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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why a mum would buy 100 presents each...

147 replies

Bananabread123 · 14/12/2016 20:01

... for her children. She says they deserve a great Christmas but wouldn't they be equally as happy with, say, 10 presents?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-38305247

OP posts:
RebelandaStunner · 14/12/2016 22:04

Wow!
Xmas Shock

Evilstepmum01 · 14/12/2016 22:05

I actually find this kind of exhibitionism quite vulgar in a way and attention-seeking. Do as you please behind closed doors but when you boast in this manner in public, you are going to be discussed and likely judged.
I loathe the fb pics every year of 'look how much I've bought my child/what a good mum I am'.
DSD's mum does this-thousands of pounds worth of stuff, pictures on social media of the 4/5 huge piles of presents for her princess. DSD takes two days to open them and gets bored very quickly.

We have maybe 25 presents for each child, things they can use and have asked for. And will enjoy and value. Quality not quantity!
But hey, everyones different I guess. If it makes her happy, then Merry Christmas!

I suspect the old adage applies here: Your children need your PRESENCE, not presents.

thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter · 14/12/2016 22:19

Can't remember where I read this but I'm sure I'm not imagining it, but I'm sure I'd read somewhere a few parents who do similar - the pile of presents has too be so many feet deep from their bay window recess or some other such bollocks Xmas Confused

Maybe it is a type of compulsion.

thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter · 14/12/2016 22:28

*to be

ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe · 14/12/2016 22:31

Another thing that's frustrating about this is that having 100 presents serves to normalise having,say 25 or 50 presents.

Lots of posts saying, oh, I only have 20/30/50 presents per child. That's still far too many.

ThePinkOcelot · 14/12/2016 22:36

Bloody ridiculous. Why they under the tree now?

RebelandaStunner · 14/12/2016 22:39

Under the tree? Thepink
You can hardly see the bloody tree for presents! Xmas Grin

OwlinaTree · 14/12/2016 22:41

Well they are probably under the tree now because she has no where else to put them!

Original poster
Bananabread123 · 14/12/2016 22:42

Another thing that's frustrating about this is that having 100 presents serves to normalise having,say 25 or 50 presents.

Excellent point

OP posts:
RoseGoldHippie · 14/12/2016 22:44

What a waste of a tree!

Gileswithachainsaw · 14/12/2016 22:45

Good grief...

The cost is irrelevant cos if I had it I'd spend far more than I do. However I'd rather spend more money on good quality items say a new bike, nice, clothes, mp3 player etc. But have just a few.

100 items at a fiver or less each...most of that is gonna a be poor quality crap. What's the point.

Plus the kids are going to be bored after the first 10

yeOldeTrout · 14/12/2016 23:06

omg, how long does it take to open them all?

Benedikte2 · 14/12/2016 23:09

The woman says she starts wrapping in August! How boring. Bet she gets almost as bored as the kids do opening the stuff. Must either have a large house or send masses of toys off the the charity shop in December to make room.
Also kids must have seen the pile under the tree (and maybe felt parcels) so where is the surprise Christmas morning?

MaryPoppinsPenguins · 14/12/2016 23:11

1500 is a tiny amount to spend on that amount of presents. It's all going to be crap. I bet they'd prefer a bike!

MilnersGold · 14/12/2016 23:31

I think it is way over the top. I don't agree with it.

However living on the IOM I would love to know where she got it all from. Amazon would be my guess. ...

Isawahatonce · 14/12/2016 23:39

Don't the kids get bored of opening them eventually?

VixenLupin · 14/12/2016 23:55

I'm going to give my children 100 presents each. Every sock and every sweet will be wrapped individually - I'll get to 100 pretty quick. Grin

Rrross1ges · 15/12/2016 00:01

I've got DS a tube of Jelly Tots, I reckon there must be 100 in it and it was only £1 from Costcutters.

dodobookends · 15/12/2016 00:12

At last... the Isle of Man Christmas Wrapping Paper Shortage Mystery is finally explained Grin

Pixel · 15/12/2016 00:20

Her choice I suppose but I have a hard enough time finding somewhere to put the presents after Christmas as it is and mine don't get a ridiculous amount.
Also there seems little point in putting up a Christmas tree if you are just going to swamp it. Is it even safe with all that paper round it? I hope she hasn't got her transformer under that lot as you are supposed to make sure the air can circulate round them to stop them overheating.

sleepyhead · 15/12/2016 00:25

Do you think the children get to have any input at all into what they get? No writing a Christmas list, they just get 100 random things because they were cheap.

BillSykesDog · 15/12/2016 00:28

A lot of it is just snobbery. 'What an awful woman buying all that tacky conspicuous consumption'. But they've probably dropped the same amount on Games Consoles.

IWouldLikeToSeeTheseMangoes · 15/12/2016 02:12

Good call Breakfast That may just be my Xmas present from me to me. I'm sad enough to be genuinely excited by the thought Xmas Grin

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 15/12/2016 03:30

Well she's spoiling them. Spoiling them rotten. In a material sense. She's making a rod for her own back, because no good ever comes from spoiling children. Oh don't get me wrong my dd is spoiled with love but material wise. She gets about 10 presents to open for Christmas, and about 6 or 7 for her birthday. .

Wolverbamptonwanderer · 15/12/2016 03:34

I think if you're only spending £1500 and wanting 300 items it's only about quantity. It's just a load of cheap crap to get her up to her magic number. Poor kids are probably craving a bit of luxury