Ohio boy sells his toys to help his family

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Disagree.

It's not a meaningless gesture when it was the child's idea to begin with. There is definite truth in the saying that one person can make a difference. My children have been raised with this attitude and I think my son, who is about to start college, is far better for it. He appreciates what we have and he appreciates that you don't need 'stuff' to be happy in life. It's of more value to realize that standing by doing nothing serves no purpose.

How many children think beyond themselves to think of others in this world of 'do what you want, when you want, if it makes you feel good'?

shut up, hippie

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

"I am very proud of him," McGuire told WNWO. "He is an 11-year-old boy not living the life of an 11-year-old."

If daddy owes 30K ####### are a few toys gonna do? Daddy sounds like a #######, encouraging his kid to not be a kid for something symbolic and meaningless. Maybe he just wanted to see his name in the papers.

It's the spirit of the gesture that deserves recognition, you heartless #######.

We value meaningless gestures that yield no real reward. That's why we get the politicians we do

Disagree.

It's not a meaningless gesture when it was the child's idea to begin with. There is definite truth in the saying that one person can make a difference. My children have been raised with this attitude and I think my son, who is about to start college, is far better for it. He appreciates what we have and he appreciates that you don't need 'stuff' to be happy in life. It's of more value to realize that standing by doing nothing serves no purpose.

How many children think beyond themselves to think of others in this world of 'do what you want, when you want, if it makes you feel good'?

The kid might offer - but if the dad knows his doing that is only likely to cover the cost of lunch with the bank manager, why would he let him do it?

[Fandango 1,439]

"I am very proud of him," McGuire told WNWO. "He is an 11-year-old boy not living the life of an 11-year-old."

If daddy owes 30K ####### are a few toys gonna do? Daddy sounds like a #######, encouraging his kid to not be a kid for something symbolic and meaningless. Maybe he just wanted to see his name in the papers.

It's the spirit of the gesture that deserves recognition, you heartless #######.

We value meaningless gestures that yield no real reward. That's why we get the politicians we do

Disagree.

It's not a meaningless gesture when it was the child's idea to begin with. There is definite truth in the saying that one person can make a difference. My children have been raised with this attitude and I think my son, who is about to start college, is far better for it. He appreciates what we have and he appreciates that you don't need 'stuff' to be happy in life. It's of more value to realize that standing by doing nothing serves no purpose.

How many children think beyond themselves to think of others in this world of 'do what you want, when you want, if it makes you feel good'?

Isn't it the parents' job to shield the kid from the bullsh!t in the world for as long as possible? No one's talking in extremes like 'it's better to have a selfish kid than let him sell his toys'...but is it really fair or right to take this kid's childhood away from him like this?

Steven, I still wanna know your answer pls!

[Fandango 1,439]

it says in the article that the dad is not relying on the money.. I am sure it is more about the gesture for the father not the money...

Right, a meaningless feel-good gesture that has the result of producing a toy-less child who can't have fun anymore without anything to actually show for the sacrifice.

do you really think he would have sold all his toys..??

Why does the kid have to sell any of them? What is the point?

the kid didn't have to sell any of his toys.. he chose to sell his toys...

You know what point I was making, and that wasn't it.

He did it to give his pops the money to save the family homestead....then he's put on tv to pull at everyone's heartstrings for some feel good piece on how great he is. Now, if you were the parent, would you allow any of that?

[NickD 202]

I have a huge problem with anyone advertising their charitable giving anyway. It's not the way I was brought up to handle the whole charity situation. What one does in that regard is personal and private and one does it because the act itself gives one some satisfaction, not the congratulations from others seeing you make whatever sacrifice or donation you make. Totally against my personal ethos.

Worse part about giving money away to charity publicly is that everyone comes up to you, and tries to hit you for a couple of bucks. Especially, other charities.

[NickD 202]

I have a huge problem with anyone advertising their charitable giving anyway. It's not the way I was brought up to handle the whole charity situation. What one does in that regard is personal and private and one does it because the act itself gives one some satisfaction, not the congratulations from others seeing you make whatever sacrifice or donation you make. Totally against my personal ethos.

Worse part about giving money away to charity publicly is that everyone comes up to you, and tries to hit you for a couple of bucks. Especially, other charities.

Have to take that statement back, even privately, unless you wear a mask and drop off cold hard cash in a paper bag and run. Once they get your name, everybody crawls out of the woodwork.

Ever try to deduct contributions given away in cold hard cash in a paper bag?

[Marilyn. 340]

i really don't see the harm in letting the kid sell some of his toys.. and yes I would let my kid do it...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The thing is - say your kid sells some toys and gets a bit of money.

What would happen then? Would you take the $20 or $30 that your kid got from the sale? If so, what would you do with it?

I think I would feel a tiny bit awkward about that to say the least...

I think its enough that the kid offered to do it, but the dad should have really said no.

[Marilyn. 340]

The thing is - say your kid sells some toys and gets a bit of money.

What would happen then? Would you take the $20 or $30 that your kid got from the sale? If so, what would you do with it?

I think I would feel a tiny bit awkward about that to say the least...

I think its enough that the kid offered to do it, but the dad should have really said no.

the dad could always take the money and put it away for his son in a savings account or something..... which is probably what I would do

Edited July 20, 2009 by Marilyn.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

But that doesn't help with the dad's financial woes, which are the whole reason the kid was selling his toys in the first place.

[jundp 191]

That's so new-age retarded I don't know where to start.

Bite me

It may be 'new-age' but it's a very basic tenet of my religious faith and one which my family practices. And I fully believe that what we give to others comes back to use threefold. Maybe not in monetary value or anything that can be rated in that manner, but we *are* better people for it. If that's new-age and 'retarded' then so be it.

I would far prefer to raise children who are compassionate and caring towards others than selfish pricks who care only for themselves.

Now, as to whether or not I would burden my child with our financial worries..no. But there are times where I've had to be realistic. As in letting them know we couldn't afford certain luxuries. Thankfully those days are behind us, but it did not hurt my children to know we couldn't afford things. They didn't live in fear. In the hypothetical situation where my child were to choose to sell his/her toys and gave me the money, I'd help her open a savings account with it.

But then, we don't place such value on 'things' in our house so it wouldn't be an issue to begin with.

[Marilyn. 340]

But that doesn't help with the dad's financial woes, which are the whole reason the kid was selling his toys in the first place.

so...

I am just telling you what I would do..

[Fandango 1,439]

But that doesn't help with the dad's financial woes, which are the whole reason the kid was selling his toys in the first place.

so...

I am just telling you what I would do..

Doesn't that kinda defeat the purpose tho?

[Marilyn. 340]

so what are you saying then, the dad should take the money and spend it on bills?? that would really make the dad a #######...

[Fandango 1,439]

so what are you saying then, the dad should take the money and spend it on bills?? that would really make the dad a #######...

But going along your logic of 'that's what the kid wants', well, that's kinda what the kid wants. Otherwise, what is the purpose of the kid selling the toys in the first place?