Mom Explains In Viral Post Why Her Son Doesn’t Have To Share

Parents everywhere seem to automatically teach their young kids to share. It’s seen as one of those essential lessons they must learn, up there with remembering to say “please” and “thank you.” But one Missouri mom has taken to Facebook to share why she thinks this is a load of hooey, and thousands of parents are in agreement with her.

Alanya Kolberg recently took her young son, Carson, to the park and shared their experience in a Facebook post. Just as many boys his age do, Carson had brought along a few toys: a Transformer action figure, a Minecraft action figure and a truck. Not long after the pair arrived, half a dozen other kids swooped in and wanted a turn playing with Carson’s toys.

The boy’s reaction makes it clear that he is not selfish and that his mother teaches him to be thoughtful and have good manners. He looked to his mom, who says her son was visibly overwhelmed. Her response has the internet in an uproar.

“You can tell them no, Carson,” she said. “Just say no. You don’t have to say anything else.” She goes on to state that the other children ran to her to “tattle,” to which she responded in kind. “He doesn’t have to share with you,” she stated. “He said no. If he wants to share, he will.” Kolberg notes that her answer was met with glares from other parents, but she sticks by her actions.

“The goal is to teach our children how to function as adults,” she writes. “While I do know some adults who clearly never learned how to share as children, I know far more who don’t know how to say no to people, or how to set boundaries, or how to practice self-care. Myself included.”

It is important to note that the mom’s viral Facebook post also mentions that his purpose for bringing the toys was in fact to share them, just not with the children who happened to be at the park. Kolberg and her son were meeting up with friends at the park; Carson was excited to share the toys with his playmate.

[h/t: Scary Mommy]