To wonder why some MNers get annoyed about kids asking for specific things for Christmas

[Theendofthesearch]

It’s not a TAAT - I know there’s a thread in active right now but it’s a general theme.

Mum has bought the Christmas presents and then a child mentions something they want. Then you always get posts saying the child is spoilt and demanding and to say no.

Why?

We were always asked what we wanted for Christmas! Wondering if my family was abnormal now!

I think usually it's more when a child is asked what they want, either they say nothing, or say something, but then later when the presents are all bought they ask for something else entirely.

Because MN land is absolutely detached from reality. In MN land all children, when asked what they want for Christmas, say "Nothing mama. Just the warm love of your heart please", and so the parents gets them a satsuma and a piece of string and they're immensely grateful. Buying something normal like a paw patrol toy is the height of tackiness and your child will turn into Ebeneezer Scrooge when he's older.

What thread is going on at the moment??

Glummy I wouldn't get my DS a satsuma AND string. No need for two presents.

There’s no educational value in string guys. Such frippery!

Jesus mine share the satsuma and string between them of course. They say it's the best present ever, right before we go and do a 16 hour shift at the soup kitchen. I look at my neighbours, with their Tiny Tears dolls, bikes and Hatchimals and feel so sorry for them.

I laugh at these threads because that’s what happens when you finish your Christmas shopping in November (or earlier if they’re really bragging)!

Never happens to those who don't shop until mid-December!

Every decent parent knows you don't do your shopping too early

I find them amusing too. Anything more than an orange and chocolate coin and the child is doomed for eternity

Surely it’s far better to ask then guess and things go to waste and end up as landfill. I get buying small bits in the run up but for a young child it makes sense to buy in December to ensure it’s what they want. Easier with older children and teens as they don’t believe so you can ask in advance and they will understand.

Apparently it’s fine for adults to moan about what they get though and how it’s not to their tastes, wants etc

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss a chocolate coin do you want their teeth to fall out?

We were always asked what we wanted for Christmas!

Well yes, that's totally normal. Surely it's not that people are saying that kids shouldn't say what they want for Christmas, it's that it's annoying when they don't let you know before you buy their presents. In some cases it may be that you've bought them things they'd actually said they'd like, but then later on they say "Oh actually I've decided I want x, y or z".

I used to give my two an Argos catalogue at the beginning of December, they had two weeks to sort through and write a list of anything they wanted. By the age of 10 they were giving me excel spreadsheets with code numbers and totals tallied up! I would not start buying until the week before they broke up from school, they knew that once they had finished school there was no way I was going shopping with the pair of them so they couldn't change their minds after the last day of term!

Hahaa my daughter announced she wanted the squeakee balloon dog a few days ago she was completely finished.

I will still get it for her 🤷‍♀️

Under normal circumstances I would think people who had finished all their Xmas shopping by mid-November were a bit sad... but this year I'm half way through mine (there's nothing else to do and its not like you can actually go shopping).

I think some people think its "rude" to specify a present. My parents were like this.

In days when there's far too much waste and its hard to get out and shop it makes no sense to spend money on a gift for someone and find out it isn't wanted.

I think you don't buy, or at least don't wrap it up (and make sure you keep the receipts) until they've sent their letter to Father Christmas. Then I tell them that's it, you can't change your mind, you've told him and he's working on it. Until then, they can change their mind every hour if they so wish.

It always baffles me that these parents finish their Xmas shopping, then they ask their kids what they want and are shocked when they answer and it’s not something they’ve already brought.

I can only think that they ask because they think they are going to get confirmation that they brought the best presents ever.

I've finished my kid's Christmas shopping they've done their Santa lists though my our rules are The List Is Final

I used to give my DDs a date by which they had to submit their letters to Santa. They could not make any changes after this date as Santa needed time to make the items (I needed time to go to the shops obvs!). Worked a treat.

I do t ask my ds.

I suggest when he says he wants things to ask for them for Christmas or birthdays.

He generally asks for about 3 things a year and so I need him to hold off or I'd have no idea what to get him.

He doesn't particularly like surprises either as he's autistic.