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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To feel bad that ds1 wont get the nintendo he is telling everyone he wants for christmas!

45 replies

springchik · 14/12/2010 21:43

I'm not one of those parents who feels I absolutely have to buy everything my child wants however I do feel bad about this though! We have got him (among many other things)a buzz light year camera - kiddizoom, buzz light year walkie talkies, and moon sand construction crane set, all things he has asked for. However last week my parents babysat and bought their nintendos with them to do once they were in bed. Now he is telling everyone who asks (and many do) what santa is getting him for christmas that he's getting a nintendo ds!! Today I found out from a friend of ds mother that her sons getting a nintendo ds! He is not getting a nintendo ds its not going to happen as we cant afford it but everytime he tells people thats what he wants I feel really bad. He has even told a "father christmas" thats what he want during a visit!! :(

OP posts:

PonceyMcPonce · 14/12/2010 21:44

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Goblinchild · 14/12/2010 21:45

How old is he?
That's the problem with believing in Santa rather than knowing it's your parents, why wouldn't Santa bring him a nintendo?

Original poster

springchik · 14/12/2010 21:46

Hes 5 he is still asking for other things such as the camera

OP posts:

PinkIceQueen · 14/12/2010 21:47

Definately swap something for a DS if you can, as that seems to be his hearts desire. Most Game shops etc do really good deals on pre-owned ones. They keep them amused indefinately, it will be worth every penny.

sims2fan · 14/12/2010 21:48

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the easiest way to get around this problem is to tell kids that the parents have to send Santa the money for the presents. That way they understand why kids get differing amounts of presents from Santa - because families all send different amounts of money.

PonceyMcPonce · 14/12/2010 21:48

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PinkIceQueen · 14/12/2010 21:49

Ahh cross post. If he still wants the other things too, may be time for a heart to heart about Santa having limited resources. DS could always be a birthday present with other people chipping in to help with games etc. Good luck!

A1980 · 14/12/2010 21:49

You've bought him a lot of lovely presents. I know you want to give him the best Christmas possible but children are quite fickle and change their mind about what they like very often. He may open his presents on Christmas and absolutely love them and not be bothered, or he may not.

It's good for the soul. I never got the fisher price doll or the My Little Pony castle I wanted....

When is his birthday? You may want to hint that he might have to wait until then. But you know your child better than anyone so if you think he'll be disappointed if he doens't get it then you might want to prepare him?

piratecatClaus · 14/12/2010 21:49

u can get a ds lite for £60 pre owned, they sometimes have really good ones too, with so many people trading them in for dsi and the new extra large one.

it is a good investment.

Blackletterday · 14/12/2010 21:49

Just tell him that he is too young for a ds and maybe you will get one for his birthday. Ds (4) was asking for one even though his older sister has one that hasn't seen the light of day for weeks.

Disabuse him of this notion pronto, better dissapointed now than on christmas day.

LynetteScavo · 14/12/2010 21:50

Santa cannot bring everything...he has to look in his bag when he gets to your roof and see what's left.

Goblinchild.....that isn't a problem with santa...in our house he brings the small gifts in the stocking, and parents give one big gift.(Yes, only one!)

LadyOfTheFlowers · 14/12/2010 21:50

We tell ours Santa might not be able to afford everything they want, but he will get as much as he can.

At 5, you could easily get away with a used one - we did last year. :)

supersalstrawberry · 14/12/2010 21:50

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Blackletterday · 14/12/2010 21:52

I would not be swapping presents. We have a final santa list (whenever we are about to order shit). This is final and can not be changed, I'm sure he will love the gifts you give him, just prepare him beforehand.

Teela · 14/12/2010 21:53

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SlightlyJaded · 14/12/2010 21:53

PLAN A: Second hand one on ebay?

PLAN B: tell him that Santa can't bring it for Christmas as it's already on his birthday list. It's amazing how they will by into anything if it's delivered as an 'official announcement'.

So:

DS: I want a Nintendo DS for Christmas

You: Don't be silly darling, you can't have it for Christmas because it's on your birthday list! That means, if you are very very good, you will get one for your birthday, plus you still get all your Christmas presents.

Then revert back to Plan A

Good luck!

methsdrinker · 14/12/2010 21:53

Oooh I know this is going to make it a worse guilt trip but a friend of mine had this quandry last year with a 5 year old, didn't get a ds as requested, got something else and xmas day.
There was tears, heartache, wondering what he had done that Father xmas thought he was a bad boy. Horror.
This year they are getting what they asked for.
What ever it is As she never wants to go through that again.
Get on Ebay Around about £65 quid ish. I got one for my 7 year old pink!!!!
If you can't afford it you need to manage expectations now by saying santa will give mummy half the money or a gift card (make one) and then for your birthday and next xmas the Ds will come. Or other made up stuff.
If its vaguely logical he may accept it.

DO not leave till xmas morning or it could be horrible.

LadyGlencoraPalliser · 14/12/2010 21:53

I had this exact scenario when DD3 was five. I was a bit worried on Christmas morning that she would be disappointed, but she was fine and very happy with the toys she had originally wanted and asked for. The DS was never mentioned once. Stick to your guns, maybe mention, as I did, that FC can only bring some of the things that children want, and it will be fine. The presents he is getting sound great and probably a lot more fun to play with than a DS.

Original poster

springchik · 14/12/2010 21:55

His birthday was september so ages til then! He's been asking for a buzz light year camera since my neices birthday in october shes the same age. Have also bought a toy story jigsaw (loves doing them) lots of books, cars, and all sorts of other "stocking fillers". Also have a 3 year old ds so we would be spending so much more on ds1 than ds2 if we bought the nintendo.

OP posts:

thisisyesterday · 14/12/2010 21:57

hmm well i wouldn't buy my 5 yr old a nintendo ds anyway, so even if he wanted it i would say "sorry, you aren't old enough yet"

you could try that? just say no?

i don't mean that to sound flippant. but if he thinks there is a chance he might get it then he'll be upset. if you've already told him that it is NOT coming then he will just be ok with the stuff he gets i'm sure

suzikettles · 14/12/2010 21:58

Just tell him Santa has already got his list and its too late to change.

Original poster

springchik · 14/12/2010 22:01

Good idea suzikettles!

OP posts:

A1980 · 14/12/2010 22:02

You bought him what he said he wanted at the time so perhaps the tough approach is appropraite if it would mean giving less to your other child.

Tell him he asked too late and it's too late for Santa to change.

loflo · 14/12/2010 22:02

We bought one for DS with his 6th birthday money and really wish we hadn't. Its the only thing that turns him into a demon . I used to let him have time at the weekends (never on school days - bad mummy) to play with it but it turned into the same argument all the time when his time was up.

So now its lost (silly Daddy )and he has far more fun with his lego, Ben 10s and star wars stuff.

Avoid it if you can would be my advice - what you have already sounds lovely

alfabetty · 14/12/2010 22:02

My two get to choose two presents in early December then any further suggestions/requests are dealt with - 'but you have asked for a Buzz Lightyear and some walkie talkies'.

I don't agree with endless Christmas lists - my DC are allowed to ask for 2 presents, then FC brings them an extra 'surprise' if they have been extra-specially kind to one another.

And agree with thisisyesterday - say - 'when you are older' so he knows it isn't going to arrive on Christmas Day.

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