8-year-old daughter wants snowglobe for Christmas, mom says no, dad gives it to her anyways and it breaks instantly: '[My] daughter dropped it'

Author image for Brad Dickson
Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Dec 24, 2024 6:00 PM EST

You need to learn some lessons by experiencing it yourself, even if everyone around you is telling you it's a bad idea, sometimes that message isn't going to sink in without experiencing it through your own folly. Still, as parents, you need to make sensible decisions around when to protect your kids from their own wants and whims and when to let things proceed as-is and let them figure it out. Being overprotective is going to keep them from being able to properly figure out how to navigate difficult and unknown situations on their own, probably instilling in them that same anxiety that is driving their own controlling fears. Being too laissez-faire, on the other hand, might land them in some dangerous situations with irrevocable consequences.  

This couple had a disagreement over whether or not to gift their daughter the snow globe that she wanted for Christmas. The girl's mother put an end to the idea, arguing that her daughter couldn't handle such a delicate and breakable item. Her husband, the girl's father, however, went ahead and got his daughter the gift anyway, arguing that his wife was being overprotective. Upon receiving the gift, the girl broke it almost immediately, but the husband argues that his wife startled the girl while she was holding her present, turning to this online community to try and settle the affair once and for all.

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10446430720
    via Shaylyn
  • 02
    AITA for gifting a snow globe against my wife's correct predictions? Our daughter (8 years old) asked for a snow globe for christmas. It's all she wanted. My wife said no, because our daughter is not good with fragile stuff, my wife said daughter will end up smashing it right away.
    via daaagnabit
  • 03
    I insisted because maybe she won't break it. Also its what she wants for christmas even if she ends up - breaking it eventually, at least she'll get to enjoy it first. We had our christmas party early just now, because my wife will be out of town on xmas day.
    via daaagnabit
  • 04
    Anyway, our daughter opened her present. She loved it, and she was hugging it and dancing around with it. My wife starts screaming "you're not being careful! - you're going to break it!" Daughter dropped it. It shattered. Our daughter is devastated. My wife says all this sadness could have been avoided if I hadnt insisted after she said no.
    via daaagnabit
  • 05
    I say our daughter only dropped it because my wife's screaming startled her (it startled me too!) To some one who doesnt know my wife, the snow globe might seem irrelevant. You might say I shouldn't insist against my wife's preference in any situation. But my wife is not like most people. She says "no" for everything. She told our daughter to stay in the dark because she didnt want to buy a replacement lightbulb... She's ridiculously stingy, and very strict with our daughter. So it's up to me to
    via daaagnabit
  • 06
    But now since the snow globe DID get broken immediately, as my wife predicted, I'm 2nd guessing my instinct on this one.
    via daaagnabit
  • 07
    OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the a h le: (1) what action you took that should be judged • I insisted to gift a snow globe after my wife said "no" (2) why that action might make you the a h_le. • my action resulted in an event which arguably ruined christmas for all of us
    via daaagnabit
  • 08
    Plumbus-aficianado 4h ago • • NTA - but it probably would have been wiser to recognize the risk and given a plastic one that is hard to break or even better a clear plastic fill your own snow globe so she could have some creative fun rather than a toy you just look at. look on amazon for DIY snow globe as an example. Those are less than $10 and you can put some glitter and water in for a relatively low mess experience.
    via daaagnabit
  • 09
    Kids break stuff, its a learning opportunity for both how to clean up and how to handle fragile things. Screaming leads to being "not good with fragile stuff" whereas practice with not so fragile things might allow her to improve her motor skills. There are very few situation improved by screaming.
    via daaagnabit
  • 10
    . Rohini_rambles • 4h ago • EXCUSE ME,, SHE DOESNT WANT TO BUY A BULB?? is your wife stingy.... Orr is she ab ive towards your daughter? Why are yous till married to someone who seems h I bent on making your child miserable?
    via daaagnabit
  • 11
    NoSalamander7749 • 3h ago • . ESH it's 2024 and both of you - should understand how to google "Childproof snow globe" Also, that lightbulb thing is ridiculous. Your wife sounds like she has major control issues that are going to end up psychologically harming your daughter.
    via daaagnabit
  • 12
    . OhmsWay-71 · 4h ago • NTA. Your wife caused this to happen. She needs therapy to find out why she is so negative and would rather see no joy than deal with any maybes.
    via daaagnabit
  • 13
    Corfe-Castle • 4h ago. 8 year olds are old enough to be careful with snow globes Your wife's reaction sounds like someone trying to make her prediction come to fruition Scaring the life out of everyone like a banshee She's the AH
    via daaagnabit
  • 14
    AMoo... • • 2h ago Edited 2m ago • ESH. Hear me out: Your daughter got excited and accidentally broke it.. but 1. Have you explored why your daughter doesn't understand how to treat fragile things? She's 8. My five-year old has glass figurines that I had as a child, and knows not to play with them. You aren't teaching your daughter responsibility by completely avoiding items that she can possibly break. For that, you are AHs.
    via daaagnabit
  • 15
    2. Your wife screamed at your daughter, likely causing her to drop the globe. Screaming is not effective parenting, it's verbal and emotional ab e. That's inexcusable.
    via daaagnabit
  • 16
    • Morganrow 4h ago. NTA, your daughter isn't going to learn how to be careful with things if you don't put her in a position where she has to be careful. Thats the whole point of childhod. Now that she has to wait until next christmas to get another one, I guarantee you she'll be more careful with it next time. If your wife continues to shelter her and doesn't allow your kid to be put in positions where lessons can be learned, she's not going to have the skills to function independently.
    via daaagnabit
  • 17
    whatsername235 2h ago • • YTA, not for the snow globe but for allowing your wife to let your daughter stay in a dark room. It's ab ive. As is screaming to the point she gets jumpy and breaks something. I would also like to know why wife being out of town means Christmas has to suit her?
    via daaagnabit
  • 18
    My five year old asked for a snow globe this year and got it early as a gift for an achievement. She knew immediately it was delicate and was so careful. It wasn't, because it was a kid friendly one but still, five year old knows glass can break, even though it wasn't. Eight year old jumping about with glass shows serious irresponsibility.
    via daaagnabit
  • 19
    B3Gay_DoCrimes 3h ago. NTA. Your wife created a self- fulfilling prophecy. Your wife needs a lot of therapy now, while your daughter is still young, or in 10 years she will be wondering why you are the only parent your daughter talks to
    via daaagnabit

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