ABIU about in law's wanting two Santa's?

[Aismixx]

It's our turn to have Christmas at my families house.. but I have just learned that we have to go to my in laws first... Because 'santa' also visits my husband's aunt?

My husband's's aunt puts out presents from Santa on Christmas day for her great nephews (3 and 8).

So the kids wake up in their own homes and open their presents from Santa 1 and then go to their great aunt to open presents from Santa 2.

It's our first baby and he will be 11 months old this Christmas.. not old enough to understand but we will be putting out our own presents.

I feel like the second Santa crosses a boundary line? The kids great aunt has no kids and has never been married so I feel like I can't say this.

1. We have a budget for 'santa' - we could afford more but I don't agree with spending too much money on toys for kids - rather buy a few things they want and some things they need.. ie books/clothes

1. I don't want my kids bragging to others about having 'two santas'.. and other kids maybe not getting many toys at all

1. I want my kids to appreciate presents and toys as some other children don't get any

1. It wouldn't take kids long to wonder why they get two Santa's? Why he do X in one house and not in another etc.

1. I feel like it diminishes 'our santa' ? And makes it a little less special for us. Particularly when our son gets older as he will be opening presents in one house wondering what he has got at the other

AIBU to say that I am not comfortable with this? I feel like saying it for the first Christmas would be better rather than letting it happen

YANBU there’s no way I would squeeze in an additional 2 hour trip on Christmas Day when it’s not their turn.

Agree completely- it’s really harsh to expect grandparents to buy gifts for their grandchildren but then not see them open the gifts and get no thanks for them as Santa gets all the credit! I wouldn’t bother buying anything if you were my daughter in law!

@saraclara has nailed it.

I'd just say "happy to do second santa on years we spend with you all, but on the years we go to my side we simply won't be able to join you"

Insisting that you go on Christmas morning to 'another Santa' is ridiculous. Just nip it in the bud or she'll ruin every Christmas for you.

If she wants to do presents you can arrange to exchange them on a other day that's suitable for you and make sure they're from her not Santa.

It's not 'two Santa's' though is it? It's Santa dropping off some of the presents somewhere else, I think?

This is a very common set up- many people have Santa visit two places (co-parents for example springs to mind)

I think you'll be able to explain it just fine

To me the 2 Santa's thing is a red herring..I've just read op's update that it a 2 hour round trip. Fuck that. Sorry, if she live 5 mins down the road I'd be like go for it but not on your nelly would I want to travel that far on top of everything else on Christmas Day with a 1 year old

My inlaws done the same & I just handled it like this

I would absolutely not be doing a 2 hour drive for this when it was my turn with my family.

This 👆

we had very similar where my MIL likes to buy surprise ‘bits’ for the grand children. Little things, but obviously a lot of thought goes into them and it brings her lots of joy. However always labels them from ‘Santa’ in obviously her handwriting even if given on boxing day etc.

Used to really piss me off as I thought it was weird and confusing for the kids (as well as it always being Father Christmas not Santa in my family growing up). I felt she was trying to take over the ‘being Father Christmas’ joy from DH and me and she’d had her turn being 🎅 with DH. Also how could they say thank you if it was from Santa? However it only lasted a couple of years until my eldest asked me why MIL labels the ‘extra’ presents from her as from Santa. I said similar to the above and it’s never been mentioned since.

However…..just seen the update. I would not travel an hour on Xmas day to do this!