To suggest (manipulate) what Santa brings the DC's?

[gluteustothemaximus]

So this is what Santa does in our house. DC will write a letter, asking for one thing. Santa brings them that one thing (leaves next to the eaten cookie and wine milk).

All the presents under the tree are from mum and dad.

Each year Santa always gets it right, DC are always over the moon. Basically in the build up to Christmas, we'll be shopping and might see something we know they'll love and is cheap enough and suggest - why don't we ask Santa for that? They say 'yay' and job done. The magic of Christmas prevails.

Reasons are, if things are tight, we can afford the santa gift, and they get why from mum and dad pressies are less (although they've never ever complained about anything). It stops them asking for just anything they've seen on the tv which might be too expensive or not able to get, and stops disappointment if they don't get it.

That's fair right?

I don't want Santa getting all the glory and say all presents come from him.

What does Santa do in your house?

Oh of course you so. I always manipulated them to add things to the list that I'd already bought....

We used to do stocking and tree gifts from Santa but main present is from us.

Now I have teenagers so everything comes in a big sack from Santa :o

In our house, Santa brings the presents in the stockings, which are usually fairly small things - a book, chocolate, toy car, pens etc. The dses opened their stockings first thing in the morning.

The big present always came from us, not Santa, and was under the tree with the presents from relatives, and we opened the tree presents after lunch - we feel this kept the fun going through more of the day.

It works for us - the dses are 19, 21 and 23 and I have started buying their stocking filler already! . Dh and I do stockings for each other too.

Santa brings everything. A stocking and some bigger things laid out unwrapped. So you get a big 'wow!' when they see it. I don't need the glory and don't feel the kids expect presents from us at Christmas. That happens on birthdays.

Santa brings a stocking of little things and a sack of larger (in size not price ) things...usually cheap craft sets etc from B and M. These are opened before breakfast. the under the tree are gifts from us and family and these are opened after lunch.

Father Christmas does stockings only for the kids * and a 'family' gift which is either a board game or a DVD that everyone can enjoy.
Other than that, all gifts are from the people who sent them.

Mine write wish lists which I then let others know about if they ask - and try not to say the same things to everyone but spread it about.

• kids means anyone under 18 or until they have their own family. My sister and I do stockings for each other which we took on when my mum was unable to - this is as adults! We would also do them for our brothers from my mum too. Any partners or guests would get them too!

I do a simple one for DH as otherwise he'd be the only one without one! It's usually toiletries, socks and beer!

Santa brings one big present and a stocking (stocking fillers sweets, socks, things from Poundland etc). All other presents from mum & dad, relatives etc. DS(7) writes a Xmas list of the 10 things he'd like the most and he knows that he can't get them all. He likes waiting for the surprise to see what he's got from his list.

His list this year is a pikachu suit and a keyring! We've booked Florida for May 2017 so planning to surprise him on Xmas day. That's a family present as I don't think santa can give holidays...

And DS2 will only be 3 months so is getting little rattles to open from 'santa'