Frustrated mum reveals Santa gave her kids COAL this Christmas to teach them a lesson but some parents are outraged

THE fear of getting coal in their stocking instead of presents is one of the few things that keep children in check over the exciting Christmas period.

But while most parents would never dream of actually asking Santa to deliver coal on Christmas morning, one Australian mum has sparked a fierce debate online after she gave her kids a few lumps on the stuff in addition to their presents.

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The mum pretended to be Father Christmas and sent her children a letter and four lumps of coal[/caption]

In her letter pretending to be Father Christmas, the mum wrote: “I must tell you that I was only just able to place you all on the nice list.

“I have given most of what you all asked for but unfortunately I have seen some awful behaviour and been told that you fight too much and have no respect for mummy.

“As a result, I have decided this year that the fort you asked for I could not give. Take this as a lesson… I’m always watching.”

The woman’s Facebook post sparked fierce debate among parents online – with users arguing that it was cruel punishment.

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The mum reassured her kids that they were still included on Santa’s Nice List[/caption]

One replied: “365 says of the year you had a s****y kid? I don’t think so. The lesson here is that even if [they’re] good most of the time, [they’re] still going to get punished.”

Another added: “Your children aren’t with you for long… they grow up too quick and before you know it, they will have their drivers license and what memory did you give them?”

A third added: “If you love your kids, treat them with respect.”

But not everyone was so critical of the approach – with one saying that she’s altered her Christmas plans as her “pre-teen has been an absolute nightmare and I will not stand for her behaviour.

For more parenting stories, this Dad created an amazing interactive stairgate to stop his son from crying – and it only cost £10.

And this mum made incredible Christmas treats by melting chocolate into festive ice cube trays she bought from Poundland.

Plus this mum was in hysterics over her daughter’s Christmas Eve itinerary, which included waking up to check on Santa to “maybe getting dressed”.