it's pretty shitty and irrational of you for judging them based on that, imp.

[inline 6]

This is why I always say "charity starts right here" as I point to myself.

[Frank]

On the returns end they could be returned for things the family needs more. People like to give toys because theyre fun, but the kid or parent may be in dire need of a coat, or worse, food. I know people are gonna cheat the system and use the money for smokes or booze or whatever, but some just have needs that come before wants.

I remember a Christmas I got 1 toy and 1 set of pjs. And that because I was on an angel tree. The toy had to go back for a jacket for me. Not all people have bad intentions, just higher priorities.

Thank you for sharing that.

[Frank]

Stinks like old man in here.

Yeah, I know, guilty. Venting on here often helps think of things other ways. I guess the old man in me hates to see all these kids just so engrossed with technology that they miss out on real experiences of getting outside for unstructured play or just experiencing the sites and sounds around them on a roadtrip.

[GhostTX]

My kids ask for Nintendo DS, iPads, etc. We have yet to give them one. I'm focusing on REAL playing, not "playing". This year, they're getting roller skates and other outdoor toys. I ain't having some fatty, diabetic kids because they just sit in front of a video game.

[bcoop]

My kids ask for Nintendo DS, iPads, etc. We have yet to give them one. I'm focusing on REAL playing, not "playing". This year, they're getting roller skates and other outdoor toys. I ain't having some fatty, diabetic kids because they just sit in front of a video game.

Don't you think that's a little extreme? I can appreciate what you're trying to do, but I think a household ban on electronics is a little extreme. My kids get plenty of activity at their Mom's, because she has a pool. When they're with me, we usually go to the farm and are working outside the entire time. They ride dirtbikes/4 wheelers, they fish, etc If we're at home, they tend to ride their bicycles quite a bit. They are both very active in sports. I don't use electronics as a babysitter, but I don't see the harm in playing a game every now and then as long as there is balance and the chores are done.

[GhostTX]

Don't you think that's a little extreme? I can appreciate what you're trying to do, but I think a household ban on electronics is a little extreme. My kids get plenty of activity at their Mom's, because she has a pool. When they're with me, we usually go to the farm and are working outside the entire time. They ride dirtbikes/4 wheelers, they fish, etc If we're at home, they tend to ride their bicycles quite a bit. They are both very active in sports. I don't use electronics as a babysitter, but I don't see the harm in playing a game every now and then as long as there is balance and the chores are done.

It's not an outright ban. They use my PC, wife's laptop, and play on our phones when we let the (like your rewards). But we don't want it "their's" to play anytime they want. They're all under 11 years and we don't see the need for them stagnating on games for hours at a time just yet. They're young, go run and play outside. Go play with your action figures and Legos and exercise your imaginations, rather than depending on someone else's vision.

That's my beef. Go Be Kids. There's plenty of time to play video games. Heck, even though we didn't really have any video games, we did just fine without them. I'd rather have them with memories of something they actually did, than something some "character" did.

[A+]

My kids, my self included (when I was a kid) get wtf I get them for Christmas. Don't like it? Well, you won't get shit next Christmas.

[Unicorn Jeff]

The 14 year old wants a gaming computer. I laughed and said nope. Then he said... How about a gaming laptop. I laughed again... Then he said how about a TV for his room and his own xbox one... The kid is a fuckin comedian. I told him to pick something or things that totals to around $200... He can't figure what to get now....

[krazy kris]

Somebody on the book of face was going off on everyone that was getting thier kids nice stuff and said that was making her kids feel like shit.