A single mother of six ignited a heated online debate after sharing a TikTok video of herself taking down her Christmas tree because she couldn’t afford presents for her children. The video, posted by Erica (@electricerica), quickly went viral, garnering over 3 million views and sparking a conversation about the financial struggles faced by single parents during the holiday season.
Erica prefaced her video by stating she wasn’t seeking sympathy but aiming to “normalize what single moms go through.” Working full-time, she explained that her income barely covered necessities, leaving no room for Christmas gifts. This led her to the difficult decision of dismantling the tree, as she felt it served as a constant reminder of her inability to provide presents for her children.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(499×0:501×2)/single-mom-christmas-tree-1-122324-c9d1516536384c87ba103845422d9249.jpg)
Erica’s decision drew both support and criticism. While some praised her honesty and the difficult choices single parents face, others criticized her approach. Many commenters suggested seeking assistance from charitable organizations that provide holiday gifts for children in need. Some also questioned her priorities after she shared another video documenting an 11-hour drive and hotel stay to visit the father of her twins, who is incarcerated. Commenters questioned why those funds weren’t allocated towards Christmas presents. “You had money to drive hours and stay in a hotel to visit a man in jail, why didn’t you use that money for gifts for your kids?” one user pointedly asked.
In response to the backlash, Erica defended her actions in follow-up videos. She emphasized the importance of being a “happy, present mother,” arguing that emotional well-being was a more valuable gift than material possessions. She explained that seeing the tree daily, knowing it would remain empty on Christmas morning, was emotionally draining and impacting her ability to be present for her children. “Every day this week, I woke up looking at the tree, knowing I wasn’t going to be able to put anything underneath it for them,” she shared. “It was stealing the joy from me.”
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749×0:751×2)/single-mom-christmas-tree-2-122324-152d7da23b1343f2a8ee4ec40f9518de.jpg)
Erica clarified that she and her younger children would be spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at her eldest daughter’s home, where they would open gifts purchased by her daughter. She also acknowledged the existence of organizations that could provide gifts but ultimately stood by her decision. While anticipating some disagreement, Erica expressed surprise at the volume of negative comments she received. She concluded the discussion by stating that she was taken aback by the “ugly” nature of some responses.
