To think this is a really weird thing to do with presents?

I imagine some of these people commenting don't actually have their own children...

What miserable people some of you are to not want the magic.

If you want to give all gifts from 'santa' (which is weird AF in my opinion) then buy them all yourselves. I'd just stop gift giving until kid is old enough to receive gifts properly.
But putting this much effort into the illusion seems doomed to upset later.
We had stockings which were nominally from father Christmas and appeared mysteriously in the night. That was the only nod to pretending there was a father Christmas, no messing about with fake soot and carrots. And I don't recall any particular discussion trying to hype it up, or a big reveal when we were older. My parents asked my sister just to check I didn't still believe when I was about 8 as was too old for it. At which point I was like 'oh,ok' and didn't think about it any more.

Re the presents- how long is thet going to last before a relative let's slip by asking the child, did you like the present u got you' or child notices other children get presents from their relatives and starts to ask why their grandma doesn't buy them presents?
And how will they learn to reciprocate? We were sending gifts back to relatives from around 6/7. Mostly homemade or small random things like tea towels but it wasn't a 1 way street.

Then we would send a photo or a video of the same to the giver.

I think it is decent to respect people's views when it comes to their own children.

I have friends who have those their children from the beginning that FC isn't real - that is their choice. But those parents didn't experience the magic themselves growing up. I did, and desperately want my children to enjoy that same magic.

That’s interesting. I’d assumed it was another unwelcome American import.

Gifts from friends and family are from friends and family - it lets them know they are loved and helps them feel excited about giving to other people - otherwise how do you explain choosing gifts for uncle this and grandma and grandad that if they never buy you anything?

I used to do Santa bringing the big gift but then read someone say how does that make children who don't have as much feel, that santa doesn't bring them as much. So now Santa brings the stocking and some special but small bits they'll love (cute plushies, cosy socks, a small toy from their list) and we get the rest. They know we liaise with Santa so we don't get the same bits

And if you’re not there when the present is opened?
no wonder people are so entitled these days.

A question to those parents that insist everything comes from Father Christmas - do your children not question why all the older children and adults seem to get presents from each other? Do your children not attend clubs or come home from nursery or school with gifts they've made for their parents? How does this all fit into your narrative?

OP, I very frequently do not have labels and therefore write directly onto the wrapping, or have labels that stick directly to the wrapping. Surely this isn't unusual?

You dont need it to be all magical. It’s some people’s traditions. Why should it be worse than any others

There’s no “one size fits all” story about Santa that people tell their kids.

Because of the simple fact that you appear to give in order to get recognition for the gift-AND you’re trying to interfere with your friends Santa traditions, I’m saying YABU.

It’s none of your business what she tells her kids, and gifts should be given simply because you want the recipient to enjoy it-not for the gratitude to yourself

Whether it’s a text or a card it’s really important to thank the giver if you haven’t seen them in person.
But a kid who still believes in ‘Santa’ probably doesn’t have a Smartphone.

If you need to pretend that all gifts are from Santa in order to make your Christmas magical then that’s a bit sad!! …..I’d be miffed too, I’d probably change to buying a smaller/cheaper gift and revert to the original budget when they’re old enough to know who they’re from.

Christmas is about children, and we will keep the magic alive as long as we can.

I am not going to spend these precious years worrying that other children might have more, or might not have exactly what my children have. It's not about anybody else, it's about them.

I'm not going to spend their entire childhood thinking they can't have something because other children might not have it. My DH and I both work hard, and have stressful jobs and it's the highlight of the year to see their little faces!

I know plenty of people who can afford more than us, who simply don't buy for their children like we do. That's their choice.

If people don't like that, or begrudge buying my children a gift because they won't get credit then I'd rather they didn't bother. Nobody has even suggested anything different than our approach.

Father Christmas leaves some presents at other people's houses for the children, and under our tree for other people - it's all part of the magic for us. Those people still get to give the children the presents and see their faces, and they get thanked of course. Once they no longer believe, of course those people will be thanked differently.

I don't give a gift to a small child for Christmas and expect a thank you letter. I love the magic, and the wonder in their eyes as they open it

In Scotland? Always. He's never been FC here.

When did Father Christmas become Santa FFS!

But then again I have a 5yo non-believer as she's a very logical kid and had the whole thing sussed pretty much last year at only 4. This year she was absolutely relentless until she found out. And my 2yo told me yesterday that she hates Santa, so we will just have our miserable non-Santa Christmas

Christmas 'magic' is 90% about the parents, not the kids anyway. You see it with the ridiculous lengths some go on here to explain away the very obvious plot holes about Santa, and the despair that their child might not believe (when it makes pretty much zero difference anyway. Children who never believe in Santa don't have worse Christmases or 'less magical' ones than those who do).

So when the kid goes back to school he can tell the other kids he got 50 presents from Santa. Not fair on the other kids really.

I only ever did one gift from Santa and the rest from us or family.

If Father Christmas brings all the gifts how do you explain when your best friend gets the toy everyone wants and you didn’t. Or she gets twenty gifts and you get five. Ah, you must have been a bad child in some way.

I think this is bonkers. If you want all your gifts to be 'from Santa' then fine, but ripping labels off what other people have given is very weird behaviour. I want my kids to know that they have thoughtful family members who have taken the time to choose gifts they will like, and to be able to thank them.

Op is not being childish to want the present that she lovingly purchased, wrapped and gave with love should have the labels removed and repurposed as part of the policy of all gifts come from Santa. I can very well imagine only one set of people felt they could stand up to the “is it ok if” request. This is incredibly rude. And quite childish of parents to expect people to part with their hard earned money for no thanks or recognition. Dd and I used to spend hours writing thank you cards.

Agreed. It's ridiculous. It's only from mumsnet that I've seen people do this. Also with you on Father Christmas!

No but a “Birthday fairy” isn’t a well known tradition, Santa is!

If you get your kid an X box and Sam's parents get him a book and a chocolate orange, it's still a big difference, regardless of whether parents or Santa brings things.

But surely you can see the difference for Sam between 'my parents don't have the money for an xbox' and 'Santa, who has infinite resource, brought my friend an xbox but not me'?

Miserable how? Kids get the magic of seeing that he's been and filled their stockings and also have a big pile of gifts under the tree. Not so much now as both are late teens but interestingly both have told me separately this year that stockings are their favourite bit. (Think 19 year old DS was concerned they might stop)! When I was a child my dad would leave footprints in ash on the hearth which made it even more magical and let's face it, big presents like bikes etc are not fitting down the chimney!!

It's different though. You can explain to kids that some families have more money than others and that not everyone can afford a new X box. It's harder to explain why Santa would favour one kid over another, especially with the whole narrative around the good and naughty lists. It's not actually something I've come across personally tbh but still worth considering I think.