To not invite my DDs friends.

[Julz1622]

I have booked a socially distanced visit from Santa and Anna and Elsa on Christmas Eve for my daughter (8) and the baby (10 months) I live in a block of flats, and I was telling one of the mum's of one of daughter's friends about it. She said oh let me know what time they are coming and I'll send 'name' across. She has also told a few of the other mums on the block. Now I know some people will think I am being selfish, but I've paid £50 for them to come visit my daughter, I don't want all the kids congregating and ruining it for my daughters.

Then she'd probably be counting her lucky stars TBH, you sound exceptionally self centered. Who else do you expect to centre you in their lives?

I couldn’t have been clearer that I regard this situation as exceptional.

Just pass on the contact details for the your Anna/Elsa so your pals can book their own visits after yours. The visiting artists maybe won't have enough sweets etc if they don't book anyway.

@flaviaritt

It's covered so people can have privacy with Santa not so parents can have an excuse not to use it.

That’s shortsighted. If parents had to pass Father Christmas with other children on his knee they would feel pressured to buy the experience and they would avoid the venue.

No, they'd feel pressured and they'd give in.

I actually take my kids (in non-covid years) to an open Santa in our shopping centre - mainly because it's a charity Santa and I'd much rather give money to the local children's charity than line the pockets of House of Fraser et al - but even so I think elves dressed up, an obvious grotto and a picture of Santa is a bit of a giveaway otherwise

My DD is 8 and whilst she still believes in Santa, she and all her friends now think Frozen is "babyish" 🤦🏼‍♀️🤣

@flaviaritt

You would shun a neighbour for having a private Santa experience and not include you. Sounds like a bitch move to me.

I would treat that neighbour as she treated my kids. With indifference.

I wonder how many people have neighbours that lay on a 'Santa experience'? The most I've known is a lovely couple up the road to me who used to have a family party every Christmas Eve in which he would dress up as Santa and distribute presents. They all enjoyed that. People generally do their own things in their own homes which don't affect anyone else.

The Rotary used to come up my road before Christmas in a big sleigh containing Santa, drawn by horses, with music etc, collecting donations. I must say it was an annual thing but I haven't seen that for a few years so they must have stopped.

That’s shortsighted. If parents had to pass Father Christmas with other children on his knee they would feel pressured to buy the experience and they would avoid the venue
Hahaha!

You think children don't understand that the giant Santa's grotto, with elves and signs and Christmas music and children queuing to see santa is indeed Santa's grotto?

I know flavia will come on and say "that's not the same" - but it really is, it's saying if all the community can't enjoy a moment with Santa (because, magical, etc) no one should
Bingo.
You were right, it's apparently not the same.

Shall we see what is said about the charity Santa sleigh parades.

And I would, as I have said. But it might be easier said than done, and frankly, if Father Christmas came down my street with Bella ringing on Christmas Eve, and my DD saw it and said “Can we go out and see him?” I’d say yes. If I knew it was a private hire and my neighbour wanted to keep the experience for her and children I would say no, but I would be incredibly irritated at my neighbour for putting me in that position on Christmas Eve. No more neighbourliness for her.

Nobody is coming down the street with bells ringing, you're just making stuff up now.

The actors are being paid £17 each and are giving out sweets from that. According to you that means they're coming down the street with bells ringing, a reindeer and a giant sleigh,

Where I used to live there is a farm park that charges near enough £50 for a "Santa experience"

Ouch

I'm reminded of those ghastly "winter wonderlands" which hit the headlines most years, where they promise an incredible experience which turns out to be two old sheds in a muddy field with a pissed off Santa, a couple of irritable elves smoking round the back, a few pound shop signs and some broken fairy lights

Looking on the bright side, at least we'll be spared that this year ...

God, it makes me sad that people can be so tight and show so little empathy for kids, and defend that position so vigorously. You would hope this year had reminded people that they didn’t need to be wankers. Obviously not.

It makes me sad that when confronted with challenges to their own illogical position that posters would resort to playing the covid card and name calling.

💁‍♀️

I'm reminded of those ghastly "winter wonderlands" which hit the headlines most years, where they promise an incredible experience which turns out to be two old sheds in a muddy field with a pissed off Santa, a couple of irritable elves smoking round the back, a few pound shop signs and some broken fairy lights

Be fair, it gives The Archers a storyline every year - the Grundy World of Christmerz...

(Well it used to, I haven't listened for years.)

LolaSmiles

In what ways have I been guilty of those things?

in what ways have I been guilty of those things?

God, it makes me sad that people can be so tight and show so little empathy for kids, and defend that position so vigorously. You would hope this year had reminded people that they didn’t need to be wankers. Obviously not

@flaviaritt

God, it makes me sad that people can be so tight and show so little empathy for kids, and defend that position so vigorously. You would hope this year had reminded people that they didn’t need to be wankers. Obviously not.

I don't think cancelling a lovely Santa experience because the neighbours kids may or may not see it/be jealous/want to get sweets is showing much empathy for kids

LolaSmiles

That’s a nice bit of playing to the gallery, but it was a real question.

@Julz1622

It's not really Scrooge. If it was meant for the whole street then we would have all chipped in and paid for it so they could enjoy it together. I wanted to do a nice thing for my children?

Your youngest one won't know what it's about.

Does your eldest want this, have you actually asked her?

I think asking her DD if she wants fake Santa to come to the door on Xmas Eve kind of takes the magic away

@flaviaritt

God, it makes me sad that people can be so tight and show so little empathy for kids, and defend that position so vigorously. You would hope this year had reminded people that they didn’t need to be wankers. Obviously not.

Obviously.

I doubt many kids will be impressed with a couple of dressed up people giving them sweets. It sounds tacky to me but each to their own. They'll have a better time at home with their own families.

@flaviaritt

God, it makes me sad that people can be so tight and show so little empathy for kids, and defend that position so vigorously. You would hope this year had reminded people that they didn’t need to be wankers. Obviously not.

Defend their position? You have posted ONE HUNDRED TIMES on this thread. Nearly a quarter of all posts are from you.

OP, I don't think you're unreasonable at all! I'm a little at the people suggesting that you're being mean by not wanting all the other children to join in.

slashlover

Freeze!

Jesus @jessstan1, to quote the famous Elsa song, just 'Let it go...'! You're obsessed with the OP ruining the surprise by asking her daughter if she wants these characters to come to see her. Why is it so hard for you to understand that the OP knows her daughter really well, knows her likes and dislikes better than you, and has booked something her daughter will enjoy?

flaviaritt

slashlover

Freeze!

Cringe

OP .YANBU.