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When it comes to Christmas shopping for your children, one always hopes to give them something meaningful that they will value for years to come, not just on that happy day.
Cierra Baker, a single mother of two from St. Louis, Missouri went a step further this past Christmas, intending to give her children a gift which would teach them fiscal responsibility and how to be entrepreneurial.
So, rather than give her son and daughter toys, she gave them a vending machine and some starter snacks.
Baker posted a picture of her children with their gift on her Facebook page.
Baker defended choosing a vending machine over toys in the video's caption, hoping it would teach her children to make smart decisions and how to earn and manage money.
"Let’s not handicap these kids making their lives easy.."
"I’m not buying toys my kids most definitely will understand life is not easy and making the right choices with money & etc… "
"So I came up with the idea to invest in vending machine for the kids as Christmas gift."
"Young bosses in the making."
"MERRY XMAS."
Baker's post continued to get more and more attention on Facebook and other social media platforms, eventually leading to her being dubbed "Vending Machine Mom."
Not everyone was wholly taken with Baker's idea though.
Several people criticized Baker in the comments section, with some accusing her of taking the fun out of Christmas, or that she was forcing the vending machine, and all the responsibilities which come with it, upon her children.
@Ciearra Baker/Facebook
@Ciearra Baker/Facebook
@Ciearra Baker/Facebook
@Ciearra Baker/Facebook
@Ciearra Baker/Facebook
@Ciearra Baker/Facebook
@Ciearra Baker/Facebook
Others, however, applauded Baker, agreeing her children will learn an extremely valuable lesson in managing and maintaining the vending machine.
Many even said they might do the same for their children, or wishing their parents had done this for them.
@Ciearra Baker/Facebook
@Ciearra Baker/Facebook
@Ciearra Baker/Facebook
@Ciearra Baker/Facebook
@Ciearra Baker/Facebook
@Ciearra Baker/Facebook
@Ciearra Baker/Facebook
Baker owns and operates Kidz Glam Kloset, a mobile children's clothing store. She is no doubt hoping her children might inherit her entrepreneurial mindset when they grow up.
And while it remains a bit uncertain exactly how her son and daughter reacted when they received this unusual Christmas present, what they hopefully didn't ignore was her giving them the vending machine was only a sign of how much she loves them.