Can someone please give me a slap?

[LivingDead]

feeling a bit crap about the presents dc have got. They usually have massive piles but a combination of skintness and expensive main things means they won't this year.

Dd (8)

Wanted an ipod touch so we have got her one(comes with a dock too), she also has a digital pokeball, these alone came to £180, so she won't be getting anything else apart from maybe some pound shop tat, and a couple of books (she wants sea monkeys too).

Ds (5)

Wanted a ds, we managed to get him a second hand ds lite for £65 and we will get him a game for it, he also has a matchbox big rig rocket thingy plus a remote controlled helicopter, will also get pound shop stocking tat.

Ds (2)

Has an elc garage, plus add on and a few cars, a peppa pig aquadoodle and will get him some bricks and maybe a couple of cheapy toys.

It all just feels a bit measly when you read the endless lists on here . I realise they are in no way deprived, so come slap me and remind me that piles and piles of toys are vulgar and pointless and will get wrecked and shoved in a cupboard .

[MudAndGlitter]

That's loads and you got them what they asked for!

[PomBearAtTheGatesOfDoom]

Sea monkeys don't work properly here - they need a 20C water temp to thrive and it just isn't warm enough here most of the time - ours died and I had to comfort DS and then I read the teeniest weensiest small print and discovered this fact :(

[LivingDead]

Thanks Mud, I do fully realise I am being a twat btw, they will get a couple of pairs of pyjamas presents to unwrap from family too.

[ReshapeWhileDamp]

Miserly?!

And your 2 yo probably wouldn't notice if he had half that amount, either.

God, I'm really dreading the days when DS1 (3 at the moment) will wake up and realise about expensive shiny gadgets. Or perhaps they're not compulsory?

Honestly, OP, sounds like a fantastic 'pile' for each of them!

[chrimblycompo]

So you've spent about £350 altogether?
That's loads!

[LivingDead]

We have murdered had sea monkeys before and they did actually hatch, we have also murdered hatched triops too, they are just so bleddy pointless though, enough said about the invisible magic fish.

[chrimblycompo]

And they'll get other presents from relatives\friends no doubt?!

[pinkyp]

Slap!!

Your the perfect mum you got your dc's things they wanted rather than endless lists of things they might like

[PomBearAtTheGatesOfDoom]

ours hatched but then they died :( that was worse than if they never hatched at all my DS lost all faith in me

[MudAndGlitter]

Having just cleared out 5 bags of old toys i have decided that too much at Christmas is a bad thing.


And next year they will get one toy and possibly a satsuma if they're good

[LivingDead]

That's the thing, there is only dp's Mum and Dad, and one of my sisters who buy them pyjamas token things really, although Dp's Dad sends cold hard cash which is useful (£20 each), don't get me wrong we love pyjamas round here.

I consider myself duly slapped, it doesn't blumming matter anyway really does it, I was still playing with dolls when I was 8, but Dd has just never been that kind of girl, the boys do seem to be easier to buy for.

[said]

But they'll all get similar sized piles to each other so won't mind. I always overcompensate due to lack of extended family so know how you feel. What bout stuff they need anyway that you can wrap up- knickers/socks/pyjamas/school uniform ha ha.

[LivingDead]

I know Mud, I still have to do the great pre Christmas sort out. It makes me clench internally to realise how many pointless toys we bought our pfb dd and then either gave or threw away, clench I tell you.

We were adamant we would have no more children cross our threshold each time I gave birth and so gave away all toys and baby crap I could win prizes in the idiocy stakes (probably the only person with 3 children who had to start from scratch each time).

[LivingDead]

They need new school shoes said, wonder how that would go down in the stocking .

[MudAndGlitter]

My problem is DS and his love of charity shops and boot sales. We took him away and even after visiting dinosaur world whenever people asked what he did on holiday he told them about the boot sale
So we end up with piles of crap throughout the year beside it was cheap and more crap at Christmas

[BethanyAndTheCrew]

our DS (4) will be getting Bosch Workbench and a Bosch Tool Case ( he wants to be like daddy :) ) and a Brio rail and road set for Christmas! he wanted a lot more. You should have seen his list, 2 pages ( back and front) long! he usually gets more but this year we are having our daughter for Christmas ( Christmas Day to be precise) so i can't afford to be his favourite Santa this year!

[GeorgeEliot]

I have just removed at least 10 games and toys from the toy cupboard, never played with, to take to the charity shop. I am shocked and appalled at the amount of toys people seem to buy their kids these days. It fuels the consumerist culture which led to the riots this summer, in my view.
I know my views are at odds with most people on here , but we are in the midst of a recession. Loads of families can barely afford to buy anything this year. Ask yourselves will your kids love you less if you buy them less stuff?
Rant over and feel free to call me Scrooge.

[ReshapeWhileDamp]

Nah, I'm with you, GeorgeElliot. Though only individual parents know whether or not they can afford to buy a particular present for their DC. But agree broadly, re rampant consumerism.

[ReshapeWhileDamp]

Hey Bethany! I was expecting DS2 on Boxing Day last year! (he very considerately made an appearance 5 days earlier though, which was more relaxing and my lovely MW was very grateful not to be on call through Christmas.) Do you want her to come on the 25th, or would you be more relieved to have her on a different day?

Congratulations in advance!

[betterwhenthesunshines]

What you have sounds fine to me. We're luckily not that strapped for cash but my son is just getting the iPod touch he really wants, and DD is getting a whole load of stationery stuff to make a 'school' with. One main present is fine - they don't need a pile. Plus their stockings which will include small things, the largest thing that would go in a stocking is a DVD.

[mrsjay]

you dont need slapping your children have lovely presents , theres loads and they have what they have asked for , and poundshop tatt is a godsend to us dont panic you have done well ,

[Chandon]

I bought my DS (9) and DS2 (7) a scalextric track (was 60) for them to share.

And a small radio controlled plane each (15 pounds).

They will get a medium sized box of lego from their grandparents.

I think that`s enough. They are always most excited about the stockings, and I got some fab little things for that (tiny radio that really works (only $5 at TKMAxx), an eco torch, a table top volcano, a slinky and a choco Santa.

I expect them to be quite pleased, TBH . They are also excited to have bought a few pressies for the grandparents (just a candle they chose, but still, I know they have also bought some dubious shower gel for me to ).

Not quite the John Lewis add, but am working on it

I make a conscious decision to reign in my spending, as I don´t like spoilt children, but also love to spoil them

[lljkk]

Some of the lists on here are lots of low value items, OP, yours is mostly higher value. That's why yours may seem inadequate. High value single gift is what I prefer to give for Xmas/birthdays, too.
It's plenty, they won't feel deprived.
I know kids (age 7-14) who only get gifts worth £5 from their parents some years, they don't complain about feeling deprived either.

[Eggrules]

Presents sound fab. They will play with balloons/ Poundstore tat.

My BF buys her two sackloads of really expensive presents. I don't think they have a better Christmas though.

Llibraries, museums and art galleries have loads of free events craft stuff to get you all filled with xmas spirit. Can't wait to bake biscuits and leave them for FC.

[rhondajean]

It sounds absolutely fine. In fact, Im probably one of the ones with the long lists, but up until DD1 was 10 I wouldnt have dreamt of buying any item over £100 for either of them, so I think you have been generous.

Also a lot of the things I give them are things I would have bought them anyway and have been keeping for months just so that at Xmas there is a big pile.

I have gone slightly mad with DD2 this year, but I strongly suspect this might be the last year we have santa coming and next year it just won't be the same if everyone knows where the presents are really coming from. And the things she is looking forward to the most are the Princess Celestia (£20) and making biscuits on Christmas Eve for her dads present