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Original poster

To not want to go along with this? (Re: Santa!)

173 replies

MrsJohanHegg · 02/12/2016 07:58

Myself and DSis (and our respective other halves!) both have 2yo DSs. We're both on the same page re: Santa - that he brings the stockings and one present. It works for us, it's what our mum did, DC learn that they can't just ask Santa for umpty-million expensive things etc. So when I put my tree up, I popped some wrapped presents underneath to hide the cheap wonky base to look pleasant and festive.

Well I've just had an earful from SiL as she popped by with our older nephew (6) who is now asking why we had presents under our tree when Santa brings them etc. Apparently in their house Santa brings all the presents. I told her to tell him they're just for show if it's an issue, and thought all was fine, but she later told DH that they also tell him that Santa brings all the presents from other people too!

So literally they'll visit his various grandparents, aunts etc and they'll pull out a present and say "Oh, Santa left this here for you - he must have gotten confused!" Confused and it's expected that when we see him on Boxing Day and give him his gift we're expected to do the same when we give him his gift.

AIBU to think that this is completely fucking batshit a bit OTT/ridiculous and not want to go along with it? Why can't it just be a nice gift from us, his aunt and uncle?? I don't bloody want to say it's from Santa, I want the credit Xmas Grin

OP posts:
weepat · 02/12/2016 22:10

Santa brings the main pressie in my house . Mum & dad contribute the rest . All left on the couch or chair to find in the morning.
Family presents go under the tree as & when they arrive in the house before xmas & opened after the breakfast.

maggiethemagpie · 02/12/2016 22:12

It's stockings only from Santa in our house. I don't want him to get all the credit!!

DropZoneOne · 02/12/2016 22:25

When DD was age 2, all presents in our house were from santa but those from other people were from them. The following year I realised the flaw in this argument in that we weren't getting any credit, and promptly changed it to stocking and one present which may or may not have been from the wish list.

Your SIL is nuts. Does no one get thank you cards if all the presents are from santa?

neveradullmoment99 · 02/12/2016 22:38

Its a mixture of presents from santa and from us in my house. The children whether they are from us or santa. They are just happy to have the to open and play with!

6o6o842 · 02/12/2016 22:40

Yep, she's crazy! At our place Santa brings a stocking filled with socks, underwear, a sweet treat and maybe something silly. He also brings a book and one other present. Everything else comes from us. Why should Santa get the credit for everything! I think it's fine for you to have some gifts under the tree already - even if you have to tell some people they are for show. You should not be dictated to by someone else.

Toefluff12 · 02/12/2016 22:41

When the heck did all presents are from Father Christmas start?? It's utter bloomin nonsense. Father Christmas does stockings in our house and all other presents are from whoever bought them. He also only does one drop to our house and parents do the purchasing. I've had the conversation with DS (18months) nanny that this year she can say some are from FC but in future all gifts from them will be from them.

Scarymary0210 · 02/12/2016 23:41

We have one present for Santa the rest from the respective people that buy them never has this conversation ever came up with different family members or friends I find it very strange lol

Original poster
MrsJohanHegg · 02/12/2016 23:48

Was just scrolling through Facebook and saw a link to my own thread Shock god help me, my mad DSiL is I'm famous! Xmas Grin

Clearly now the consensus will change to IABU Xmas Wink

OP posts:
madein1995 · 02/12/2016 23:53

I dont think she is bu, its personal choice. Personally I believed santa brought everything, even those off other people, and will do with my kids. Its the magic I think. Youre not u for doung things your way neither is sil

ragdoll700 · 03/12/2016 00:12

Santa brings what ever appears under the tree on Christmas morning and fills stockings that are placed on the bed. Any gifts given by others are given by others and those people are thanked that's weird if parents want Santa to take credit for all that's given.

TinselTwins · 03/12/2016 01:30

YABU, it's their way of doing it and you should respect that

Did you even read the OP? Its the SIL not respecting the way the OP does things - the SIL is annoyed that the OP has gifts under her OWN tree

TinselTwins · 03/12/2016 01:32

If you want your kids to have LOTS of presents from Santa, you pay for/shop for them!

This is basically stealing and re-packaging other people's gifts. I wouldn't bother giving any TBH if they were just going to be intercepted by the parents and re-used for santa.

Italiangreyhound · 03/12/2016 01:41

If he is 6 he is seriously not far off realising Santa is not real.... Sorry! Shhhhh....

My dd realised aged about 8 but kept pretending she did not know for another 2 years!

I think just say that you have bought the gift and you will give it.

If they really want their child to keep believing in the jolly red man they need the story to be more plausible. One gift per child is much more do-able!

Lying about Santa is fine but getting into family rows is not cool, Santa wouldn't want that!

LucyBabs · 03/12/2016 01:57

In our house my dc get a gift Xmas Eve from me and dp, pjs chocs board game
Christmas morning Santa will have delivered their big gifts which me and dp have paid Santa for a few weeks previous. Family don't bother with presents so dc might get one or two from close family if they're lucky.

Sybys · 03/12/2016 05:54

Yeah its also stockings only from Santa for me. I think its unfair to say that everything is from Santa; kids from poorer families might wonder why Santa seems to like the other kids more (particularly as presents from Santa are usually tied to 'good behavior')

Keeping it to just stockings is a good equaliser.

CheerfulYank · 03/12/2016 06:35

Yeah, no. That's batshit.

My friend's SIL is like this. Every single person must do what she does to make sure nothing is ruined for her DS. My friend's DD is allowed to hold her Elf on the Shelf on Christmas morning and told her cousin this. The cousin told his mum (he's not allowed to touch his) and the mum said loudly in front of both children "well hers isn't REAL like yours of course then" prompting confused tears from my friend's DD. (She was 4 or so.)

glueandstick · 03/12/2016 06:36

Santa fills stockings and leaves one small gift that could be handmade (wooden toy- that sort of thing) as the elves make them.

The rest are from people. That way, there is none of this 'Santa loves me more than you' nonsense at school.

throwingpebbles · 03/12/2016 06:49

Can't believe people are spinning a whole story about putting in an order to Santa and paying him. That's amazon.

Can't you just manage expectations by saying Santa only has limited room in his sleigh?

PoldarksBreeches · 03/12/2016 07:54

Santa as festive Amazon idea is hideous. What about the elves making the presents part of the myth? Talk about teaching your kids to be little consumers Hmm

ahalfchipshalfricemum · 03/12/2016 08:07

I think Santa has been reading your post OP... Grin

To not want to go along with this? (Re: Santa!)
AlwaysWashing · 03/12/2016 08:12

Stockings and one thing they reeeeally want are from Santa. The rest are from people!

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 03/12/2016 08:13

Santa only brought stockings in our family. And that's how I've carried it on with my boys.

I don't honestly know how my sister does it - each of her DC has a massive sack of presents, so I don't know whether they're all meant to be from Santa or not - but she doesn't insist that the rest of us make our presents from Santa as well.

TBH, OP, I'm with you on the batshit thing there. Plus, it's just quite rude to insist that Santa brought them all and that other friends/relatives had next to no input, IMO.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 03/12/2016 08:16

Oh I love that FB post from Santa!

Yes, I do try and get the one (only one!) thing they ask Santa for, but it will go in or with the stocking, depending on size. OK, fair enough, the trampoline was outside, as was the cubby house - they wouldn't really fit round the fireplace though! Grin

louisejxxx · 03/12/2016 08:25

Previously we have said that Santa delivers all the presents to our house - he labels them from everyone though, not just himself. He also delivers the ones to my mum & dad's that are from them as he knows we go round there every year on Xmas Day. I'd never be able to leave presents under the tree - 3yr old dd would open them instantly. That said, I'd never expect anyone who was visiting us and bringing presents to make anything up about Santa getting the wrong address etc.

TataEs · 03/12/2016 08:33

santa just doing stockings here. so pj's, a toy, a book, some chocolate etc

i don't want my kid going to school and saying 'santa brought me an xbox and a bike' (not that we've bought an xbox or a bike but we have had a good year and bought quite a lot this year) and some other kid wondering why santa didn't bring him an xbox and a bike.

i also think it's important that the children know that family bought them presents and that they say thank you for them.

Dh family do all presents from santa. we are expected to make sure our presents for nephew (who lives with mil) are there before xmas day. we don't get to see him open them and obviously he doesn't know they're from us so he doesn't say thanks. sometimes we don't even see him play with it once. it takes a bit of the joy out of it if i'm honest

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