When A Mother’s Controversial Gift Giving Goes Viral

A mother-of-three has given the middle finger to millions of haters on social media after her generous Christmas gift giving came under fire last week.

Emma Tapping, from the Isle of Man, posted an image of hundreds of wrapped Christmas gifts piled under a Christmas tree for her three children.

The image went viral, with Ms Tapping coping the full brunt of the internet Christmas trollers (grinch-mums), some even claiming she was ‘abusing’ her children.

Ms Tapping has since returned to Facebook to respond to the stream of commenters, now topping more than 20,000.

“I LOVE Christmas. I LOVE spoiling my kids in the festive season and I work damn hard to make sure it is every bit as amazing as it can be,” she wrote.

“So 2 fat fingers up to all the judgmental a**holes and big thanks to all the normal, everyday people who don’t really give a s**t about SOMEONE else’s Christmas tree or got into the festive spirit with me.”

So, when do you draw the line of ‘how much is too much’ when it comes to buying Christmas gifts for your children?

Stay At Home Mum founder Jody Allen says there is nothing wrong with spoiling your children for Christmas, as long as they appreciate the gifts.

“Teaching children to be generous is not a bad thing, in fact it can be a great thing,” Jody says.

“This mum obviously enjoys spoiling her children”” it’s far from child abuse, especially when she had made the comment about not being able to spoil them throughout the year.”

Jody says Christmas is about gift giving and spending time with your family, not shaming others on how they chose to spend their money.

“Haters are going to hate no matter what, but I think some have gone too far with this one,” she said.

Ms Tapping, who estimates to have around 300 presents under her tree for her two daughters aged 13 and nine, her son, aged 19 months, and her husband, a labourer, insisted her children are not spoilt.

“You can buy your children two presents or 200, but it is the way you bring them up. They could have two presents and still be a little terror,” she told the Daily Mail.

“My kids know the difference between right and wrong, they appreciate everything they get and they don’t get spoilt throughout the year, we don’t go on expensive holidays.

“If they break something like their phone, they have to save up their money to replace it.”

She said she is ‘not rich at all’ and manages to accumulate her festive haul by bargain hunting and shopping throughout the year – starting in the Boxing Day sales.

Jody suggests for parents who are unsure of how many presents to buy their children to stick to the four-gift rule of:

• Something they want;
• Something they need;
• Something to wear;
• Something to read.

“When in doubt, the four gift rule works great, especially if you are on a budget,” Jody said.

“Parents should never feel the pressure of giving too much or too little because every family is different and so are their budgets.

“My opinion is: Christmas is about gift giving, so why not?”

What do you think? Meanwhile…