This Mom Used Some Tough Love To Teach Her Daughter A Valuable Lesson
The most important part of growing up is learning values that will make you a better person in the long run. We want our children to be grounded and grateful adults, not the guy in line at Starbucks yelling that his drink wasn't made exactly how he likes it.
After this single mom went out of her way to get her daughter what she thought would be a home-run present, she knew she had to teach her a lesson. You can't please everyone, and people were divided over her tough-love approach.
She Wanted To Surprise Her
Meet Pensacola Florida mom Haley Hassell and her 6-year-old daughter Presleigh. Presleigh had recently started the 1st grade and her mom knew that she'd need school supplies to get her through the year.
So, like any good parent who wants to make their child happy, Hassell went out to get her daughter the specific LOL pencil case that she had been begging her for. She went to 3 different stores to find the hot back-to-school item then returned home to surprise Presleigh. What happened next was shocking...
Right Into The Garbage
When Hassell showed her daughter the brand new pencil case she went around town to get her, Presleigh freaked out. She yelled at her mom, "that's stupid, everyone in my class has that. I don’t want it anymore!" She then turned around and threw the pencil case in the garbage before storming away and slamming her bedroom door.
Hassell stood there shocked at her daughter's completely out of character reaction. Instead of getting angry though, Hassell decided this would be a learning moment for Presleigh about how good she's got it.
Time For A Wake-Up Call
In a show of anger control that not many of us can beat, Hassell decided to remind her daughter of the values she had taught her. Hassell writes, "I had always taught her to be grateful and know how lucky she was, but apparently sis needed a small wake up call."
The wake-up call came in the form of a new pencil case, but not a store-bought one. Hassell reached into her kitchen drawer and pulled out a Ziploc bag and wrote Presleigh's name on it.
Presleigh Got A Lesson In Being Fortunate
When Presleigh saw her new pencil case she was very upset, but Hassell wasn't budging. She had already made up her mind and thrown out the pencil case that her mom had bought her. Hassell writes that "suddenly the LOL Box she just trashed was good enough and the Ziploc bag was horrible."
But instead of giving in to all the screaming and crying that her daughter was doing, Hassell wanted the moment to be one she would remember. What they did with the pencil case will surprise you.
A Valuable Life Lesson
Sometimes it's hard for children to realize how good they've got it in comparison to other children. They can get in their heads about what they want and what they don't have instead of appreciating the things they're fortunate to have. Presleigh was having a tough time with this idea so her mom had to explain it to her.
Hassell writes that she patiently explained that "she's not entitled to anything special and she is taking for granted how lucky she is." This is definitely a turning point that will help Presleigh re-shape her perspective.
A Family In Need
Instead of the new pencil case going to waste, Hassell had a brilliant idea that would really drive the lesson home for Presleigh. She writes that "I told her to get the LOL out of the trash and we would be finding a child to give it to tomorrow."
Hassell told Presleigh that they'll be giving it to a child in need. To "one whose mommy and daddies don't have money for any school supplies or someone who may not even have a mommy or daddy." What a great way to put the pencil case to use!
She'll Be Personally Delivering It Herself
Hassell wanted Presleigh to learn firsthand what it means to be grateful for the things she has that others might not, so she told Presleigh "for now she will be using a Ziploc bag and will personally be delivering the nice box to a child that could benefit from it."
Hassell finishes by offering us all some valuable life advice that we can take with us. She writes that "maybe I overreact but I would've done anything to have the things she does as a child. I truly believe changing your perception and being grateful can turn around any situation."
The Post Went Viral And Another Mom Reached Out
Thousands of people on Facebook read Hassell's post about the pencil case and many reached out in support of her actions, with many congratulating her good parenting. While most of the messages were praise or criticism, one really caught the eye of Hassell.
One person who commented saying Hassell was doing the right thing was a mom from Ogden, Utah. In her comment, the mom mentioned how she was having issues buying her two children their own school supplies. That gave Hassell an idea.
They Sent It Out To Utah
Hassell read the comment and decided that this was a great family to receive the pencil case. So, Hassell and Presleigh mailed the pencil case along with a back-to-school care package. Hassell even looked up the school supply list for the county that the family lived in and tailored the box to those needs.
Hassell told the Pensacola news journal that she took away a lot from the experience. She said, "it was sweet to hear what she said and it tugged at my heartstrings a lot because it could have easily been me in that position."
At The End Of The Day, Presleigh Understood
All Hassell wanted to do was help Presleigh learn some perspective and she accomplished just that. After the two prepared the pencil case and care package for the family in Utah, Hassell asked Presleigh what she thought of the whole experience.
"Presleigh thought that was really cool. She understood once we were shopping for other children," Hassell said to Good Morning America. Hassell and Presleigh's story just goes to show that it helps to be patient with your kids and take the time to teach them valuable life lessons. You go mom and daughter!
Like Hassell, This Mom Also Wanted To Teach Her Kids A Valuable Life Lesson
Like little Presleigh, lots of children have a hard time being grateful for what they have. They're constantly focused on what they don't have and forget to appreciate the things that their parents have given them. Turns out, it's a universal problem.
Meet Shaketha McGregor, a mom who lives in Dublin, Georgia, with her 3 kids and recently got fed up with their behavior. People on the internet had mixed responses to her unusual method of teaching her kids a lesson, but we're all here for this mom!
They Forgot That Mom's Not A Vending Machine
McGregor recently took to Facebook to post about her frustrations after her children were treating her like she was their personal vending machine. She posts that they "continue to ask for a new cell phone, an allowance, and to go places."
These kids seemed to have forgotten how hard their mom works to provide a great home for them. So, instead of getting frustrated and refusing their requests right away, McGregor decided she would teach them a valuable lesson about hard work and appreciation in the most fantastic way.
The First-Ever Family Job Fair
While they were at school, McGregor put together an event that would teach her 3 kids a lesson about the hard work that it takes to earn things in the real world. She made the first-ever family job fair where the kids could apply for positions and earn what they'd been asking her for.
McGregor's post instantly went viral on Facebook with so many people praising her and her "genius" parenting hack. One Facebook user even writes that she wishes she "had thought of this when mine were growing up!"
Hiring Positions
For her 3 kids aged 13, 10, and 6, she set up simple around-the-house jobs that would teach them about the value of money and working for what you want. It wasn't just a giveaway either — the kids had to fill out an application and apply for the job they wanted.
When they got home from school McGregor told Good Morning America that their joy evaporated. She says she "told them the night before that I had a surprise for them when they came home from school. When they came through the door they said 'Yay!' then 'Ohhhh. Really?'"
The Kids Quicky Got With The Program
After she explained why and how she was setting up the job fair, McGregor's kids got with the program and filled out the application for the positions they wanted. The available roles were Kitchen Manager, Lead Housekeeper, and Laundry Supervisor, and there was even a little competition during the hiring process.
She told Good Morning America that her oldest and youngest both applied for the same position. She had to make a tough choice, and she ultimately gave her 6-year-old the position. "I was more impressed with her application and her interview than my 13-year-old," McGregor says.
The Credit Union Comes In Handy
McGregor didn't stop at teaching her kids the value of hard work — she also wanted to teach them real-life monetary skills that they could use in the future. Most kids today complain the school doesn't teach them how to do their taxes or how to use a credit card. McGregor's kids won't have that problem.
She opened "Mom's Credit Union" that gives each of their children a credit score where they earn points for doing their homework and other good deeds. This is a real-world understanding that kids just don't get all the time.
New Hire Packages Let Her Kids Get Used To the Idea Of Work
Not only is McGregor's idea a great way to teach her children the value of hard work and how to use a line of credit, but it also familiarizes them with the hiring process that they'll no doubt have to go through when they're older.
McGregor told Good Morning America, "I want them to be a little bit familiar with the process when they are older. Whether they're applying for school or a new job or something, they can look back and say, 'I did this with mom all those years ago.'" They can thank mom when they're not nervous.
McGregor Had Already Had Financial Struggles Herself
Part of McGregor's desire to have her kids learn all of these processes so young comes from her own history. She's no stranger to having to pull herself back on her feet after being dealt a challenge. Back in 2016, she battled cancer and the medical expenses left her family homeless. The following year they were homeless again after a house fire.
McGregor has a great job and home now, but she wants her kids to understand that these luxuries aren't always a given. She writes, "if you want it, work for it, earn it!"
Her Kids Got More Into It Than She'd Expected
These kids were pretty inspired by McGregor's idea and excited about doing some real-world work. She was surprised by how supportive and ready to jump right into it they were.
She said that during the interviews her 6-year-old was "super professional" and that her "10-year-old would sometimes start speaking in an English accent... like that would help her." Judging by the sound of it, these kids were ready to get started! We're updating our resumes as we speak because these kids will be stiff competition when they hit the job market.
McGregor Has Become A Mom Guru Since The Post
McGregor's epic Facebook post has hit over 215,000 likes on the platform and has inspired a lot of parents to comment that they're going to try the same thing with their kids. After her success with her own children in teaching them the value of hard work, McGregor has gone on to become a sort of parenting guru.
She launched the Facebook page "This Mom Means Business" where she posts updates of her children's success with the program and answers parenting questions. McGregor is an inspiration to us all.
Many Parents Use Tough Love To Teach Their Children Lessons
Tough love is often a difficult way to learn something, but definitely effective for kids.
While many cases of tough love are pretty serious, other parents, like the following, find ways to make it absolutely hilarious.
Serves You Right For Being Moody
This boy refused to smile for his kindergarten school photo, making this grumpy face instead.
As punishment, his parents got it framed and refused to ever take it down to embarrass him—it's been 20 years.
That's A Lot Of Money
This guy was heading away for college, so naturally, his parents organized a going-away present for him.
His mom collected all of the money she had found in his clothes when doing the laundry over the years and gave it back to him.
Sorry, I Don't Make The Rules
As a business owner, you have a right to make your own rules about what patrons you let inside.
Sorry kids, but you're going to have to find a different establishment to dine at.
That's One Way To Encourage Good Behavior
In order to get their children to behave better around bathtime, these parents made up a lie that they had another brother who turned into a mushroom after he refused to take a bath.
They even put photos in the family album and everything.
Should Have Practiced Harder, Pal
In life, not everyone has the skill and talent to get through tryouts and onto the team.
Who cares if the only people eligible to play are your family members?
Rub It In, Won't You?
Most parents will let you know that they're disappointed in your choices without really saying it.
However, Owen's parents didn't just use their words—they let the whole neighborhood know they weren't happy with him.
Don't Pick Fights You Can't Win
This little girl begged her dad to have a Lego tower building competition, with the winner being the one with the taller tower.
Rather than go easy on her, he taught her to pick her battles wisely.
She's So Oblivious To It
I can't wait for the day that this little girl realizes that she should have about $40 in profits but instead is still stuck at $1.
At least she'll never be careless with her things again.
And Some Kids Just Patiently Wait To Be In Control
When she was a child, she always wanted to bring in snowballs and keep them in the freezer, but her parents would never allow it.
However, now that she's an adult with her own fridge, she's getting to live her dream.
