Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

BoredPanda Add post form topAdd Post
Tooltip close

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

Mom’s Explanation Why She Teaches Son Not To Share Gets Shared 207,000+ Times, Other Parents React
User submission
45.1K
576.4K

Mom’s Explanation Why She Teaches Son Not To Share Gets Shared 207,000+ Times, Other Parents React

ADVERTISEMENT

When a group of boys at the park approached Alanya Kolberg’s young son, Carson, and demanded that he share his toys with them, she handled the situation in a way that some parents weren’t expecting. After her story went viral, parents of the Internet weighed in, and you might be surprised by their reactions.

Kolberg’s post, written on April 19th, has already been shared over 200 thousand times, and has garnered just as many likes. Hundreds of parents and others took to the comment section, igniting a tricky but thought-provoking discussion on the true meaning of the old motto “sharing is caring.” Kolberg’s method, however, seemed to unite the opinions of readers more than it divided.

Read the whole story for yourself below, and tell us your thoughts on this issue in the comments!

More info: (h/t)

After an experience at the park with her son Carson, this mom took to Facebook with a message to other parents

Mom's Explanation Why She Teaches Son Not To Share Gets Shared 207,000+ Times, Other Parents React

viral-mom-post-teaching-son-not-share-23

The brutally honest rant has now been shared over 200 thousand times, and follows like so:

Mom's Explanation Why She Teaches Son Not To Share Gets Shared 207,000+ Times, Other Parents React

ADVERTISEMENT

Mom's Explanation Why She Teaches Son Not To Share Gets Shared 207,000+ Times, Other Parents React

Mom's Explanation Why She Teaches Son Not To Share Gets Shared 207,000+ Times, Other Parents React

Mom's Explanation Why She Teaches Son Not To Share Gets Shared 207,000+ Times, Other Parents React

Mom's Explanation Why She Teaches Son Not To Share Gets Shared 207,000+ Times, Other Parents React

ADVERTISEMENT

Mom's Explanation Why She Teaches Son Not To Share Gets Shared 207,000+ Times, Other Parents React

“You can tell them no, Carson,” Kolberg told her young son. “Just say no. You don’t have to say anything else”

Mom's Explanation Why She Teaches Son Not To Share Gets Shared 207,000+ Times, Other Parents React

The mom’s actions brought forth praise from many commentators, who defended her parenting methods

Mom's Explanation Why She Teaches Son Not To Share Gets Shared 207,000+ Times, Other Parents React

ADVERTISEMENT

Mom's Explanation Why She Teaches Son Not To Share Gets Shared 207,000+ Times, Other Parents React

Mom's Explanation Why She Teaches Son Not To Share Gets Shared 207,000+ Times, Other Parents React

Mom's Explanation Why She Teaches Son Not To Share Gets Shared 207,000+ Times, Other Parents React

Mom's Explanation Why She Teaches Son Not To Share Gets Shared 207,000+ Times, Other Parents React

Others, however, offered less supportive opinions on the matter, sparking fierce runoff debates

viral-mom-post-teaching-son-not-share-20

viral-mom-post-teaching-son-not-share-21

viral-mom-post-teaching-son-not-share-22

ADVERTISEMENT

What’s your take? Is sharing really caring? Tell us in the comments below!

576Kviews

Share on Facebook
Stella

Stella

Author, Community member

Read more »

This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

Read less »
Stella

Stella

Author, Community member

This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

What do you think ?
Add photo comments
POST
Zori the degu
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was a kid in the kindergarten I was forced to share(only my teachers made me do it, luckily) many of my toys and books. The only thank I got for this was to see my belongings ruined. By teaching Carson to say "no" to other children, this mother actually teaches her son to respect his own opinion and choices. Carson chose to share his toys with a close friend(to whom he trusts she wouldn't damage) and making your opinion matter is a very important thing in the adults' world.

The Cappy
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also, she's not teaching him not to share. She's teaching him that he has a right to say no if he wants to.

Load More Replies...
Patrick McKenna
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

life can be complicated. I would expect if he did share with 6 different kids, there's a good chance he'd never see his toys again. I recall sharing an electronic toy when growing up, the older kid wouldn't give it back after several hours. I asked for it back and was denied. had to get big brother to get it back, of course then I was the bad guy.

Ditto
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My nephew has had many toys stolen because he was taught to share by my sister. Now when I'm babysitting him he doesn't have to give his things away.

Load More Replies...
Ionut S
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You don't teach your kid to share, you teach him that one of the best feelings in the world comes from sharing your stuff with others ! The source of your joy should be the joy you bring to others. But for this to happen, it must be his own decision, as there is no joy in being forced to share. I strongly agree with the mother.

lakitha tolbert
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree! What you end up doing is creating exactly the opposite, the kind of greedy selfish person who doesn't want to share anything with anyone, ever. She's teaching him boundaries, and loving to share with close friends.

Load More Replies...
Load More Comments
Zori the degu
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was a kid in the kindergarten I was forced to share(only my teachers made me do it, luckily) many of my toys and books. The only thank I got for this was to see my belongings ruined. By teaching Carson to say "no" to other children, this mother actually teaches her son to respect his own opinion and choices. Carson chose to share his toys with a close friend(to whom he trusts she wouldn't damage) and making your opinion matter is a very important thing in the adults' world.

The Cappy
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also, she's not teaching him not to share. She's teaching him that he has a right to say no if he wants to.

Load More Replies...
Patrick McKenna
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

life can be complicated. I would expect if he did share with 6 different kids, there's a good chance he'd never see his toys again. I recall sharing an electronic toy when growing up, the older kid wouldn't give it back after several hours. I asked for it back and was denied. had to get big brother to get it back, of course then I was the bad guy.

Ditto
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My nephew has had many toys stolen because he was taught to share by my sister. Now when I'm babysitting him he doesn't have to give his things away.

Load More Replies...
Ionut S
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You don't teach your kid to share, you teach him that one of the best feelings in the world comes from sharing your stuff with others ! The source of your joy should be the joy you bring to others. But for this to happen, it must be his own decision, as there is no joy in being forced to share. I strongly agree with the mother.

lakitha tolbert
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree! What you end up doing is creating exactly the opposite, the kind of greedy selfish person who doesn't want to share anything with anyone, ever. She's teaching him boundaries, and loving to share with close friends.

Load More Replies...
Load More Comments
You May Like
Related on Bored Panda
Related on Bored Panda
Trending on Bored Panda
Also on Bored Panda