Do your kids get a present from both you and Father Christmas?

[skyebluesapphire]

Just wondering what everybody does as all my friends seem to do differently. DD is 4yo and I was going to give her the main present (Innotab) and stocking from FC and a smaller present from me (pyjamas, book, dress)

Some friends only give from FC, others say that their kids want to know why everybody else gives them a present except mummy and daddy, so they have to give one as well....

So what do you do? :-)

[Mama1980]

I do a stocking from Father Christmas (with a orange, pyjamas, a few small bits, a book) and then main presents from me. Ds is 4 dd 14.

[skyebluesapphire]

yes, good point that another friend made, that if FC gives the main present, then the parents look bad for giving a crappy one, lol.

When I was a kid, FC always gave us the stocking and main present and that was it. We didnt get one from parents and didnt really think about it either. I think my mum said that FC got the presents for them as he knew better shops or something

[RightUpMyRue]

FC brings the stocking and the presents under the tree are from whoever has bought them. Although one or two are from the cat sometimes.

[OvOTheZombiesAreComing]

Santa brings one or two special presents - I choose something my DS's have gone on about for aaaaages. Their main present is from me (and my DH of course!) as no way is Santa getting all the glory! Santa also does the stocking here.

[notwoo]

Father Christmas does stocking of small presents.

We do main present.

Friends and relatives give their own presents (none of this 'sending them to Santa' nonsense)

Anything else is wrong

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

FC has always brought a stocking and a few books each, and we get the glory with the big present!

[MeFour]

Same as others
Small stuff in stocking from FC
Main present from us

[notso]

FC bring everything stocking fillers and main present,
Family presents are separate opend after dinner and sometimes on boxing day,
Mums and Dads only give presents to non-believers, this has never been questioned and oldest is 12. Don't really understand the 'glory' thing, to me the magic of FC is the glory.

[itsstillgood]

Santa does one main present here plus stocking.
Present off us comes on christmas eve - pjs, book, something I've made.
I think by the time they are old enough to question they are past Santa anyway.
Sometimes we may get something extra off us (usually between them) if we see something particular (board game, table football...).
The main present coming off Santa allows me to say things like - Santa only does toys (NOT puppies). Or to say I'm not getting that it is a pile of plastic tat possibly Santa might, they are then really excited with their plastic tat and I don't get pestered for plastic tat at other times of the year because they know mum doesn't do it.

[itsstillgood]

Actually the real reason is as notso said, it is about the magic. Much more magical if it is Santa who brings the present.

But practically wise it does mean a lot less pestering and mind changing. Letter goes 1st Dec and that is that.

[skyebluesapphire]

Family presents are always put under the tree to open from them.

Must remember Santa doesn't do puppies

DD has not asked for an Innotab, she just wants everything that she sees advertised on Nick Jr, which would cost Santa thousands of pounds .

So maybe Santa should bring the Innotab, then I cant get shouted at if she doesnt like it... lol

[stealthsquiggle]

FC's responsibility begins and ends at stockings in this house. He generally manages to include some small item which child really really wants and that boring Mummy won't buy.

[insanityscratching]

Dd's stocking is from FC everything else is from whoever bought it. Dd loves the stocking best though because of the surprises and things that she is "not allowed"

[HoldMeCloserTonyDanza]

Santa gets the stocking and main present. All presents under tree are from whoever gave them. Nothing from mum&dad - I just never expected anything from them growing up.

If Santa only does stockings, what happens when the children go to visit him and he asks them what they want? Is he just being polite/nosy? Or do they just say "an orange and some bits and bobs" and don't mention the bike?

[Flojo1979]

FC gets my dc's stocking and main presents but I send him the money.

[insanityscratching]

Dd when she has visited Santa has asked for a whoopee cushion, sparkly nail varnish, fake dog poo etc Generally something that would fit in her stocking that I wouldn't necessarily buy. She asks me for large gifts and writes a list of ideas that is distributed to family and friends.

[pigleychez]

DD's get a stocking and one present from FC.
We umm about this when DD1 was tiny and DH decided that a made up man wasn't going to get all the glory so their main present comes from us.

For example DD2 this year gets a stocking full of little bits like sweets, hairbands, socks etc and an ELC Keyboard. Wrapped in special Santa paper of course!
Her main present of a Mini Micro scooter comes from us as well as a few other small bits.

[JollyJack]

If I had my way:
Relatives would give dc present which go under tree
Santa would bring everything from us (lots of stuff), no stocking.
Presents opened in the morning

DH would like:
A stocking for dc to wake up to
Presents from relatives under the tree
Presents from us under the tree
More presents from Santa in the living room
Presents opened after lunch

We are trying to meet in the middle!

[fuzzpig]

FC brings the stockings (which are pretty big tbh - little things, but decent) and one big present to share - playmobil this year, dressing up box last year.

This year DH and I are getting stockings too :o and possibly a present to share as well like a board game we both want. Because we have been good too!

Everything else we buy for them is given from mummy and daddy. One medium present and lots of crafty bits this year.

[stealthsquiggle]

I think that when FC asks what they would like, it's with a view to dealing with small requests himself and passing larger ones on to other interested parties (parents, GPs, etc) who might ask his advice.

[ThalianotFailure]

when we were little FC did stockings hung by the fire and then delivered the sack of presents in the afternoon. He carried on delivering the sack for an embarrassingly long time, and no, we never noticed that my mum was never in the room when the doorbell rang, or recognised her duvet cover (or her handwriting on the letter from FC - we were dreadfully gullible and naive). Doing this with DD and DN now. I think perhaps DH and BIL think this is a bit odd, but as Christmas has been at our mum's so far, that's how it's happening and I love it

[NeverKnowinglyUnderstood]

FC does stockings we do gifts but he brings them???

[Goldpippin]

FC brings the stockings and one large present for under the tree, the rest are from us. Family presents are done in the evening with all the family here to watch.

[HoldMeCloserTonyDanza]

I always do a stocking for myself and DH!

[fuzzpig]

We used to Holdme (love the name btw! That was the first friends episode I ever saw) - DH and I spoiled each other rotten when we first got together. Got out of the habit since having DCs but this year we agreed to start it up again. Very excited!