Uncomfortable situation- my son has a "poor" friend...

[Fritzo]

How would you handle this? I don't know what to do...my son has a friend that is in a different "financial class", shall we say. He's 7 years old, and his mom is a single mother working as a waitress. He comes over all the time, and he noticed all the nice things my son got for Christmas. My son scored some Nerf guns, Wii games, SpyGear toys, an Air Hogs helicopter...a bunch of fun stuff.

My son's friend looks at all his loot and asks "Wow! How did you get all this cool stuff??!! I only got a stuffed animal, a pack of Pokemon cards, and a Hotwheels car!" Then he started asking my wife why Santa like my son more than him.

I'm heart-broken! I feel like stopping on the way home from work and getting him a few things, but that would probably make his mom feel terrible. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[ponyo]

I would buy him bunch of toys and give it to him as a gift.

 

[MixMasterTang]

Tell him Santa Claus isn't real and he should be thankful his mom works hard to support him and was still able to provide some presents!

 

[Capt Caveman]

I would buy him a few inexpensive toys to make him happy and not offend his mother.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

No real advice, but that is a tough situation

 

[Spikesoldier]

the obvious ATOT answer would be to sex up the mom, and dont forget the pics

 

[Quasmo]

damn.....

 

[Manuwell]

I'ld send a letter to Santa, saying how unfair he is.

 

[ch33zw1z]

wow that's a tough spot you're in.

 

[iroast]

I don't know. Talk to his mother? "My son has some toys he would like your son to have. Is it ok for him to have them?"

I was in a situation like your son's friend, but I never asked how they get their toys. I just ask if I could play with their toys and that was good enough for me.

 

[SmoochyTX]

While it's sad, I think I would just have to leave it alone. His mother is probably doing the best she can and wouldn't appreciate the charity. Besides making her feel bad, if she'd wanted the charity she could have signed up for one of those toy programs through the church or something. It's nice that you could afford everything you bought your son but it's not like that for many families.

If you feel you must get him something, buy it as a present from your son to him and don't make it too expensive.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

All you need to do is buy him something and put it on his doorstep wit ha letter saying Merry Christmas from friends. Might think about putting a gift card in it for the mom as well.

 

[MrWizzard]

That is a tough situation.

Our family has been in that situation a couple of times. Here is what we did. We went out and bough a bunch of gifts for poorer families. Wrapped all the gifts and left them on their door step. We would then ring the doorbell and run away or have someone else ring the doorbell while we watched from too far to be recognized. That way we knew they got the presents.

I really like to give to people and not let them know it was me. It feels great.

His mom can't get mad if she does not know who they are from.

 

[Capt Caveman]

You could move to Utah, marry the mom and adopt the kid.

 

[ahurtt]

Wow. This is one of those examples of when a little white lie can hurt. I think what I'd say is something like, "Santa doesn't like our son more than he likes you. But we bought our son some extra presents ourselves to go along with the stuff Santa brought him." But then you don't know. . .maybe your son already told his friend all the stuff he got came from Santa so you risk getting caught in your lie by a 7 year-old. . .Wow. Tough spot.

If you start buying the kid stuff, he might come to expect it and become a little mooch. You don't need somebody taking advantage of your generosity and charity.

I think your best bet is just say, "I don't know. Go ask your mom."

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
How would you handle this? I don't know what to do...my son has a friend that is in a different "financial class", shall we say. He's 7 years old, and his mom is a single mother working as a waitress. He comes over all the time, and he noticed all the nice things my son got for Christmas. My son scored some Nerf guns, Wii games, SpyGear toys, an Air Hogs helicopter...a bunch of fun stuff.

My son's friend looks at all his loot and asks "Wow! How did you get all this cool stuff??!! I only got a stuffed animal, a pack of Pokemon cards, and a Hotwheels car!" Then he started asking my wife why Santa like my son more than him.

I'm heart-broken! I feel like stopping on the way home from work and getting him a few things, but that would probably make his mom feel terrible. Anyone have any suggestions?

sheesh, that is sad. i'd buy him a gift with his name on it, from Santa, and say it was left at your place by mistake.

does the boy have his father in his life at all do you know?

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: Spikesoldier
the obvious ATOT answer would be to sex up the mom, and dont forget the pics

QFT

either that or buy him a gift from Santa Claus and leave it under the tree and say you don't know how it got there.

 

[ed21x]

you should tell the boy that you bought some of the gifts too, and Santa only gave your son a part of it.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: ahurtt
Wow. This is one of those examples of when a little white lie can hurt. I think what I'd say is something like, "Santa doesn't like our son more than he likes you. But we bought our son some extra presents ourselves to go along with the stuff Santa brought him." But then you don't know. . .maybe your son already told his friend all the stuff he got came from Santa so you risk getting caught in your lie by a 7 year-old. . .Wow. Tough spot.

If you start buying the kid stuff, he might come to expect it and become a little mooch. You don't need somebody taking advantage of your generosity and charity.

I think your best bet is just say, "I don't know. Go ask your mom."

I was kind of thinking along these lines too. This stinks. I'll mull over it tonight.

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: ed21x
you should tell the boy that you bought some of the gifts too, and Santa only gave your son a part of it.

that would be the equivalent of saying either santa claus or his mom didn't give him anything though

 

[Vonkhan]

Secret present from "Santa" saying "Sorry, your presents got delayed - but merry christmas kid!"

 

[nakedfrog]

"Santa told us you should quit being such a little jerk and maybe you'll get a better haul next year."


Seriously, though, I really would just leave well enough alone and not try to change the situation.

 

[jakedeez]

Originally posted by: Nitemare

Originally posted by: ed21x
you should tell the boy that you bought some of the gifts too, and Santa only gave your son a part of it.

that would be the equivalent of saying either santa claus or his mom didn't give him anything though

Actually it would be more like saying, "because you're poor"

I know that everyone thinks this is sad, but the question he is asking is what do I do or say... and the answer is obvious. He asked your wife... slowly back out of the room and let her deal with it.

 

[tokie]

You should talk to his mom and maybe give her some money. Or ship your kid off to his house instead so you don't have to deal with him running around your place.

 

[Phokus]

Maybe you should stop spoiling your kid so much