To be worried my daughter is going to be disappointed with her Christmas presents?

[loridee]

I have a 9 year old daughter. When me and her dad have been able to afford it, I'll admit, we have spoiled her. This year we have been so skint. She wrote a list to Santa and i was so upset when I seen it as I knew we wouldn't be able to manage it all. We have managed a few things off her birthday list but the other things are just bits and bobs that she actually needs. For instance got her an electric toothbrush, not something she's asked for but something she needs.

I put her gifts out tonight and it just looks like so little compared to usual. I'm so worried she will be disappointed. She would never say she is but it just doesn't seem a lot. I'd be okay if it was all the stuff on her list she's asked for but only managed to get a couple.

I know many people are struggling and she is a lucky girl to even get what she has but I feel like compared to previous years (my fault entirely) she'll be disappointed.

Looks amazing can I move in. She will love it

Looks plenty OP. She’ll love it.

On a side note, just looking at that image I much prefer stuff wrapped (my stuff wasn’t so there wasn’t the anticipation of unwrapping).

It looks like a lot to me so don't worry.

I can't do as much this year either and my pile is not the same.

Oh don't be a prat. I'd rather a mum with no switch to give but who's a decent person than one with a switch and yet can't find it in their heart not to kick someone when they're down.

OP it's fine. She'll be pleased I'm sure.

My DDs had electric toothbrushes one year, and loved them.

Does she believe Santa brings all the presents? We do one Santa present, the rest our DC knows comes from us, so if that’s the same with you, she will be able to understand at 9 years old that you can only do what you can afford! It looks fine to me, but if you’re still not sure, maybe do what I did one year for a birthday when we were skint. I got a little set of blank cards, with the months of the year on. And each card was a gift or a treat. So on pay day of every month DC would receive a present. The first card she opened on her birthday and it explained her extra special gift this year was to open an envelope at the end of every month.
some examples of the gifts- mum and daughter day, pick what you would like to do - cinema, ice cream, Costa etc.
one month was to go shopping in river island and choose 1 outfit. Some months the cards would say she had to find the present (we made it into a game with clues) I remember one month it was a bracelet making set…
anyway that gift she has spoke about for years, she remembers the excitement of opening the envelope each month and finding out what her gift was. And it cost nothing on Christmas itself, all we had to do was buy the nice little set of cards, but they can be done on post it notes, or whatever.
Just an idea x

Please don't worry, this year my kids who are older and no longer believe asked why Santa had never given them items from their list.

Ultimately we chose things that were useful, long lasting and of interest including an electric toothbrush a few years ago. They never complained and were always grateful for what they received .

She will be delighted don't worry!

Mine have electric toothbrushes-they will love them and know the dentist said they needed them. Also pants and socks….

That looks like a lovely pile of presents for a nine year old. My sons are older teens and early twenties now, but we were talking about what they enjoyed about Christmas when they were little. They didn’t really mention presents at all, they most enjoyed and remembered playing games and watching films together. Have a lovely day.

Welcome to 2022, where you’re winning if you’re able to get presents and keep a roof over your heads and food in the fridge. A humongous pile would only have been to snap and put on social media (can’t wait to see what my FB feed looks like in a few hours) and overwhelm her so really don’t worry yourself over this. Think of it as a life lesson for her- at least you didn’t do anything stupid like credit cards or payday loans.

@MissMaple82 jog on you bitchy cow!

OP that's a nice amount of gifts. I've been there with over buying some years, and then not being able to afford the same amount the next. Mum guilt is horrible! I brought my daughter an electric toothbrush this year too. Don't listen to bitchy people that obviously can't handle their mulled wine.
I hope you have a lovely Christmas x

She will love her electric toothbrush - I’ve got one for my DD, it was on her list! And purposely this year I haven’t got everything on her list, her pile is smaller, I can’t justify one of the requests so if she really wants it she can save her Christmas, pocket and birthday money to buy it herself.

My kids are getting electric toothbrushes too

Mine are about the same age and are getting electric toothbrushes from my mum! They can’t wait to try them out! They’re also getting a bit less this year too but I actually feel happier about it as we’ve no room for loads of stuff! Kids remember how they felt on the day and not all the presents they got or didn’t get!

You're on benefits then yeah?

I would have loved an electric toothbrush at 9!

That’s a nice pile of presents. She will be really happy 😃

I think she will be made up OP and you are being hard on yourself. So much pressure on parents now and I absolutely blame social media for this.

Have a great Christmas x

I’m doing this too, this year, to supplement. Everyone is getting ‘a grand day out’ voucher I’ve printed out, a one-on-one treat with mum.

That amount is fine op- a stocking and lots of beautiful wrapped goodies to open! It sounds like you've got her some very thoughtful, worthwhile presents. I hope you all have a lovely cosy Christmas- your home looks great btw, very cosy and neat!

I also think the electric toothbrush will be fine- I got one at 11 when I had train tracks and it made me feel quite grown up. I would point out the benefits of the timer especially. If it gets a muted reception, it's still a lesson that sometimes presents might not be items you'd expect and the ways we show we love.

Dd was thrilled when she by an electric toothbrush, it was her favourite present. Don't worry I'm sure she will be thrilled with her presents.

I think it looks lovely OP. She is a lucky girl and I hope you all have a wonderful day. Your house looks nice too.

If this is less than Previous years, then I think actually this is good. Its not too few, its not too many. It looks like a good amount of good gifts. Shes a lucky girl. Relax about it.

That looks like a lovely collection of gifts for your DD. My 18-yr-old would be genuinely pleased with an electric toothbrush but will have to make do with the regular one waiting in her stocking to be unwrapped. Many of the gifts we give our DCs, especially in their stockings, are things we'd buy for them anyway e.g. underwear, showergel etc but they enjoy unwrapping them regardless. Likewise the more jokey gifts e.g. Pot Noodle for the older one to take to college.

OP my parents were skint most of my childhood and I used to get 1-2 presents every Christmas when all my friends got loads of expensive stuff for Christmas. But as a result now when I see a mountain of presents under a Christmas tree I just see it as excessive/wasteful. People are judging you for being "tight" but I honestly think it's a valuable thing for children not to be brought up being spoilt and having no understanding at all that some families have it much worse. I'm very thankful of what I have now and do not overindulge in things and have an understanding of how much some families will be struggling.

She probably won't be disappointed but if she is then apologise and explain that you've tried your best this year but didn't have as much money to spend on presents as previous years. She's 9 and will listen and will understand. I always understood and appreciated that my parents tried their very best. I don't think she will be disappointed though as you have a lovely set of parents and sound like you're a very caring mum.

You haven't done anything wrong please don't feel guilty. A lot of families will be going through similar this year.