To think Christmas isn’t a competition

[Rupertgrintismyguiltypleasure]

Seeing a lot of nasty competitive comments towards people on many different social media sights. Since when was Christmas competitive. My belief has always been - you do Christmas how you want, there’s no right or wrong way to do it. Christmas is what you make it. Why do people have to belittle others for what they can or can not buy?
im seeing people getting ridiculed because they buy certain things for THIER kids for Christmas, they only spend a certain amount, they spend too much.
ive personally been victimised because I spend more on my dc than another mum could spend on hers. Apparently it’s not fair on those who can’t afford too..

I work hard for my money, I save all year long to ensure my kids have the best Christmas, I have a budget and yes to some it may be a bit high £250 for each DC) but It’s not my fault or problem if others can not. I’ll be damned if I stop treating my kids because some people can’t afford to spend that much on thier own kids. I’m not gonna be made to feel guilty for money I have earnt and spent on my own dc.

both kids were told to not mention where thier presents come from to friends, I told them because some people aren’t as fortunate, and so far they’ve not broken that rule.

But I’m assuming your 20 odd year old kids don’t believe? And yet they still receive presents?

Sorry but it’s embarrassing for children to be on the cusp on starting secondary school and still believing in Santa. If you’re not a half wit you can make Christmas magical without doing the whole Santa spiel

“But I’m assuming your 20 odd year old kids don’t believe? And yet they still receive presents?

Sorry but it’s embarrassing for children to be on the cusp on starting secondary school and still believing in Santa. If you’re not a half wit you can make Christmas magical without doing the whole Santa spiel.”

Of course not. But nobody bullied them in secondary school because we still talked about Santa with a knowing wink. Its not ‘embarrassing’ unless you’ve brought your child up to be particularly infantile in which case they’d probably be bullied anyway. I’ve worked in secondary schools and kids are not preoccupied with this. It’s filed under ‘family stuff’ that they don’t really talk about but they secretly love all the Christmassy ‘magic’ and kiddy stuff in the privacy of their home. There is no need or justification to kill off Santa at any age.

There are some really nasty comments and I certainly don't view it as a competition. I did not put any pics of breakfast on social media, or take photos even. We just did what we always do on Dec 1st, which involves less than 5 minutes more effort than a normal day. I appreciate some households don't have the capacity for that 5 mins. So they won't do it. Same as us not doing other things that don't fit our family. Why can we not embrace diversity in how we celebrate?

I've been getting slightly plagued by the opposite - my circle are fully engaged in competitive under-gifting.

There seems to be an unspoken competition to prove how un-materialistic they/ their kids are. The boasts are the polar opposite of the OP - it's all about who has spent less, "because M only wants a ball of wool and a pack of crayons."

I don't have the energy, time or inclination to give one single shit what other people buy for their kids. Spend £5 or £500. I couldn't care less.

None of us are on SM, it's all in real life. I can't imagine how under-gifting would roll on Instagram