To think ALL presents shouldn't be from Santa?

[justsparklex]

Surely it's not just me who thinks this is odd? I wasn't even aware people did this. So I messaged my friend asking if it was okay to come up Xmas evening with the kids and we can all then exchange presents, my friend replied saying " you can come up Xmas evening but can you drop the presents off before so dc's have all their presents in the morning" because apparently ALL their presents are from Santa. I was like What?? I understand people have certain traditions, but I just can't get my head over this one. I tell my kids that a few presents are from santa(usually less expensive ones) and the rest are from mummy&daddy and family, Santa just stores them and delivers them. I wasn't aware she didn't this until this year as I've usually just dropped them off before anyway.

I just think what's the point in even buying her kids anything if they don't even know it's from me? Why should Santa get all the credit? I just thought, do whatever you like with presents from you and your DH but family and friends?I think their kids deserve to know who bought them. I've bought them both two lovely, thoughtful and quite expensive presents and I'm just sad they won't even know it's from us. AIBU!?

Haven't RTFT but Santa always brought the stockings here and delivered the main presents once the washing up was done.

DD (now in her twenties) finally admitted she knew it was us anyway because she saw dh getting the Santa sacks out of the car boot one year

Worked for us and now they're adults everything gets shoved under the tree as and when. Still wait until the washing up's done though

SilverDoe
My point exactly, the judgment on this thread - and others similar - is just astonishing. It's getting old.

I am glad the judgement came across from my post, which was only written in response to the criticism against the way I choose to present Christmas and the gifts to my kids.

^Once again I am getting bored of being told we are doing it wrong and the judgemental attacks against parents who dare not giving presents to their own kids, and leave it all to Santa.

It affects other families none at all. I don't go around telling you what to do. (not "you" specific). But if you keep telling me why I am wrong to do so, I am going to reply what I think about your arguments which I don't agree with.

I’m not sure you read my post before you weighed in with the sanctimony about teaching your kids what love means. I said why it wouldn’t work for me. Me. Not why I think your way is Objectively Wrong, just why it wouldn’t work for me. The hint was in the pronouns.

FWIW, if we’re talking about what bores us, I’m getting bored of people who decide anyone who does something differently or doesn’t think their way of doing things is The Absolute Best Is criticising them and everything they hold dear.

But go on. Do tell me more about how I’m teaching my kids that love can be measured in material possessions because I don’t do things your way. I’m hanging on every word.

Your kids are both going to have wonderful Christmas’s regardless!

Does everyone do what there parents did? Or did you consciously choose to do something different? If so why? I’m struggling to decide but I think I’m going for sort of an equal balance now!

JassyRadlett
why are you taking things so personally when we actually agree?

Read my posts, all through this thread I have written that there's no right or wrong with Christmas, only for another posters to pipe up to explain why my "All-from-Santa" version is wrong, is unfair to other random children, is confusing for the kids, doesn't teach my kids the value of hard cash .

I am just pointing out the flaws in their judgmental and sometimes nasty reasonings if they are that interested by the way I celebrate Christmas.

Everything DH and I buy comes from Father Christmas, this is what happened when we were children and honestly I didn't realise anyone else did things differently until DC1 was at school and I spoke to other parents.

Presents from friends and family go under the tree or are given by them on the day and get opened after Christmas Dinner or on Boxing Day.

In my experience children tend to discuss what they got for Christmas, who gave it doesn't seem to come into it. Which is why as a child I was unaware of my friends getting stockings from Father Christmas and bigger gifts from their parents and vice versa.

I have a family member that does this. Takes labels off and everything. At the family get-together we all have to trudge out to the cars and swap presents there lest the children see.

I have heard about Santa giving all the presents, just the last couple of years, and they expect others to bring presents early so they can also be from Santa.

In my home a big present and stockings were from Santa. Family gave presents which were under the tree and my children opened them from family members and afterwards would write, phone and thank them. Or if visiting the presents were given in a bag to put under the tree, the children could see and would get excited.

It's a weird idea and those people should not expect others to give their present from Santa, how will the children be able to thank friends and members of the family.

No, I wouldn't go along with this AT ALL.