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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think kids don't have to have what they ask for for Christmas?!

38 replies

MrsGravy · 25/11/2010 21:37

Just read this on someone's status on the evil Facebook. She's buying something very expensive for her kids because 'they have to have what they ask for'.

I must confess I tend to veto most of what my nearly 4 and 6 year old want as it's often age inappropriate/cheap crap/too expensive/something they won't play with etc etc. Am I mean and awful? I'm confident that they will love what I get them even if they didn't think to ask for it themselves!!

OP posts:
BelligerentGhoul · 25/11/2010 21:38

YANBU

Trebuchet · 25/11/2010 21:39

yanbu i do this I am sahm so it inevitably means I play lots with it too so I get stuff we'll all enjoy Grin

springchik · 25/11/2010 21:41

my ds1 says can I have that about EVERY toy advert he sees on tv so I would bankrupt myself if I got him everything he asked for!

Ilythia · 25/11/2010 21:42

Well DD1 wants to go to meet the real tinkerbell, and DD2 wants a real fire engine. So YANBU.

MaDuggar · 25/11/2010 21:43

YANBU. Ive said no to a lot of things over the years! It was Dareways last year, unsuitable perfume this year!

Meglet · 25/11/2010 21:43

YANBU.

zisforzebra · 25/11/2010 21:48

YANBU. Mine have had the usual christmas warning that Father Christmas does not guarantee delivery of anything on the list although he will try his best. Lucky really since DS1 has a REAL (yep, he wrote it in uppercase incase of confusionGrin) golden retriever on his list.

lazylula · 25/11/2010 21:50

YANBU! Ds1 says 'Christmas List' to every advert and this morning started adding to Ds2's list in the same way! In fairness, when I actually sit down and ask him what he would like to put on his list it is very few things and most I have got as they are not that expensive. He is 5 tomorrow and did ask Father Christmas for an Iphone, which I as well as Father Christmas assured him he would not be getting.

Fernie3 · 25/11/2010 21:51

Yanbu although this year my daughter has asked for " a princess oven that you cook cakes in a kids can use". Huh? If i knew what she was talking about i would get it. My so jas asked for " a real robot" probably won't get that.

sims2fan · 25/11/2010 21:51

My mum always said that Santa brought the presents, but mummy and daddy had to send the money for them to him. So if we asked for anything too expensive we were told they didn't have that much money to send to Santa. Also, I think we were just so excited to see presents that as long as they were things we liked, it didn't matter if some things we had asked for were missing because we were too busy playing with the things we did get to really care. There's no way I would bankrupt myself to give a child an expensive present just because s/he asked for it.

Joolyjoolyjoo · 25/11/2010 21:52

YANBU- I've started telling my kids "Oh- I know someone who bought that (ie I have read the reviews online!) and it was actually rubbish! Why don't you ask for something like this..?"

I have in the past caved into things they asked for (they are only allowed to ask for 3 things, so did feel if they weren't TOO expensive then I would get them) and they have been crap and either broken within the day or not played with, so now I am harder

I mean, dd1 wants a goat this year! I have told her I will be sending it back with Santa if he deigns to bring a live goat down my chimney. AND I'll take away his glass of port. So she knows it won't be happening (I hope!)

sims2fan · 25/11/2010 21:53

Google it Fernie, there is such a thing! It's Disney Princesses and makes little cakes

Fernie3 · 25/11/2010 22:14

Oh my goodness! I've found it on amazon!. It looks.....
Um....well at least it's not too expensive. Thanks!

Rockmaiden · 26/11/2010 00:54

Well my 8 year old has asked for a real horse, a puppy that can live in a cage in her bedroom, a mobile phone, her own computer complete with internet access and an Ipod, is she getting any of them ....

HELL NO!

She is 8 and that means she dosn't know what is good for her and will be getting nice crafty, educational little girls things not presents that are horrifically expensive and designed for teeenagers.

If her child asked for a speed boat would she buy it? Children need to learn they don't always get what they want / ask for in my opinion.

SoMuchToBits · 26/11/2010 00:56

YANBU - my ds always gets some of the things he has asked for - but never all of them.

DuelingFanio · 26/11/2010 00:57

I wouldn't even be giving them e choice. As a kid we got what we were given and it never cost very nuch. Some people get their kids to go through toy catalogues don't they? I find that really bizzare.

AllShaggedOut · 26/11/2010 01:00

I used to think they DID have to have it. DD1 is now 6 and has asked for a few things which I KNOW are crap and will be forgotten wthin hours.

So I have opted for similar things...she has some of what she has asked for though...but not all!

Tortington · 26/11/2010 01:03

my kids got a budget and an argos catalogue

mummytoatribe · 26/11/2010 01:10

I remember someone last year in a total panic on another forum because her dd had asked for an extra item that hadnt been on her original Xmas list (which I HATE, dont get me started on Xmas list Angry). It was about 3 days to Xmas and she was in a right state about if it would be sold out, did she had time to go and buy it etc.

When it was pointed out that perhaps, just perhaps, she could say "No, its too late, Santa has your list now" she was horrified at the thought that her little darling might not be getting this item.

Triggles · 26/11/2010 04:54

We don't do Christmas lists, never have. Not even in letters to Father Christmas. We've always told the children that it's not polite to ask for something specific - that a gift is a lovely surprise and that you should be grateful for whatever you get. Saves hassle all the way around. Grin And besides, you can usually tell what they'd really like anyway without a list.

I do not understand why some parents knock themselves out trying to follow a wish list drawn up by a child, especially one who is young enough to have no concept of money or age-appropriate toys.

Litchick · 26/11/2010 10:01

I know someone who spent over a thousand pounds on something so huge they couldn't house it because...he's asked Santa for it and won't understand why Santa wouldn't give it to him.

Onetoomanycornettos · 26/11/2010 10:03

Unbelievably, my children don't know you are supposed to ask for specific things. I sometimes probe a bit before a birthday, but they think presents are a surprise and have no idea an 'order' could be placed. I'm not telling them.

Firawla · 26/11/2010 10:06

yanbu! it sounds quite spoilt to allow them to make a list and then just buy up the lot, thats crazy..

mummytoatribe · 26/11/2010 10:07

My lot know better than to ask for things too. I have never done the letter to Santa thing, apart from our Xmas Eve letter thanking him for coming and hoping he has a nice trip!

You'd have to be blind and deaf in this house to not know what they want anyway!

belgo · 26/11/2010 10:09

YANBU. My five year old made a collage of all the things she wants, using pictures from catalogues, mostly plastic pink rubbish. I looked for one of the toys, couldn't find it, so she is getting different toys which I know she will love.