To think my sister is a flipping genius

[Boooooot]

I send my sister today what she and the kids usually leave out for Santa as my daughter hassaid this year she doesn’t think we should be leaving beer for Santa as he has to drive 🥲

So my sister tells her kids that Santa sends her a message with what he would like to eat and the kids prepare it. Aka, the kids prepare my sister and her husbands elaborate banquet for the evening. This year the kids have done a big cheese board with chutneys, pre-buttered crackers, pate and ham! They will sit and scoff the cheese board and wrap presents.

genius. Can’t believe I’ve never thought of this.

5 is ridiculously young, its barely worth seeing Santa before about 2 or 3. My children have believed right through primary school, as did their friends and I think its really sad a 5 year old wouldn’t believe. Its more like Year 4-6 (9-11 years old) they stop believing (but still enjoy it). I certainly hope a 5 year old wouldn’t say anything to the 99% of the Reception class that would believe.

Ha ha brilliant 😬

DD(21) has put out her homemade snowman cupcake for Santa & a carrot for Rudolph... drink wise Santa prefers his glass of Sauvignon to be chilled so I'll pour that when I get home from church.

Only on Mumsnet have I ever heard of a 5yo not believing in Santa - 4-7 is the best age for Santa.

@Hellybelly84 well I had a mother who told me it was nonsense from the start. I felt quite important in the special knowledge I held (throughout primary, I was told not to tell other kids; found it strange that they all believed.). At the same time, now an adult, I think it was a bit mean of her. But you see, different strokes and all that. Anyway, I knew at five (and younger).

Nice idea of your sis, OP!

Santa likes a baileys when he gets to our house. Except for tonight. When I forgot. 😭 had an a&e trip this evening so had to leave DH to do dinner and bath with DD, managed to pop home to see her before bed but was so stressed about it all I forgot about Santa and the reindeer! Will tell her I put something out if she asks!

I asked my 3-yo what we should leave out for Santa and he said 'paracetamol.' Santa was actually rather glad of it after a fraught day 😆

A 6yo and 8yo smearing butter and chutney all over the plate and tray with their sticky hands. 🤢

5 is ridiculously young. My DS is just 6 (a couple of days ago) and still full of belief, as are all his friends.
We know we have another year or two left but no point in starting with Santa stuff if you stop it by age 5

I’m in the uk and Santa had milk and mince pie or Christmas biscuits here when my DC were young enough to believe. He left presents and money (chocolate co7ns)

We didn’t stop it. He stopped believing. He’s 47 now and he’s getting a stocking tomorrow morning.

I googled it and apparently reindeer are particularly fond of dried cat food, and get very excited when left some as most people don't realise this

🙄

Well my brilliant G & T child stopped believing when he was 18 months.

@Meowandthen , too right - who on earth wants cold milk on a midwinter night? In the UK, Santa expects a hefty tot of something to warm him up a bit.

Yes your sister is a total genius 👌🏻👌🏻
absolute class !!

@Blossomtoes awww, that's so cute, happy Xmas to your 47 year old little one! ❤️

(Pretty sure it's my DS last year of believing this year and he's just turned 6)

DC 1was 10! but we make a big effort with Santa - letters are written which are posted in the post office, visit to Santa and we keep it going for as long as we can ie when I was asked if he was really real, I wouldn't say 'no he isn't. When Santa comes to our house, he leaves all the gifts under the tree as well as the stockings. No presents from parents, it all comes from Santa. In m kid's school, age 10 and 11 was the usual age for finding out/realising the truth about Santa. Its nice especially as half the kids in school have different backgrounds and cultures and have different customs. The children are very accepting of all of them.

My dc bake gingerbread men for Santa on Christmas Eve and leave him 2 (1 from each dc's batch) and a carrot for Rudolph. They are 10 and 8 and enjoy the tradition. 10 year old is clearly playing along but hasn't said anything so we will continue as long as they want to. Santa drinks milk in this house because it will line his stomach for the painkillers he takes after a busy night delivering presents 🤣

Totally agree with you.

I have visions of it popping up in my eulogy - “she still did me a stocking from Santa until I was 63!” 😂

Well my daughter want buying it and insisted on a glass of milk and a mince pie… boring. We will have to make our own cheese board

And here I am munching on a damn carrot pretending to be Rudolph. Not jealous at all 😭.

I just pick a not very chunky one and snap it.

My almost 10yo still believes, this year we've laid out stollen bites because aldi ran out of mince pies 😂

Absolutely not the point of the thread but I love cold drinks in the depths of winter.