To be fed up of the criticism of those who splashed out for Christmas!

[Fanfeckintastic]

You can't open a thread about Christmas without someone voicing their dismay and horror that someone's eg "4 year old got an ipad", "that someone's partner gave them a tatty secondhand Christmas present and they should be grateful!", "you bought all that for a 5 year old "

It's mad because you'd never dream of criticizing the parents who had a minimalistic Christmas and bought very little for their DCs (like many of my Christmases) but somehow it's acceptable to be all judgy about people who splash out, with lots of raised eyebrows and sneeriness.

And how it's a mortal sin not to be overwhelmed with gratitude that your partner bought you anything at all. It's a really strange attitude that raises it's ugly head every year on here.

Oh err...it's certainly a talking piece anyway!

Anyway - I have totally stepped down off my soapbox now...it's not something I agonise over.
But I think it's folly to tell yourselves it doesn't matter. It does.

pictish Surely all the 4 year olds getting ipads can read? The competitive parents who give ipads wouldn't dream of admitting their kids aren't also geniuses... However most computer user interfaces, especially tablet ones are based around not being able to read in any case, most (but not all) do it better without reading.

Commenting on AIBU - completely fine, it's a place where you don't need to be as polite as you would face to face, commenting in person less acceptable.

MN is very funny at times, I do love how it's fine to buy wine weekly, smoke or pick up a designer handbag but God forbid you get your child more than a tangerine and shiny coin for Christmas.

Ah well, it will soon be Easter and MILs all over are preparing for the abuse as they dared by a chocolate egg.

Pictish ! My sentiments exactly!
It totally does matter.
We are all responsible for the society our DC grow up in.
People need to see the big picture instead of bleeting "it's nobody's business except mine" - it's my business because people like you are sustaining the culture of materialism and raising children's expectations.

Both my dc have iPads.

There's nothing wrong with tablets for kids per se...but angry birds and minecraft look and operate just the same on a Kindle say, at a quarter of the price.
Where is people's common sense?

I agree with pictish and Blessed.

No man is an island; we live in a society, not in a vacuum with just our own nuclear families. And no, it doesn't make a difference to my opinion if you worked hard/your kids aren't spoiled/it gives you pleasure: I think the excessive consumerism that Christmas encourages in children is horrible.

If you don't want to hear other people's opinions, don't post on the internet. ??

Daisy - my kids did a lot better than a chocolate coin and a tangerine, and actually, I'm not in love with the competitive frugality on here surrounding Christmas either.
It's not like we have to choose between extremes.

I told them if they saved enough of their b day and Xmas money they could buy one.
So they did :)
Dh has one through work.
I have a cheap kindle :)
My ds2 learnt all his letter sounds from the alphablocks app.
And his letter formation from the hairy letter app.
He still loves reading, drawing and writing with pens and pencils :)
One does not automatically negate the other ime.

I don't even have a problem with kids having ipads! But if we're talking tots here...who haven't even begun to read?!
I cannae reconcile it in my head.

And please - the "it's educational" excuse is lame. Don't even bother.

Me too MrsD.

Mrsd....:)
My bro bought my 3 year old niece one.

Dunno.
Just can't get too worked up about it.
I know some parents with dc who have sn who have found iPads and tablets be very helpful to them and their dc.
However...this isn't a defending iPad use thread! :)
I do find the poncetastic thread really good fun...I am in awe of people who are talented enough to make all their own decs/cards/preserves/pickles.
I love reading about it.
But I would NEVER do it :)

So its specifically Ipads that are the issue? Well I have never been a fan of apple anyway. :o

But this year on here I was told I was mad for buying my 5 year old a tablet and that I had bought my two year old too much.

The five year old loves her tablet even though the way she uses it makes my teeth itch and the two year old didnt turn in to a spoilt brat as soon as she saw the pile.

I do think some posters make a huge point about how little they buy and I feel sorry for their kids a bit. But thats up to them and I dont ever comment.

I do wonder if it's an issue with apple actually, rather than the product per se.
But Samsung and amazon are huge huge corps too...
Don't get the apple haterz.
It's like the new nestle....

We actually used to live quite rural and were well chuffed if one of our neighbours left us a pheasant or rabbit on the doorstep (was normal) - not sure I'd be entirely pleased with a dead fox though, bugger to pluck and wouldn't make a nice stew

Honestly, I don't comment either...here or in rl...I actually don't think about it otherwise. But when someone brings a specific subject up, then tells me I'm not allowed to have feelings or an opinion about it, I immediately will - I am stubborn that way.

Sorry.
I would point blank refuse to peel a fox/rabbit/pheasant
Just no.

As soon as you bring up the sordid topic of coin and how many of them you spent, people will judge.

I'm interested in the threads where posters have children the same age that I buy for so that I can see if I missed anything off the list. I was beset by weepy, wailing children across the whole family this year and that's why we're looking at maximum numbers of presents per child for next year. If kids are not weeping/wailing and you can afford it - or want to make it possible - then that's an individual choice.

I think presents are 'forgettable', the cardboard box that the present came in however, that's a different matter - that last forever... mine were sliding down the stairs in them this year. I had visions of cracked heads and teeth... but all was ok.

People perhaps share too much information on the WWW and don't have the skin for it.

I bought myself a new iPad and the put my old one to one side for DC3 (3) to use. Didn't "gift" it to her as didn't want her to get "wrong idea" consumerism/entitlement/world gone mad. So she ended up with a "proper" present as well.

Feel like I really achieved.

I have a thread in chat ATM about why we celebrate Xmas in 25th and it doesnt move round like Easter...if anyone can shed light on this I would be grateful :)

Lovely quote Koala.
Totally agree.

For what it's worth my DC had ten presents each costing about £10 each.
I don't feel sorry for them - they are happy.

Tablets for children are not a bad idea - but an iPad I will never understand. Hudls cost a £100 and function just as well.

We got the dcs an ipad4 to share when they were 2 and 4. Just thought I would stoke the fires.

On the whole too much/too little/beautiful to look at wooden toys/huge noisy fun plastic tat, it's just another occasion where peoples choices reflect their parenting styles/principles and often another excuse to be judgy - tis sad but true.

Isn't that why MN is so funny/ridiculous/interesting though, so we can all have a good neb at what others do then berate ourselves or laugh or feel smug I'm not so high on my donkey that I can't admit that. Not saying that's all it's for it is also suportive and informative of course