Keeping a secret from dd (a nice one!)

[Peteryourhorseisheree]

Dd is 12 and absolutely loves a particular band. Dh is a huge fan too, so she’s loved them since she was tiny. Like properly loves them. They were the sole reason she wanted to learn guitar and piano since she was little, so she could play their songs, which she does, constantly.

They are doing a gig in our closest city next March and since she heard, she has had a countdown for tickets being on sale today.

Now, as dh is a huge fan of them too and he managed to get pre sale tickets two days ago for them both to go.

We are going to give them to dd as a Christmas present. The presale ones come with a limited edition vinyl and art work which the will love, and the tickets really weren’t cheap. It is her main Christmas present (and my husbands!)

Come Christmas morning, she will be thrilled. A double bonus is that the gig is on her birthday.

Dh is going to tell her tonight that he couldn’t get them, but that we will try and get them closer to the time when people are selling them on - by that time, Christmas will have been and gone anyway and she will have them.

I just feel so shit as she loves them, seeing them live is her little dream! She’ll be gutted tonight thinking we couldn’t get tickets.

Excellent idea. She will still have a surprise at Christmas but also a happy glow for a few extra months knowing she is going to see the band.

I’d tell her so she gets to enjoy all the months of anticipation. My teenagers hate surprises though. I’ve often paid for experiences with them months away from birthday/Christmas and they know they will only get something small on the day. I hope you DH and DD have a brilliant time at the gig.

She screamed. And then cried.

She’s so happy.

How lovely! Well played @Peteryourhorseisheree and DH.
Happy days.

I’d say that moment was way better than any Christmas surprise! Best day ever for her.

It really was.

My five year old isn’t happy with her though. Dd said, “this is the best day of my life, until the gig, then that will be the best day of my life”.

5 year old dd said, “thanks a lot, you said me being born was the best day of you life!” and didn’t speak to her all evening after. She still hasn’t forgotten this morning and is making sarcastic comments to her sister, “oh, I would ask you to play with me, but you love Gorillaz the best, don’t you?” “Do you want to come to the park later, or do you want to hug your Gorillaz poster instead?”

The child holds a grudge well 🤣

I absolutely LOVE this update and I'm so glad you told her.

Your 5 year old has started the narcissistic phase early I see!? Maybe that means she'll also get over it earlier and you won't have to start the teen years with one! side eyes DS who is out of it now but 10-13 were hell

So pleased she is pleased.

I would have probably wound her up for a few moments - when she asked if I got tickets today I would have No, pause, I got them the other day lol

Nice having extra few months to be excited.

Obviously you've told her and I'm glad she's pleased, but I do it (get tickets, say I couldn't get tickets) all the time for DD. Just yesterday she was disappointed I couldn't get the Lewis Capaldi tickets which she will be receiving for her birthday next month.

Really glad you told her and she was so excited!

FWIW (clearly I'm in the minority as LOADS of people suggesting this...) but saying "we'll have to see what Santa brings" feels like the worst of all options!! She can't get properly excited now, and she won't have a proper surprise on Christmas morning?!

Awwww bless her! I think you did the right thing.

Your 5 yr old is hilarious!

Father Christmas my God.

Your five year old is hilarious!

I thought it must be Gorillaz!! My 13yo DS loves them too and we have done exactly the same thing! But I didn’t buy the art tickets so I am going to try to keep them secret, I thought I’d tell him we were on a wait list as we did that for the august London dates and didn’t manage to get any. The tour is a week after his birthday next year. We got Nottingham tickets, can’t wait!

I also have a 12 year old Gorillaz fan. We've already told her she cant do Leeds as its a school night. However, we're having a couple of days in Liverpool the next weekend.... DH got tickets and I can't wait for her face on Christmas day.

It’s a school night for dd too, but it’s only one night, she’ll be fine.