to think the geriatrics employed as store-Santas shouldn't be child haters?

[BlackSwan]

So I took 22mo DS to a major department store in London today and happened to come across their magical Christmas world... hey, I thought, why don't we see Santa for the first time? That's a milestone for any child.

Mistake.

The experience was costly (7 quid for me, free for him) and long and drawn out... I expected a 10 minute queue and a photo on Santa's lap: we were there for over half an hour while fairy princesses 'entertained' us and then as a group were taken into Santas lair.

The rest of the visit was fairly predictable - questions about what each child wanted from Santa and then photos.

Punchline: when Santa gave my DS a 'gift' (store sponsored book) he asked him to say thankyou... I asked DS, who is learning to say 'thanks' to thank Santa. He just stood there, as most 22 month olds would. Santa's response: 'He's a spoiled little boy'.

Yeah... well I didn't buy a photo. We just left.

Santa won't bring you anything if you talk about him like that

"Santa's lair" rofl. And YANBU.

Having santas in lairs grottoes in shops/shopping centres always strikes me as being deeply peculiar and disturbing. I am not slagging off old men in general at all but surely there aren't that many who really make a brilliant Santa that kids really warm to. And without wanting to sound like a baying paedophile-baiting mob member, surely it's the kind of thing that attracts certain unsavoury blokes for all the wrong reasons? (Not saying that about this one of course, he just sounds like an old-school grumpy git.)

I never wanted to visit them as a child and I wouldn't take my DC now, unless they begged. Luckily DS has seen the light this year and DD is too little. Phew Santa dodged again!

Dh still teases dss about sitting on santana knee age 12- it's quite effective when he is at his most know it all grown up lad cheekiest

I meant Santa not some aging rocker

This happened too early.

What I mean is that a "professional Santa" might not start as a child-hater but by December 24 I can understand him taking a very dim view of the little darlings . . .

Vent away all you like but you do come across as derranged. You're dismissive of the fairy 'entertaining' you for half an hour whilst you queued. I think your perception of the event has been marred by the wait and the fact that Santa wasn't enthralled with your precious child - or you.

The half an hour queue is better testament to his Santa-abilities than your negative views of him.

As for the poster who says write a letter to get gift vouchers.... Really? Are you that in need of them that you'd get somebody reprimanded for.... essentially nothing? That says MUCH.

Sounds like Santa was quite rude; no need to call the child "spoilt". And the Op wasn't rude to Santa, just venting on here - isn't that what most people do in AIBU? I don't really get the sniffy responses.

My ex-husband is Santa every year at Leeds Castle in Kent and loves it . He amazes the kids by knowing all about CBeebies characters, Dora, Ben 10 etc etc, they look at him in wonder without knowing he has been badgered senseless by DS for weeks on end about Xmas pressies lol.

Was it Selfridges BlackSwan?

Sounds like Self-dirges to me. £19.50 for 3 of us! Santa was ok though. Cost was a bit steep, consideting at Horrids you get the fee back on your store card.

Sitting on Santana's knee

Hahahahahahhaha

Harrod's store card?

Oooooooo theres posh innit

OP I suspect you are a Santa hater.

Is this you?

MrsDrVere and Maryz

Gosh didn't realise this was still going.

Well I did say Santa's sack was yellow didn't I?

All store santas should be given a sack of coal so he can hand over the traditional response to a child he thinks doesn't deserve a gift.

Santa only likes good children, or was my mummy lying?

And without wanting to sound like a baying paedophile-baiting mob member, surely it's the kind of thing that attracts certain unsavoury blokes for all the wrong reasons?

Right there's another pleasure in life denied to the kids now - just in case Santa is a paedophile. Dont be so ridiculous.

Using the word 'geriatric' like this, is just as offensive as using racist or sexist swear words.

The man may have been rude, but you are just as bad.

yes, the term is offensive - but you're overreacting.

Really? Why?

Objecting to rudeness is perfectly reasonable. Using insults based on a individuals personal characteristics (race, sex, age, sexuality, disability, cultural background etc) is wrong.

It's as bad, if not worse than being rude.

I agree with TidyDancer, using the word 'geriatrics' iin this context is offensive. It's a medical term.

As for the request to say 'thank you', I can't see anyting wrong with that. Tone might not have been right but it's just another lesson for a small child whether it can talk or not.

I'd have been pissed off too. If your child had been 7 years old and refusing to say thank you then Santa would have a point but your DS is only tiny so hasn't quite got the hang of it yet. Anyway, you're his mum so surely it's you who should be reminding him to say thank you, not a stranger (whether dressed as santa or not)?

I do think a 'major department store' that promises a 'magical Christmas world' for a substantial price should audition Santas (possibly with a few leaky 'test-children' to see if would-be Santa can be cunningly trapped into profanity when weed on, wailed-at, etc) and only hire if they pass the test of being Santa-like under extreme provocation.

It isn't really very nice to say 'he's a spoiled little boy' to a bewildered 22-month old who doesn't manage to get out the T word, is it.

All this could be solved if the really posh stores would only give in and get the real Santa for the occasion. It's a bit cheapskate to settle for less, and what the heck does he do for the other 364 days of the year anyway?!