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Mom offers tip on how to stop Christmas shopping meltdown

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Parents, you know the drill. "I want this." "I need this."

If only money grew on trees.

One Washington mom authored tips on how to avoid meltdowns by children while shopping. Her Facebook post has been shared by more than 50,000 users.

Kristina Watts said that her "hack" has stopped many meltdowns.

"If you have kids like mine...that want the shiny amazing things that fill Target, the grocery store, Office Depot, the gas station, and pretty much everywhere you go this time of year, this is for you," Watts writes.

"Take a picture. It’s that simple," Watts added. "Pause for a second, comment on the thing they’re pointing out, and say, 'Let’s take a picture with it and send it to Santa so he knows you want it!' Note: you can send it to Santa, grandma, (etc.)."

Watts said that she has a camera roll full of photos of her daughter posing at the store with toys. Watts said that the hack she has used on her daughter Emerson is "magical."

"No tears. No tantrums (by either of us). And she forgets about all of them within minutes," she wrote.

Justin Boggs is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @jjboggs or on Facebook .