A mother from Melbourne was left heartbroken after discovering her young son had broken a sacred Christmas rule by sneakily peeking at his wrapped gift weeks before the big day.
The Christmas Surprise Ruined
Mother-of-two Crystal-Eve had been eagerly anticipating surprising her six-year-old son, Taj, with the top item on his wishlist: a PlayStation 5. The console was carefully wrapped and placed beneath the family Christmas tree. However, her plans were shattered when she found Taj had subtly ripped the packaging and looked inside, uncovering the secret.
The distraught mum captured her emotional reaction in a TikTok video. "Taj has opened his Christmas present under the tree," she said through tears. Her disappointment was compounded when she realised her son hadn't just peeked; he had filmed a video of himself revealing his discovery. "Then he has the audacity to film it. Films himself opening the present and telling everybody like he's a YouTube star or something," she vented online.
A Punishment That Divided the Internet
Seeking to teach a lesson, Crystal-Eve decided on a firm consequence. She crafted a note from the family's 'Elf on the Shelf', informing Taj that his PlayStation had been taken to Santa to give to another child for breaking the rules. The video of this punishment, shared to her TikTok account @crystahlia, quickly went viral, amassing over 400,000 views and sparking a fierce debate.
Public opinion was sharply split. Many criticised the mother's actions as too severe for a young child. "Oh come on, he's only six. It would be cruel to take it away," one comment read. Others pointed to child development, noting that impulse control is governed by the prefrontal cortex, which isn't fully developed until early adulthood.
Conversely, a large number of supporters backed the mother's decisive stance. "Lessons need to be taught. He did the wrong thing," argued one. "My parents did this to me. It was a good lesson and I never did it again," shared another. Crystal-Eve defended her choice in the comments, stating she wanted to teach her children "how to control temptation."
A Birthday Twist and a Happy Ending
In a follow-up with the Daily Mail, Crystal-Eve revealed a positive resolution. Taj's birthday falls in early December, shortly after the incident. After observing her son making a concerted effort to improve his behaviour and help with chores, she decided he had earned the console back as a birthday gift.
But not before one final, memorable lesson. In a follow-up video, Taj is seen unwrapping his birthday present—a PlayStation box—only to find it stuffed with toilet rolls. After his stunned reaction, his mother finally presented him with the real PS5. A relieved Taj exclaimed, "I'm shocked. I'm gonna be a good boy now. Thank you mum."
Crystal-Eve confirmed to the Daily Mail that her son now has his PlayStation and expressed pride in turning a negative situation into a positive one with a bit of fun. The story's conclusion, blending discipline with forgiveness, was widely applauded by viewers who felt the valuable lesson had been learned.
