Surprised that so many people think it silly to buy a snowball on eBay
@sunnypub (2128)
United States
January 22, 2007 10:35am CST
I recently read a discussion that was about a father who bought a snowball on eBay for his children. I was really surprised that so many people who responded to the discussion thought it was silly or stupid or a waste of money.
I mean when is it ever a wast of money to do something nice for your children. I wouldn't buy a snowball because even though it doesn't really snow in the Heart of Tucson where I live we can drive about 30 minutes and get to snow.
But I did once buy some fall leaves for my daughter. I mean we don't have leaves change color here like they do back east so I thought it would be great for my daughter to see different color leaves and someone was selling a box of them on eBay so I bought them.
My daughter was so thrilled. She thought they were the coolest thing ever and even took them to school for show and tell.
I don't think I wasted my money at all because the smile on her face was totally worth it.
If we didn't have the ability for her to see snow, I would absolutely buy her some.
So you can all think I am strange and silly and stupid and I won't care because what my duaghter thinks is what really matters to me and she thinks I am the greatest mom ever for getting her something that she had never before seen in her life.
8 people like this
38 responses
@starr4all (2863)
•
22 Jan 07
I think it's nice what the dad did and all, but I would think it was a scam. He'll probably get like a container of water or something. Most of the time, things like this people are just out to get money and will charge a lot for it. Think about the person who sold a grilled cheese sandwich with the *suppossed" face of jesus on it? They are just out to get money. So the buyer needs to be forwarned that it might be a scam.
4 people like this
@ktroth (378)
• United States
22 Jan 07
I guess it never occurred to me to sell snow or fall leaves on ebay! I take them both for granted since I live in Wisconsin and we have plenty of both. Since we just got about 6 inches of snow over the weekend, maybe I'll sell some of it :)
I know what you're saying. If we didn't live in a place that had either of those things, I might be tempted to buy a little sample too. How do people ship snow??
@jeweledbluerose (3061)
• United States
22 Jan 07
There is nothing wrong with parents wanting to do stuff that will bring a smile to their child's face. I to saw that discussion and it brought a smile to my face knowing that no matter the cost this father was doing everything he could to make sure his kids had a great christmas. Even if it required him to do something unusual. So many parents these days take their children for granted it saddens me, but it's when parents do, do unexpected things for their child that makes it all worth while.
@shywolf (4514)
• United States
22 Jan 07
Aw! I can't believe that my Ebay discussion sparked another discussion here on Mylot! *laugh* And you're right. It also suprised me at how many people were bashing that father for having bought the snow on Ebay. I mean, the price was ridiculous - $200 for some snow? But the idea that he wanted so much to give his children what they couldn't have had for Christmas any other way was _very_ touching, I felt, and I was surprised that people were calling it stupid. I admit that i wouldn't have spent that much money on snow, personally, but I don't think that the guy was out of his mind for wanting to do something loving for his family! ^_^ And I think that it is really, really cool that you bought some fall leaves for your daughter!!! Aww! ^_^
@imadriscoll (2228)
• United States
22 Jan 07
Wow, it was $200 ... we don't spend anywhere near that much on Christmas presents for our children, so that in and of itself is the ridiculous part. I mean they'll like it sure, but snow doesn't last forever!
At least you can keep leaves and turn them into a craft project that will also be educational!
Well, to each their own!
3 people like this
@sunnypub (2128)
• United States
22 Jan 07
I'm glad you posted here shywolf. After I posted this I thgouht that I should have included a link to your discussion or at least said who started the discussion but I was too late.
So thank you shywolf for your discussion. It did indeed spark mine.
2 people like this
@korek222 (701)
• Poland
22 Jan 07
Buying snow or leaves sounds strange to me ,but that's your money so you can do whatever you want with it. and since snow or colorful leaves are very rare in your state well it is good to have your child smile on the first sight of this evenemnt :)so if you are satisfied with this how you've spent your money - better for you :)
3 people like this
@p8ntballr21 (857)
• United States
22 Jan 07
I agree. It is in no way silly or a waste. You are letting your kids experience something they never experienced before. In your case, the got to see different colored leaves. Some people just take things for granted and don't realize that other people have never seen some of the stuff they have.
3 people like this
@anne_143god (5387)
• Philippines
23 Jan 07
I never heard that there are snow ball thats being sold in ebay for I think it is very impossible. But on your story if it wass really gave your daughter a big smile them you really made a good job. I dont see any silly on that as long as your story is true.
@sunnypub (2128)
• United States
23 Jan 07
My story is true. I would have no reason to lie about this. I may be a bit strange but I am not one who makes up stories just to get discussions going here at mylot. My daughter really did love the leaves and we do still have them and she looks at them every now and then and every time it makes her smile, so it was well worth any money I paid for them. Here are pictures we took when we gave them to her.
http://giddyaspirations.com/picture_library/blytheleave2.jpg
http://giddyaspirations.com/picture_library/blytheleave4.jpg
thanks for responding.
@imadriscoll (2228)
• United States
22 Jan 07
Living in Iowa, if you want snow and different colored leaves all you have to do is wait, you'll get both sooner or later.
I don't know if it would be silly or not to buy such things online for people who don't live in a part of the world where they might not ever see these things.
I want my children to be happy, but at their age a cardboard box works just great!
2 people like this
@cwgrlsarefun (1581)
• United States
22 Jan 07
You have made a great point here. I for one thought that what that dad did for his kids was the sweetest thing in world. I am one of those parents that would purchase odd things like that just so that my children could have the opportunity to see what it really is and that it exists. You are right as the look on their faces when they get something like that is worth all the money in the world. I think that if more people spent the time to think of how their children would feel about these things and not how silly it was to purchase it, there would be a lot more smiling children.
@xbritterx (170)
• United States
22 Jan 07
wow people actually sell leaves and snowballs on ebay? That's Crazy.. I will send you a whole lot of leaves if you want hehe... we have so many trees around my house i should sell all the leaves i could be a millionaire
1 person likes this
@sunnypub (2128)
• United States
22 Jan 07
I could certainly sell a lot of dirt and cactus since that is what I have here. We don't normally have snow, although it actually did snow last night and of course today eveyone is freaking out because we aren't used to driving in snow and ice. We are just used to pounding rain storms.
Anyways, I guess you have to think out of the box to comne up with the idea to sell snow or leaves. I am glad the lady I got the leaves from was thinking that way. My daughter just loved the leaves.
Thanks for responding.
@ljt1955 (4)
• United States
23 Jan 07
Well, if a dad can buy a snowball for his child because the child has never seen snow, then I guess I can sell a box of dirt to someone who maybe has always lived in a high rise apartment and never seen dirt before.
I can think of a lot of things that I have never seen before or that my daughter never saw before. But, I never felt the urge to run out and buy it for her or myself.
I guess it all depends on what you think is important for your child. I always thought it was important for my daughter to have her hair combed and brushed and braided everyday and wear shoes without holes. Those things mattered to me, but not necessarily everyone else.
@sunnypub (2128)
• United States
23 Jan 07
I don't think it is a one or the other type of situation. I care about my daughter and it is important to me that her hair is combed and brushed and she wears shoes without holes, but that doesn't mean that giving her things is not also important. I love to see my daughter happy and and I don't mind doing odd things to accomplish that.
Thanks for responding.
@jjones474 (123)
• United States
24 Jan 07
If it makes you happy, but couldn't you have gotten leaves somewhere else much easier?
1 person likes this
@icequeen (2840)
• Canada
23 Jan 07
That is quite a dilemma. I live in Canada, so we get snow and the fall leaves are nice..so it is not an issue here. I do understand your point though...however..I don't know if I would buy leaves and snow...I would probably just show my kids pictures..etc...
@Zhanec (1651)
• Malaysia
23 Jan 07
wow..i never know that Ebays sells snowball and fall leaves.Ebays sells slot of weird stuff.i think That's pretty cool gift to kids..i personally never see a real snowball before.It seems like your daughter is luckier than me..haha.Btw Ts,how long can the snowball last?As i know it melt pretty fast under room temperature.
@cathiecarpio (185)
• Philippines
23 Jan 07
At first look, many people, including me, will thought of it as something silly and all. But deep down, people like you are just being thoughtful and sweet.
awww.ΓΌ
1 person likes this
@destinycole (827)
•
23 Jan 07
Sorry but this sounds really silly, but "what ever floats your boat".
"Fools and their money are easily parted" springs to mind, which makes me think I should go and bottle for rain water, because it fell in Liverpool and no one will have rain water like the drops that fall in Liverpool.
May be I should head to Formby and get some of the Irish Sea and bottle that instead.
What I really want to know is how do you courier, Snow from one place to another without it melting? "Handle Cold" or "Freeze Deliver Only", "Warning Snow in Box"
Now the leaves I can just about understand because yes it gave your daughter so much pleasure, and if you have never seen the reddish, brown, yellow ochre tones of autumn then yes I can imagine they would be almost magical.
But snow balls on ebay! what's next, oh don't tell me some celebrity's cats poop cast in gold!
1 person likes this
@dirtpoorboy (156)
• United States
23 Jan 07
wow that is by far the weirdest thing i have ever read. well thank you for tellin me this so today at 4 ill be selling sum leaves, dirt, snow, clay, and grass on ebay! anyone up for buying these things since that isnt weird? o yeah and maybe ill cook up a grilled cheese and put that on there too.
1 person likes this
