To give a gift-wrapped potato to DD on Christmas morning?

[Skittlesandbeer]

Was chatting with school mums yesterday while we watched kids play sport. This idea was raised, and split opinion in the group.

Given that most of us have used Santa/Father Christmas coming as a carrot or a stick to encourage good behaviour in DC over November and December, doesn’t it follow that we should deal with the bad behaviour on the Christmas present pile as well?

Is it unreasonable to add a beautifully gift-wrapped potato with a label that says that this would have been a another proper present from Santa, had the behaviour been better?

This came out of a conversation about how our kids (aged 4-8) have cottoned on to the disconnect between their mums harping on about Santa’s ‘naughty or nice’ list, and in reality there’s actually a shed load of stuff to open (even though they know they’ve been naughty). One mum said her kids sneer that Santa doesn’t care, and they know they can get presents anyway so why bother being good?

I quite liked the idea, and of keeping the potato in the ‘loot pile’ for a while afterwards as a reminder (until I can’t be arsed going to the shops and cook it for their dinner!).

So AIBU to wrap one?

And perhaps give it to DD first, if she wakes me at 5.30am on the 25th after I’ve had to coordinate 40 pairs of coat hanger/tinsel angel wings for Christmas Eve mass?

A valid parenting hack, or unreasonably mean (Christmas) spirited?

God, going to sound so up my own arse, but I don't think Santa, or bribery should ever be used to make kids behave. All I ever need with mine is 'the look' and they shut right up lol. I wouldn't dream of taking one of the most fun days of the year and using something they look forward to to punish them!
Although saying this me and my eldest son once wrapped about 40 brussell sprouts to give to my other son (he was 9 at the time) because of a telly programme (Bottom!) and how he wrapped up their Christmas dinner lol. He loved it! lol
Don't use Christmas to punish, threaten or bribe your kids, its bloody mean.

I'd say its a little too harsh during christmas!!. Kids are waiting for gifts and to find a potato would just slam father christmas out of their system too. The meaning of christmas is to spread love not to teach lessons!

A friend once hid their child stocking saying they had been naughty. All the other children got theirs.

She gave it to the child a couple if hours later.

That's mean imo

YABU OP. I think that is a mean thing to do, and belongs to the school of parenting that also tells children that the Policeman/shop assistant/anyone other than the parent will tell them off. Your child, your job.

That's just wrong on so many levels. Do not do it.

I'm actually wrapping a potato or my DD this Christmas; actually 2!

She's specifically and repeatly asked for a Mr PotatoHead so we've got her one and a Mrs PotatoHead so it looks a bit more on the day!

Am I the only person whose take home message from this thread is that I need edible coal sweeties for dd's stocking

I think I've even got a hessian sack I can cut up to package it . . .

Don't do it.
You will regret it and she'll not find it "funny", she'll be devastated and will not forget it.

It'll be one of many presents Anne and it's a standing joke in our household that coal would be a great stocking gift for dd as one of her chores is fetching wood in for the Rayburn. (Also, anything made of oreo cookies and marshmallows is going to win her over . . .)

The thought of this makes my heart weep. Please don’t do this. Christmas morning finding presents under the tree is when children should believe in magic and when they should feel happy about everything they received for being ‘good’. I couldn’t do this to someone, I can just picture my DDs crushed little face.

Yes... if DC wake at ridiculous o'clock on Xmas morning, leave them a wrapped potato from Santa- do it with humour (draw a face on it like a pet potato). It'll make them think! Their proper presents could 'appear' slightly later when they've had time to think, and they will appreciate them loads more, when they think they are not coming. They will always remember the xmas when they got a spud!
My DS once won a potato, with a smiley face sharpied on, in a pass the parcel at a party, it was hilarious and he loved it.

Our ddog used to get a couple of potatoes in his stocking - along with other dog treats & toys.

When the kids start pissing on the Christmas tree they might get the same! It was a joke but also showed that Santa wasn't messing around. The dog was never that offended as far as I am aware

Don’t pass behaviour problems on to Santa, the bogeyman, the policeman, the bloke in the flat upstairs, Grandad or your husband when he gets home. Deal with it straight away and be all of those people. You’ll know you’re getting it right if somebody else threatens to pass their behaviour problems on to you. If children are still young enough to believe in Santa, they’re young enough to need an immediate consequence and anything that happens tomorrow is going to be too late. I’d look for another social circle because these ladies don’t get it!!!

Soory Sadik, my post was for the OP.

Sweeties for a 15 yo, who understands it's a joke and knows she's not failed the naughty or nice test, is an entirely different kettle of fish.

I did think it was slightly over-reacting to think she'd be devastated Anne
(I think I may have to make 'naughty' sacks for a couple of my friends too . . . )

This sort of behaviour is instead of parenting.

Just do your job and stop thinking of social media friendly ways of shaming your children.

Too harsh? Have a potato instead then.

If people didn’t start horrible ‘naughty or nice’ or ‘be good for Santa’ bloody stuff in tne first place this wouldn’t come up.

Give presents in the spirit of joy and generosity.

Deal with discipline issues as they occur.

God, what a horrible fucked up thing to even think of.

Please do not present your child with a potato if they wake you at 5:30 on Christmas Day.

Waking parents up at such an early hour is the traditional part of Christmas. I'd send them back to bed, to read if not sleep for an hour.

How about disciplining her properly at the time of her poor behaviour, rather than "saving" it for Christmas Day? This is a laxy way to parent imo

lazy

Bullying children like this is abusive behaviour in my book. It would serve parents right if their offspring gift-wrapped a turd and presented it to them - shit for the shitty.

Something I've heard banded about is Christmas is cancelled, from a parent to a child. I asked what they the parent said about a week ago that the children were being so naughty that Christmas is cancelled and the children know it. I asked what they had to do to make things right and he replied I don't know, I just said well if you don't know how are they meant to know.The children looked mortified!

If you're going to go for this OP, you can be reassured that after all your Christmas planning at least one child in your house could be left with a sour memory of the day.

Who wouldn't be pleased with that?

If you have to use Christmas to make your children behave, you are doing parenting wrong, what the hell do you do the rest of the year?