Stocking dilemma

[musicposy]

My girls are 14 and 11 and in the last couple of years stockings have got way out of control, both in price and in quantity.

This year I think both girls would like a bigger present and less tat. In particular, my 11 year old has been after an ipod all year, and my 14 year old would like a skate bag (the type she wants is around £130, so not a cheap present). The price of these items would pretty much rule out stockings.

I could talk to my 14 year old and ask would she prefer a big present or stocking tat, and I am fairly sure she will go for the big present. If she prefers stocking, well, her decision.

So far, so good.

BUT...DD2, at least last year, was still pretending to believe in Father Christmas . I say pretending because I absolutely know a)she isn't stupid, b)friends have told her it's your parents and c)she has told me she would be very disappointed to find it was me! I wonder if it's a convenience thing because when I told her we were short of money last year she said "well, never mind, because Father Christmas will bring me stuff".

So, if she is still stubbornly holding this view this year, any suggestions on how to proceed?

[addictedisgettingexcited]

could yo utry the 'father christmas rang me and would like to know...' line, my parents used it on us all the time (and still do even tho were mostly all adults!)

[tootiredtothink]

I think at 11 she's now old enough to know the truth - from you.

I was told constantly by my friends that there was no such thing as father Christmas but wouldn't believe them. It was only when my mom sat me down for the 'talk' before I started senior school that I found out. So no more at your poor dd please .

And then you can proceed to give her the choice.

I would also do a little stocking for them, say with a £10 limit and put lots of little bits and bobs for them to open.

[girlywhirly]

I like tootired's idea of a small stocking, if you look around at sales you can pick up a few bits cheaply. At 11, you could include tights, lipgloss, a few chocs and possibly an item of costume jewellery.

They have to accept the truth about Father Christmas eventually. If the girls opt for no stockings, you could have a 'Christmas Tree' present each instead, up to a certain value, in addition to their main present.

[musicposy]

Ok, thanks, this is good advice. I will sit down with DD2 and tell her, firstly. I just didn't want her to be really upset or have memories of me ruining Christmas for her, but I do honestly think she knows, deep down.

Then, I think I will do a small stocking for them both, and get a decent present (so much of the stocking stuff is just fillers really) - but I'll get their input on it first. I asked DD1 today about it and she would still like to open a stocking of some sort, I think.

Sorry, I wasn't meaning to over at DD2 - just it all seemed a bit improbable when I know friends have told her. But tootiredtothink, I never thought that she might refuse to believe it unless she heard it from me. Now I think about it, I think that is a very likely explanation.

Thanks!

[cherrymonster]

stockings can be done cheaply- mine normally get new toothbrush, pants, slipper socks, pencils, rubbers and general bits of tat from hawkins bazaar. for older girls, body spray, small makeup items, along with the pants, slipper socks, toothbrush and pencils and rubbers would be much appreciated. of course, handful of nuts in the bottom and an apple and satsuma and a net of chocolate coins. doesnt have to cost loads.

[Doodleydoo]

yup, my dh does me a stocking with toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo etc, all the things you might buy anyway but maybe some that are a bit "nicer" so to speak and you can stock up now on 3 for 2's etc - at mo boots has shampoo and conditioner for £3 (pantene) so i don't know if that would work for them, but yes body sprays and glosses, that way you can do some fun things but practical stuff too, if all wrapped in paper would be fun to open.