My son buys his own Christmas presents. He helps around the house, and I pay him for the quality of his work" (5 photos + 1 video)

Carla Dillon has attracted media attention for her controversial approach to parenting. The mother maintains strict rules when it comes to supervising her children—13-year-old Kaidan and a seven-year-old daughter. The software analyst has developed a strict reward system and makes no exceptions, even for holidays.





"My son is already a teenager, so he's responsible for buying his own gifts with his own money. He does chores and helps neighbors to earn money. And in this matter, he has no choice. He can't refuse to buy a gift. And I'm not talking about a gift for himself. "He chooses the person he wants to please," explains the American woman.

A Virginia resident wants to teach her son the value of money and a true understanding of the holiday.

She said: "It's important to give, not to receive."

"The joy, pride, and satisfaction we feel from giving to others and making them happy are priceless."



"And I tried to explain this to them. I don't demand that they give me anything. The best gift would be a good Christmas and seeing them happy."

"Surprisingly, I didn't encounter any criticism. Even the cashier, when we were choosing a gift, noticed that my children were paying and what they were choosing. She said it was very touching and kind, and the children were very proud of themselves."

"Kaiden understood everything, but at some point he asked if he could buy something for himself. And I explained again that it was about giving, not receiving. He agreed that he should focus on others right now."





"When he took the check, he said, 'I'm Santa, and I'm keeping my first check.' He was so excited."

The boy earns money based on the quality of his work.

Raking leaves earns him $20, cleaning the walls and door earns him $5, and unloading the dishwasher earns him $2.



And he's not the only one facing this harsh reality. His sister had to part with a couple of her toys to raise money for gifts.

Karla shared, "I made her sell a couple of toys she wasn't using. She made about $35 in total, which is quite nice. She used the money to buy gifts for her dad, older brother, and grandma. She can't wait to give them to them."

"I buy the kids the gifts they need. For example, a basketball hoop for my son. My daughter is into gymnastics, so I bought her a gymnastics costume and a balance beam, along with other essentials."

"Christmas is a special time for us; we throw big celebrations. I want children to understand that they create magic and feel a part of making it happen for others."



"Our main job as parents is to raise our children to be good adults. We must instill in them selflessness, kindness, and generosity. Isn't that what Christmas is all about? If we don't teach our children about money, achieving goals, and responsibility, we're letting them down."

"Kindness makes the world a better place and always comes back to us."

Karla first tried "gentle parenting" and then moved on to a more strict approach.

She dreams of raising children who can navigate the world confidently, respecting themselves and others.