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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Present question

45 replies

knittedbreast · 13/06/2011 13:50

I know its too early to discuss the c word (not the famale body part either).

I have two young children who are reaching an age where they are just starting to know christmas.

when you buy pressies for your children do you have a total amount for each (same amount) or do you do it by numbers of pressies for each child?

do you explain to your children that x might only have got 3 gifts but thats cos shes 14 and those 3 cost a fortune.

do you ever feel like spending more on one paricular child? there is alot more choice for my eldest than there is for my youngest. i know the litle one wont mind cos she wont really understand but as they get older might the eldest get dissapointed if he dousnt get as much cos him cost more etc..

dont know if im making sense, just wondered how you get around these things or make hem fair

OP posts:

EvenLessNarkyPuffin · 13/06/2011 16:04

Does this picture help?

pumpernickel10 · 13/06/2011 16:06

puffin is that a bat?

Original poster

knittedbreast · 13/06/2011 16:07

wtf?

that is a very scary image.

hmm...

OP posts:

notso · 13/06/2011 16:08

My DC have never counted or noticed how many presents the other one has got compared to them, they just seem happy with their own thing or excited the other one has got something they really wanted.
We do try and make it evenish, but it depends what's on their lists, for example when DS was 4 DD asked for a bike, the one we got her cost over £150, DS asked for a garage which cost £50, we didn't then buy him loads of other things to make up the value just a few other toys we knew he would like, and they both had the usual suspects PJ's, a book, new outfit etc.

We tend to put the focus on what they really will love and appreciate rather than how much or how many.

EvenLessNarkyPuffin · 13/06/2011 16:08

It's Soupy. Because it's JUNE. JUNE.

JUNE.

EvenLessNarkyPuffin · 13/06/2011 16:09

Did I mention it's June?

Pandemoniaa · 13/06/2011 16:11

And early June at that.

Original poster

knittedbreast · 13/06/2011 16:11

i know its june! not long now and lots of time to prepare! what wrapping paper, start knitting things, organise menus...shopping lists. planning days etc

OP posts:

Pandemoniaa · 13/06/2011 16:15

Bless! You must know that in reality there's half a year left to get prepared in! I can understand buying things bit by bit of cost is an issue but how can you get your head around the menus and stuff so many months in advance? Does Christmas not feel a bit like an anti-climax if you have spent most of the year actively working on it?

Original poster

knittedbreast · 13/06/2011 16:17

sometimes yes, but i just cant stop myself. you have no idea how much i love christmas, i can barely sleep, i just cant seem to shake that childish excitement

OP posts:

LaWeasel · 13/06/2011 16:17

I have been thinking a bit too.

Long term I have realised that with birthdays it is never going to be realistic to spend the same every year on each child because as they get older there will start being big things they need to help become indpendent (like driving lessons) which I don't want to be paying for seperately to their present.

Christmas is probably always going to be a fairly token thing in our house with a set same budget for everyone, because it's just too expensive and too difficult to plan for otherwise.

EvenLessNarkyPuffin · 13/06/2011 16:22

Assuming therapy isn't an option, why not start a thread in chat, then you could find fellow odd people enthusiasts to discuss tree decoration and what to shove up a turkey.

Original poster

knittedbreast · 13/06/2011 16:25

its not my fault! maybe i shall then....

OP posts:

pumpernickel10 · 13/06/2011 16:29

come off it puffin I am not odd and yes I do like to discuss crimbo,we have a new theme each year,yes it 6 months away and its the last thing on anyones mine right now but some like to be prepared,so if that makes me sad then so be it :)

EvenLessNarkyPuffin · 13/06/2011 16:29

Knock yourself out. Quietly.

EvenLessNarkyPuffin · 13/06/2011 16:33

Isn't the theme Christmas

EvenLessNarkyPuffin · 13/06/2011 16:35

Etsy

iwanttoseethezoo · 13/06/2011 16:36

If they are under 3 then I just get them a few little bits to open, as they don't know any different and get overwhelmed with too much. Plus they like the wrapping paper and boxes more than the presents anyway. Once they're a bit older I try to do a stocking for them with lots of little bits (don't count these, but they get almost the same), and one or two bigger things. My oldest is 6 and so far hasn't counted his presents!

I'm trying to get away with as little as possible now they're young and have no idea of value, as once the oldest hits a certain age that will be the end of it!

pumpernickel10 · 13/06/2011 16:36

puffin John Lewis is way too pricey for me, £10 on one ornament thats bonkers

Original poster

knittedbreast · 13/06/2011 16:37

:D :D!

Thanks!

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