The holidays can be hard for any parent, let alone one whose income is stretched thin as it is. You might argue that they have an entire year from Dec. 26 onward to play for the following Christmas, but that’s still not totally realistic for everyone. Someone should tell that to one dad on TikTok who says otherwise, though.
The TikTok user, whose name is Sam, says in his video that if a parent can’t afford Christmas and to spend money on gifts for their kids, then they straight up don’t deserve those kids.
Alright drama queen, that’s a bit much, don’t you think?
He claims that “everybody has 12 months to do Christmas.” Let’s not take into account birthdays, changing Christmas wish lists, and every other thing that costs money throughout the year.
It’s just a bit of an over-reach, and other parents aren’t here for his words of wisdom. And by wisdom, I mean absolute rubbish. Just so we’re clear.
@samthedogman1 Replying to @K.W #foryou #dadsoftiktok #parentsoftiktok #dadlife #dadtok ♬ Boundless Worship – Josué Novais Piano Worship
According to him, there are no excuses, and other parents don’t exactly agree.
Sam says in his video that parents have “no excuses” not to start Christmas shopping in January for the end of the year. The idea of spending $20 or $30 every couple of weeks or every month to buy gifts and stash them away isn’t totally out of the question for some parents on a budget. But to say that these same parents don’t deserve to actually be parents is ridiculous.
“Everybody can afford Christmas, ’cause everybody has the same 12 months to do Christmas,” he says. “Therefore, no kid should ever go without Christmas presents, ’cause everybody can do Christmas.”
At the top of the video, though, he does say that parents who can’t, or won’t try to, afford Christmas shouldn’t even be parents. And that’s where he lost some people, because come on. There are plenty of circumstances that make the holidays tough or even impossible for some parents.
“Wow I disagree with this,” one mom commented on the TikTok.
“I have six children [and] their birthdays are spread all through the year. I don’t have my nails, hair extensions, or anything… The cost of living and having to provide shoes, clothes, and the basics is hard enough.”
Another user wrote, “That’s a really harsh statement to make saying people don’t deserve to have kids if they can’t afford Christmas. What about school uniforms, school trips, rent and bills! The list goes on, not everyone is in a position to put £20 away every month for Christmas because they can’t afford it.”
“Every kid deserves presents, but not everyone can go all out. It’s hard pressure to keep up with other kids these days,” someone wrote.
Another added, “But there are literally families out there living paycheck to paycheck, so how do they afford it if living a month is wiping them out?”
Maybe if Sam presented his ideas and tips for buying gifts in a way that is a little less harsh and accusatory, he might have more people on his side. But his delivery is all wrong from the start, so I can’t, and will not, blame the internet mob for coming for him.
Other parents agree that Sam is right in saying all kids deserve a memorable Christmas with gifts to open. But, they reminded him in the comments, it’s not as simple as he claims.
And it doesn’t mean parents don’t “deserve” their children.
