to tell my DC that I have to give Father Christmas the money for their presents?

[SuzysZoo]

I have 4 DC and when they do their Christmas list I tell them that the list will have to be reasonable because I have to pay FC for the presents. I do this because we don't have a great deal of spare money. I don't want my children to feel that they have not been as "good" as one of their friends who gets a DS if they only have festive bubble bath etc. AIBU and spoiling the magic of Christmas for them? I think it shows them that no one gets anything for nothing in life.........

I always told my children how much they had to spend, they also had to save some for surprises.

It worked for me.

My DS knows thats what happens, Mummy and Daddy work to get pennies to buy the presents we think he wants. We then wrap them up and Santa fetches them. If you've been a good biy Santa brings them back for you.

Ds is very logical and pointed out when he was about 4 he could have a,b,c and d for Xmas as it doesn;t cost Santa anything and the elves could make it all. Hence our explantation ....

Does Santa have to supply the big presents?

In our house, Santa does the stocking (new knickers, socks, few small toys) and we take credit for the bigger items.

I've never spoken about Christmas presents in term of being 'good'.

Father Christmas brings stockings only. The children ask him for something small. All other presents are from, whoever they are from.

YANBU ,I have told my DSS that we order his presents from Santa and he sends us the bill, he seems happy with that and the magic isnt lost because he still thinks that Santa delivering the presents.

YABU.
We always sucessfully lied to our kids by telling them that fc brings stocking presents. Mummy, Daddy and relatives buy everything else. This kept them believing for longer and saves the mad situation of killing yourself to find that years obscure present because if you don't they wont believe in father christmas anymore.

seriously op, with 4 give yourself a break and do as we do!

academyblues we have the same Santa! He supplies underwear, small toys and stationery only in a socking. All other presents are from mum/dad/grandma etc. and are wrapped and under the tree.

Oh I just used to tell then Gordon Brown fucked the economy and the elves were working for minimum wages in sweatshops and it would be thoroughly unfair to exploit them (the elves) any further. That worked for a couple of years.

Of course no they know elves dont exist, but they know Gordon Brown did fuck the economy over.

To the OP, YANBU, whatever works for you.

I don't know whether I was a bit dim or just thought I had been badly behaved or something, but I never questioned why Santa gave me knickers and other children Nintendos. It was only really when I started posting on mumsnet that I realised there are people who don't give family presents and everything is from Santa.

My DD asked for a laptop for xmas. I had to tell her we just can't afford it. She does believe in Father Christmas, but I guess she doesn't believe he brings the big, main presents. My mum usually sends lots of little things, many labelled from "Santa" so I guess DD believe that...

Father Christmas only brings the stocking here too.
Everything else is from us!

We always grew up with my mum telling us that she had to pay Santa for the presents, because santa had to pay the elves.
It never spoiled it for us and we believed for many years.
:)

Father Christmas [hateSantaemote] always brought the one gift in the stocking and the children knew the family had all bought the rest.

Lol at trois

Yes - good ideas that Santa can bring the stocking presents only. Then i can take credit for the bigger present(s). I don't link the presents to being "good" but that seems to be the message they have picked up from others/tv etc.