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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to give dd (8) and empty stocking for Christmas...

217 replies

spidersolitare · 08/11/2013 13:08

Well ,empty apart from concert tickets to see one direction?

OP posts:
OutragedFromLeeds · 08/11/2013 18:28

YABU

The opening of the stocking is one of the best bits of Christmas for kids (and adults). It will be so exciting to get to the bottom and then find the tickets.

It doesn't have to be expensive.

It doesn't have to be tat.

Does she not need or really want anything that could be put in a stocking? Hat, scarf, gloves, socks, pants, bath stuff, flannel, toothbrush, pens, pencils, colouring book, magazine, book, DVD, poster, PJ's, chocolate, sweets, stationary items etc.

You can't think of anything except expensive tat?

OutragedFromLeeds · 08/11/2013 18:29

And I would let her take a friend to the concert. That will make it much more exciting and probably much greater memories than going with you and DH.

Opalite · 08/11/2013 18:31

YANBU at all... I did something similar a couple of years ago and it went down a treat. The One Direction tickets are such a great gift that your dd will probably think 'oh... empty stocking....' at first, followed by AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH ONE DIRECTION TICKETS!!!!!!!!!! The empty looking stocking will only add to the surprise

jakesmommy · 08/11/2013 18:39

How about some body spray, earrings, make up, One Direction CD, Stationary or books to bulk it up

CloserLook · 08/11/2013 18:42

I think my problem is with the (almost) empty stocking not the lack of stocking. Or maybe that you can easily fill a stocking with cheap items that are useful and not tat.

Why don't you get a smallish stocking and get her things she is going to use anyway (hairbands, nail polish, lip gloss, bangles, pyjamas, 1D stuff maybe). Doesn't matter that she doesn't believe. A stocking's still fun at any age!

A little stocking sounds like an alright idea I guess Hmm but I would personally save the ticket (just the one, the other 2 are not a present unless for a friend) for the cracker or concealed with another present under the tree.

But you know your DD best and maybe she would find an empty stocking a 1D ticket at the bottom very funny.

Did she have a stocking last year?

littlewhitebag · 08/11/2013 18:43

In my family we all get stockings but they are filled with sweets, satsuma, apples and cheap bits and bobs. If I had tickets I would wrap them separately in a box or with 1D merchandise. I gave my DD1 money to visit her friend in Verona last year and put the cheque inside a guide book for Verona. You do what you think will get the maximum reaction. My DD2 has been to see 1D. She thought they were fab.

Original poster
spidersolitare · 08/11/2013 18:48

For those of you who suggest that the whole family don't go......would only half of you go on holiday?

Why would you take a friend but not family? I know she'll be happier that we are all going together as a family treat.

OP posts:
MrsCakesPremonition · 08/11/2013 18:50

How about some sort of treasure trail leading her to the golden ticket?
Or having a piece of wool lead from the tow of the stocking, then all around the house until she gets to the ticket?

PrimalLass · 08/11/2013 18:53

For those of you who suggest that the whole family don't go......would only half of you go on holiday? Why would you take a friend but not family? I know she'll be happier that we are all going together as a family treat.

Me and DD have tickets but OH would rather cut this hand off than go to a 1D concert. I do find it slightly odd for that reason. We do plenty of things with one of us and one of the kids. He and DS are going to a football match tomorrow for example.

Floralnomad · 08/11/2013 18:55

spider a holiday is hardly the same as a concert,but actually I have in the past been away with both my children without my husband , we do things as a family but we are not joined at the hip ! I'm going to see taylor Swift with my dd in February ,my husband is not coming because to us it is a waste of money for him to sit through a concert which he has little interest in.

YesterdayI · 08/11/2013 18:59

Umm, well, going against the grain here but I think its a fun idea. I imagine she will be disappointed when she first see the empty stocking and then be absolutely blown away when she finds the tickets.

earlesswonder · 08/11/2013 18:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheDoctrineOfWho · 08/11/2013 19:00

I actually think it's a cool idea for a 10 yea old.

Wake up..oh no, "Father Christmas" didn't come, oh wait a minute...WOW!

Just me and OP, then?

movingaway · 08/11/2013 19:00

I think the empty stocking is a great idea! However I would definitely let her take a friend rather than your DH. Family days out are one thing, but surely for screaming at a boyband you want your best mate not your dad?!

OutragedFromLeeds · 08/11/2013 19:01

'For those of you who suggest that the whole family don't go......would only half of you go on holiday?'

How is a family holiday similar to everyone going along to one person's Christmas present concert?! I would never book a family holiday somewhere only one of us wanted to go. Do you and DH like One Direction? If so, great to go as a family. Otherwise I would either save the money or let her take a friend. Sending two adults purely to chaperone is pointless. If you had more DC, who didn't like 1D would they all have to come to because you're a family Confused

'Why would you take a friend but not family? I know she'll be happier that we are all going together as a family treat'

Is it a family treat or her Christmas present? Why don't you give her the choice? If she wants a family outing then she can choose you and DH, if she'd rather go with a friend she can choose that. They're her tickets. She should choose who goes imo.

TheDoctrineOfWho · 08/11/2013 19:01

...and YesterdayI

SparkleSoiree · 08/11/2013 19:04

Spidersolitaire SNAP!

We have got DD 1D tix for next summer! Can't decide whether to give them as a gift under the tree and give a normal stocking OR to pop them in a stocking with a couple of other little things….decisions! Grin

Original poster
spidersolitare · 08/11/2013 19:06

It is exactly like a holiday....we need to get a ferry, trip to London, concert, overnight stay.

We are a family of three who like to do things together. We're not huge fans but she is.

Your reactions to our family view is very puzzling to me. Lots of her friends like one direction, but I wouldn't want the responsibility for taking them away for the weekend.

OP posts:
FixItUpChappie · 08/11/2013 19:07

well maybe do it as a gag then have another little stocking to take out of inexpensive things she can unwrap

OutragedFromLeeds · 08/11/2013 19:09

Well why didn't you mention the whole weekend away thing earlier?! I wouldn't take a friend in those circumstances either. Unless we were making a weekend of it though, I still wouldn't take DH, just a lot of unnecessary expense.

movingaway · 08/11/2013 19:12

Ah ok you never said it involved an overnight stay. I would still be inclined to let her take a friend instead though.

CloserLook · 08/11/2013 19:15

The more I think about it the more the idea of a tiny stocking at the foot of the bed is making me giggle. Grin

I think if you really want to leave behind the idea of the traditional stocking thats the way to go. Not a big empty stocking though.

If not a stocking how about a very grown up little 'treat hamper' with just a few bits of make up and a few chocs? Maybe with a nice new top to wear for the day? It's always nice to have a few bits to open before the big presents while everyones waking up and having breakfast.

Joysmum · 08/11/2013 19:16

Wow there's a lot of spoilt people on here to be disappointed with concert tickets.

I never had a stocking and it's not something we've ever done with out daughter. We have presents to open from each other that Father Christmas delivers and puts under the tree along with the gift on Christmas Eve.

If it's a stocking gift in addition to wrapped pressures then wrap it as something that's another present to open.

littlecloud · 08/11/2013 19:20

Yes you are being unreasonable, i really don't get why all 3 of you have to go? I doubt your dh will enjoy one dot so a lot of money to spend I'd also take a friend at 10 it's not too young to bring a friend along. Also 2 of the tickets aren't her present I'm sure you could have spent the price of the third ticket on stocking stuff. It's def the best part waking up to a stocking either no stocking and wrap the tickets. But a piece of paper In a stocking is just mean. Yes initial sqeee and well that's it nothing else but of an anticlimax at 10

CloserLook · 08/11/2013 19:22

Now you've explained the overnight stay aspect of the concert it makes it very different. Of course you all want to go. It sounds like a lovely treat for all of you. And I wouldn't take responsibility for another over excited 10 year old either!

I'm sure she'll love the tickets and the idea of a trip away however you decide to give them to her.