Littlewoods taking away the magic of Christmas for our children

[1belfastmum]

On 1st of November I watched in disbelief at the new ad for Littlewoods.com this Christmas. If you havent seen it have a look at it and imagine your 7 year old standing beside you!
The advertisement is communicating that the children have now discovered that mum has bought all the gifts!!
They are making an announcement as they appear out from behind the curtains!
Beginning the song with " who bought the XBox" "mother did" quite clearly is stating that the toys under the tree are not from Santa.

I have been in contact with my local television and radio stations. They have indicated that the ad is scheduled to be broadcast at non specific times over the next few weeks. This even includes Sat morning at 10am!

I am seeking to have this advertisement withdrawn, significantly edited or at the very least broadcast on both radio and TV after the watershed times.

Am I being unreasonable? Life is hard enough without taking away every morsel of magic, mystery and fun for our children also.

YABU and ridiculous. Also a 7 year old is a bit old for genuinely believing in Santa anyway! Most kids just "go along with it" at that age surely?

YABU

at "the magic of Christmas"

I have always been stunned by the fact that so much importance is placed on who brings the presents, which seems very materialistic imo.

Magic of Xmas? Believing some bearded guy comes down your chimney at night? Er no thanks.

Our Chritmasses are plenty magic enough, we concentrate on seeing family, spending time with them - obviously presents but FC barely gets a look in apart from in a historic way, we always tell ds about the tradition etc.

I didn't think of the Santa aspect but the add did annoy me somewhat in that "dad" didn't seem to have been involved at all and "mum" even bought herself some jewels, to wear while she gets stuck in peeling the potatoes I suppose!

advert, not add, oops!

Did we not have this thread last year but with John Lewis?

When my DC3 was at nursery (aged 3), we set up a photo to advertise the nursery's Christmas Fayre - Santa arriving at the nursery with a sack of presents. We walked over to the nursery with DC3 and two of his friends, and then another dad took photos of my DH talking to the children.

Despite the fact that they'd seen my DH put on the costume and beard, they were totally captivated and it was as if they thought santa has just arrived.

I think you'd be surprised by how much children believe because they want to believe and if they eventually realise that all the expenditure comes through mum, dad, family and friends, that's not really a problem. The magic will still be there if you want it to be.

The ad is kind of mean.

Having said that, I am hugely surprised that children ever believe with all the advertising and shop displays now.

But father Christmas doesn't bring the presents under the tree, just the stocking ones.. I thought everyone knew that..

I've just seen it online and oh, I think it's sweet. I've never shopped at Littlewoods in my life, mind you, and an advert is not going to change that unless the prices are less than elsewhere . But surely nobody says that Father Christmas buys all the adults presents to each other as well?? That's just daft.

Save your disgust for something more worthy of complaining about.

YANBU

It's madness to claim that FC brings all the presents. He might deliver them but he doesn't actually buy them (other than stocking ones maybe).

How do you explain why some children clearly get tons more crap at Christmas than others? Is it because Father Christmas doesn't like them more?

YABU and a bit nuts and horribly mean to children who get bugger all.

Actually OP, I would sign your petition. Life is too cynical enough without some b*stard company ruining what little magic we have left in our eyes.

My kids love Christmas and I am not about to ruin it for them or let crappy Littlewoods do it either.

In fact, I think I 'll boycott Littlewoods.

Let's try that again:

It's madness to claim that FC brings all the presents. He might deliver them but he doesn't actually buy them (other than stocking ones maybe).

How do you explain why some children clearly get tons more crap at Christmas than others? Is it because Father Christmas likes some children more than others? Are kids who don't get many presents less deserving than the ones who get shedloads? Or is Father Christmas actually a cruel old fucker who gives preference to the children of wealthy/indulgent parents?

YABU and a bit nuts and horribly mean to children who get bugger all.

Of all the things in the world to get your knickers in a knot about you choose this?!! FFS.

And talking of smart-arse kids and needing to be one step ahead. One of my wonderful wonderful Y3s I had at one point turned around and asked the brave dad who'd volunteered to be Santa for the school party, "Why does Mrs Claus never get to come out and have fun like you do?"

Trainee feminist in the making?!

Get a life!! Seriously people worry about this stuff

"YABU and ridiculous. Also a 7 year old is a bit old for genuinely believing in Santa anyway! Most kids just "go along with it" at that age surely?"

No I disagree with you, my son is 9 and genuinely believes - probably for the last year but I will make the most of it. Why is 7 too old - why do children have to grow up too quickly anyway?

No-one is saying Christmas isnt "special" or "magical" when you dont believe in Santa but it definately changed for me when I stopped believeing as a child, of course it was till magical but ther is something just that wee bit special about believing in the magic of Santa.

Trills Im not sure why "the magic of Christmas" makes you "boak" - but as an adult its all still magical to me, based on my experiences as a child and what Ive did for all my children since from presents, lights, time together, food, decorations, visiting Santa, Christmas music, films, I could go on......if I could still beleive in Santa I would love to, whats wrong with believing in magic just for a little while.

lisa "Get a life!! Seriously people worry about this stuff"

I find that expression "get a life" rude to be honest, regardless of what subject people are talking about. Fair enough it is not something that you obviously care about but yes others do as evidenced by OP starting thread - it does not mean they dont have "a life".

How could this possibly "ruin" Christmas for anyone?

It's bizarre.

Ok how about "get out more"

1 - I think you're over-reacting a tad.
2 - Mummy & Daddy buy everyone gift.
3 - They all choose a small gift for everyone else (in my house this means the tree is already groaning.)
4 - FC brings them one or two gifts. (The cheaper 'accessory' stuff 'cos Mum & Dad want the brownie points.)
5 - FC sends fairies to check they've been good or not. They can only be seen by adults.
6 - All these other Santa's are helpers because he is so busy at the North Pole.
7 - All these adverts are irrelevant as my children don't watch commercial telly (get me) & IF we do, it's recorded and the ads are zapped. Simples!