Tell them that Santa stopped by to pick up their old toys for repair at the North Pole so that he could give them to children less fortunate… and if Michael ever wants to get another present from Santa for Christmas, he better play along… :-)
Meanwhile, you can link in to Radio X T Z - Sixty Hours of Christmas runs through midnight tonight; and even then, we’ll gradually taper off between now and 1/6; 1/7 will be the first day without ANY Christmas music since 11/26/10…
Our playroom is overflowing and I’ve warned them that toys will be going to other children. Now might be the best time to get rid of some others while they’re entranced with their new toys.
This is child abuse. Parents need to let their kids know in advance what toys they are throwing out, not make them feel insecure by doing it secretly. My parents did this & it scarred me for life. I stopped speaking to them, and I refuse to go out except when I must in case something happens to my stuff. I go ballistic if anyone attempts to throw out anything of mine. I was horribly psychologically-damaged by this. It shaped my whole life. I can’t go out the door without panicking that something might happen to my stuff. I catalogue it, photograph it, inventory it – I have become obsessed with making sure not the littlest scrap of paper is touched. & this is ALL because my parents did this when I was a kid. I had a complete nervous collapse due to it & never recovered, even 40 yrs later. Today’s strip brings it all back, almost sending me into a panic. It’s awful, sick, twisted & cruel.
Happy Birthday Lightenup!! You’re one of my favorite commenters!
Seriously Rowena? Child abuse? If you really believe that, then I guess it’s a good thing. It means you didn’t have to experience what real abuse is like. However, it does seem that you were quite spoiled and as an adult… you should probably seek some counseling to deal with this issue so that you can look at the positives of your childhood… like the fact that you had ANY toys at all! .
Rowena!!!!!!! You don’t even know abuse. Your Grandma didn’t climb in the bathroom window with a switch. Your piano teacher didn’t make advances. The list goes on and on. Why don’t you flippin’ grow up you jackwagon.
A month before Christmas, I would have to take one toy for every one on my list and put it in a box - to ‘make room’. Non-Toy items (clothes, games etc) were not counted towards this. (And my Hot Wheels/Matchbox collection was also not included which allowed me at one point to have over 300 DIFFERENT dinky cars)
Lay off Rowena.
I understand what she means.
Child abuse is ANYTHING that makes a child afraid or ashamed, anything that makes a child feel worthless and/or stupid.
Not all child abuse is physical.
Not all child abuse is obvious to an outsider.
And for all you Rowena-bashers know, she could have suffered from other forms of child abuse as well, but the stealing of her toys by her parents (and yes it IS stealing to throw out a child’s toys without the child’s knowledge) still hurts her as an adult more than beatings.
When it was time to clean up, we told the kids any toys left out would be given away. We went around with a “pickup bag” after the playthings were supposedly cleaned up to collect anything left out.
DewSolo: so If I tell the kid “you should be ashamed of yourself for flushing the newborn kittens down the toilet,” that’s “abuse”?
No, I don’t think it was your intent to say that, but I hope you see the problem with overly-broad definitions. At some point in the normal process of growing up, every child has moments of fear, shame, and questions about his/her worth and intelligence. Whether these are “abuse” or “constructive growth experiences” depends on the situation and the parental response. There is no on-size-fits-all definition.
That said, I think John and Elly are taking the easy way out, and missing an opportunity to teach their kids something about materialism and charity.
Just because it it’s old and/or broken does not mean it has no value. After all, can you see someone throwing out the Venus de Milo cause it’s old and broken.
I agree with Rowena. My parents were quite responsible citizens and made sure that I never lacked any material necessities, but all my life I never had anything that was my very own, I could never leave the house without wondering what would disappear before I came home. Not just as a young child, like in this strip, but even in high school, even if I bought something with my own money that I earned, if it was in their house they thought they had the right to throw it out. And now they actually wonder why I don’t visit.
Emotional abuse like this is just as much a reality as is physical abuse.
Rowena, I think it’s sad that your parents didn’t show you any respect and input with your possessions. But it’s sadder still that your whole life has been so negatively impacted. You probably have a hoarding problem now which is hurting you and those you may be living with. Please stop letting your parents past unkindness continue to hurt you now. I say TAKE BACK the POWER you have given to them, and live your life in uncluttered peace for whatever time you have left to live on this earth.
Lynn, explain about Boxing Day in England and Canada, and get them involved in weeding out their own toys. Then they won’t blame you for the incomplete Matchbox set or Barbie collection when they want to cash them in!
This seems like a very dirty thing to do!!! Anything in good condition not wanted or played with anymore should definitely be donated to those that have nothing and would really appreciate it … but I think that this is something that should have been done with Michael’s input.
Redhead55 over 13 years ago
They ALWAYS know!
WebSpider over 13 years ago
Tell them that Santa stopped by to pick up their old toys for repair at the North Pole so that he could give them to children less fortunate… and if Michael ever wants to get another present from Santa for Christmas, he better play along… :-)
RadioTom over 13 years ago
Meanwhile, you can link in to Radio X T Z - Sixty Hours of Christmas runs through midnight tonight; and even then, we’ll gradually taper off between now and 1/6; 1/7 will be the first day without ANY Christmas music since 11/26/10…
http://radioxtz.com
Enjoy!
Michael Bowser Premium Member over 13 years ago
What do you mean no Christmas music from 11/26/10 ! It started here at Wal-mart before our Halloween candy was put out !
lightenup Premium Member over 13 years ago
Our playroom is overflowing and I’ve warned them that toys will be going to other children. Now might be the best time to get rid of some others while they’re entranced with their new toys.
Happy Birthday to me :-)
JanLC over 13 years ago
lightenup, I’ll second that. Happy Birthday. (By the way, have you seen BC this morning? You share a birthday with one of the characters.)
rowena28 Premium Member over 13 years ago
This is child abuse. Parents need to let their kids know in advance what toys they are throwing out, not make them feel insecure by doing it secretly. My parents did this & it scarred me for life. I stopped speaking to them, and I refuse to go out except when I must in case something happens to my stuff. I go ballistic if anyone attempts to throw out anything of mine. I was horribly psychologically-damaged by this. It shaped my whole life. I can’t go out the door without panicking that something might happen to my stuff. I catalogue it, photograph it, inventory it – I have become obsessed with making sure not the littlest scrap of paper is touched. & this is ALL because my parents did this when I was a kid. I had a complete nervous collapse due to it & never recovered, even 40 yrs later. Today’s strip brings it all back, almost sending me into a panic. It’s awful, sick, twisted & cruel.
mirthiful over 13 years ago
Happy Birthday Lightenup!! You’re one of my favorite commenters!
Seriously Rowena? Child abuse? If you really believe that, then I guess it’s a good thing. It means you didn’t have to experience what real abuse is like. However, it does seem that you were quite spoiled and as an adult… you should probably seek some counseling to deal with this issue so that you can look at the positives of your childhood… like the fact that you had ANY toys at all! .
ponytail56 over 13 years ago
OH GET OVER IT! self rightous sniveling crybaby!
dsom8 over 13 years ago
Can you say “sarcasm”?
pawpawbear over 13 years ago
Rowena!!!!!!! You don’t even know abuse. Your Grandma didn’t climb in the bathroom window with a switch. Your piano teacher didn’t make advances. The list goes on and on. Why don’t you flippin’ grow up you jackwagon.
Allan CB Premium Member over 13 years ago
A month before Christmas, I would have to take one toy for every one on my list and put it in a box - to ‘make room’. Non-Toy items (clothes, games etc) were not counted towards this. (And my Hot Wheels/Matchbox collection was also not included which allowed me at one point to have over 300 DIFFERENT dinky cars)
Dewsolo over 13 years ago
Lay off Rowena. I understand what she means. Child abuse is ANYTHING that makes a child afraid or ashamed, anything that makes a child feel worthless and/or stupid. Not all child abuse is physical. Not all child abuse is obvious to an outsider.
And for all you Rowena-bashers know, she could have suffered from other forms of child abuse as well, but the stealing of her toys by her parents (and yes it IS stealing to throw out a child’s toys without the child’s knowledge) still hurts her as an adult more than beatings.
stuart over 13 years ago
When it was time to clean up, we told the kids any toys left out would be given away. We went around with a “pickup bag” after the playthings were supposedly cleaned up to collect anything left out.
puddleglum1066 over 13 years ago
DewSolo: so If I tell the kid “you should be ashamed of yourself for flushing the newborn kittens down the toilet,” that’s “abuse”?
No, I don’t think it was your intent to say that, but I hope you see the problem with overly-broad definitions. At some point in the normal process of growing up, every child has moments of fear, shame, and questions about his/her worth and intelligence. Whether these are “abuse” or “constructive growth experiences” depends on the situation and the parental response. There is no on-size-fits-all definition.
That said, I think John and Elly are taking the easy way out, and missing an opportunity to teach their kids something about materialism and charity.
x_Tech over 13 years ago
Just because it it’s old and/or broken does not mean it has no value. After all, can you see someone throwing out the Venus de Milo cause it’s old and broken.
ValancyCarmody over 13 years ago
I agree with Rowena. My parents were quite responsible citizens and made sure that I never lacked any material necessities, but all my life I never had anything that was my very own, I could never leave the house without wondering what would disappear before I came home. Not just as a young child, like in this strip, but even in high school, even if I bought something with my own money that I earned, if it was in their house they thought they had the right to throw it out. And now they actually wonder why I don’t visit. Emotional abuse like this is just as much a reality as is physical abuse.
jump4joy over 13 years ago
Rowena, I think it’s sad that your parents didn’t show you any respect and input with your possessions. But it’s sadder still that your whole life has been so negatively impacted. You probably have a hoarding problem now which is hurting you and those you may be living with. Please stop letting your parents past unkindness continue to hurt you now. I say TAKE BACK the POWER you have given to them, and live your life in uncluttered peace for whatever time you have left to live on this earth.
lightenup Premium Member over 13 years ago
Thanks, Mirthiful – your comment made my day! :-)
lfanterickson over 13 years ago
Lynn, explain about Boxing Day in England and Canada, and get them involved in weeding out their own toys. Then they won’t blame you for the incomplete Matchbox set or Barbie collection when they want to cash them in!
Gretchen's Mom over 13 years ago
This seems like a very dirty thing to do!!! Anything in good condition not wanted or played with anymore should definitely be donated to those that have nothing and would really appreciate it … but I think that this is something that should have been done with Michael’s input.