E-Bay Dad Doing Right Thing Or Is He A Holiday Grinch?

[fishweewee]

Newspaper: Naughty kids lose gifts to eBay

HOUSTON, Texas (AP) -- -- The kids were naughty, Dad put the presents on eBay instead of under the tree -- and Mom's been crying ever since.

Now, even the tree's down.

Saturday morning was sure not to be very jolly for three brothers -- 9, 11 and 15 -- who didn't straighten up when their father told them Santa wasn't too please with their fighting, cuss words and obscene gestures.

Dad and Mom had warned their sons that the Nintendo DS video system -- and the three games that go with it -- were headed for the auction block if they didn't get their act together.

"No kidding. Three undeserving boys have crossed the line. Tonight we sat down and showed them what they WILL NOT get for Christmas this year. I'll be taking the tree down tomorrow," the man announced in his eBay posting.

"If you don't buy them, we'll return them to the store," the seller known online as magumbo--2000 reported on the site.

Thursday night, the auction wound down with bidding at $465.01 -- below the price the man had set. He said he would probably list the items again.

A single day of particularly bad behavior set the Christmas crackdown in motion.

"These are normally really good kids," said Dad, who asked the Houston Chronicle not to reveal his name.

Naugty kids forewarned
Dad even admits he and Mom are partly to blame for being too lax at times.

But enough was enough. The warning of an impending sale came earlier in the week at a sit-down between offspring and parents.

"We told them they were destroying each other and the calm and peace in the household. It had to stop," said the man, who did tell the paper that he works as an information technology specialist and lives in Pasadena.

The boys pledged to be nice, but were back to their old ways the next morning.

That night, Dad announced that he would indeed be putting $700 in video games up for sale on eBay. The oldest boy double-dared his dad to make good on his word.

Son shouldn't have done that.

Dad said Mom has been in tears since the showdown.

"I don't do it outwardly," he said, "but I'm crying on the inside."

[Bill L]

The oldest boy double-dog-dared his dad to make good on his word.

He HAD too, it was a double dog dare

[TunaCell]

That is perhaps the most creative punishment I've ever heard of. The only thing worse would be if he made the kid watch the bids.

[afterhours]

Originally posted by toonoc
He HAD too, it was a double dog dare

[TheSpecialist]

[fishsmith]

Great lesson, but I bet Dad won't be going to a good nursing home.

[iluvspots]

Originally posted by fishsmith
Great lesson, but I bet Dad won't be going to a good nursing home.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Similar story;
A friend told me this story about His friend;
This guys kids were terrible in the car, always unruly, etc.. so they packed bags (fake trip) and told them they were going on a trip... kids acted up, told them stop or we turn around. Kids didnt stop, they turned around and went home kids were never bad in the car again..
B

[TunaCell]

My grandmother once left my uncle at an orphanage. Drove away let him sweat it out, and came back about ten mintutes later.

[Iwannakeeper]

He had to do it....

Not only were the kids unruly, the kids obviously do not expect the parents to live up to their threats.

I guess they will second guess challenging their father again.

Sometimes you just have to learn the hard-way. Too bad the kids won't appreciate this for many years if ever.

[TheSpecialist]

The guy got over 5 G's for the games

[The Dad Fisherman]

I was almost on the Kids side...until he called Dad "Out" with the dare. Dad Always WINS (unless Moms around )

I tell my kids you may be growing up in a democracy but you're living in a Dictatorship......And I am the ruler.

[Thom]

Dad had to do it when he was dared by his oldest son. I would have gave them to a local Ronald MCdonald house I know they could have used them. ThomT