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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

If Santa brings ALL the gifts...

159 replies

SleepingStandingUp · 04/12/2023 19:09

... how do you explain all the stuff in toy shops and all the people buying presents? Are they just for naughty kids Santa doesn't buy for?

Just contemplating it today as I stashed my large bag of presents in front of a random 3 year old on the bus.

Not an Aibu but when I try to add to Chat it won't let me on the app

OP posts:
AuntieDickhead · 05/12/2023 03:32

There are definitely people who think all presents should come from FC, not the wider family. It's how I ended up with this user name last Christmas.

mdinbc · 05/12/2023 06:26

My children are adults now, but we always put presents under the tree from us, and Santa would fill their stockings and leave them one gift (usually the one they really wanted) on Christmas morning.

Gifts from grandparents or relatives were labelled as such. I find it strange that anyone would do otherwise. The kids didn't write thank you cards, but would remember to thank the relative in person when they saw them, or over the phone.

Mamadothehump · 05/12/2023 06:44

Our FC was just a glorified postman! We didn't really think it through before hand, it just kind of happened that way. Maybe partly because I don't ever really remember believing so not sure what tale my parents spun me! Stockings have never been a tradition for either myself or DH so we haven't with our DC. Everything is wrapped and put in a pile each on Xmas eve 🤷‍♀️

29andLost · 05/12/2023 07:03

Fightarealfire · 04/12/2023 21:32

Couldn’t you just buy bigger stockings or use a pillowcase?

Show quote history

I could yeah but my oldest is nearly 10 so I think it would be weird to start a stocking tradition now

DinkyDonkey2018 · 05/12/2023 07:07

We do stockings and one special present from FC, everything else is from us and family/friends.

sanityisamyth · 05/12/2023 07:18

Santa bringing everything makes no sense. When they get a little bit older and start wondering why they've only got a colouring book but their friend got an iPad, how do you explain that? Santa spends more money on other children? They must have been better behaved/nicer/kinder etc?

DS gets one present from Santa, which is from a short list he's put together Amazon wish list up to a specific value, which goes in his stocking. The rest are from my family and me.

WinchSparkle80 · 05/12/2023 07:18

Just stockings with usually a wanted gift in or beside the stocking from FC.

All family/friend/ presents from us under the tree throughout Dec…. FC doesn’t bring any of them.

It works and not yet had any questions on logistics so all good.

LovedMyLastNameItHadToGo · 05/12/2023 07:19

One present from Santa

jersey2021 · 05/12/2023 07:34

We e always said that we buy the presents and then send Father Christmas the post over money. Figured that was the easiest way to explain if some children got more or less - it depends on the budget! Personally I hate it when he brings everything - children should learn the value of money from an early age!

TheClitterati · 05/12/2023 07:35

Don't over think it.

Disturbia81 · 05/12/2023 08:25

I think kids just want to believe. I saw all the adverts and mum buying for others, I even found some hidden toys but didn't question it. I still fully believed!

MamaBanana12 · 05/12/2023 08:38

Santa brings everything for us too. Gifts & stockings.
Mine have never really asked, but I vaguely remember my eldest explaining Santa just goes shopping or makes the same one she's chosen for her list.

Never been an issue. The magic on their faces.

It's a pain to hide everything but worth it

MamaBanana12 · 05/12/2023 08:39

And just to add, Santa doesn't bring 'families gifts - ie from nana granda etc they are just brought round Xmas day they don't go under the tree.

WingingIt101 · 05/12/2023 09:33

Similarly we do Santa does the stocking and one present under the tree. Everything else from parents / the gifter like "aunty Sophie" or nana.

My jaw hit the floor when a friend told me she dropped some presents off for her friends kids and her friend said "thanks so much, how generous" then proceeded to remove the gift tags.
When my friend asked why she was taking the tags off she replied "well we tell them everything comes from Santa so it can't say "love from Peter, Sarah and Miles! Hahahaha!"

29andLost · 05/12/2023 09:33

MamaBanana12 · 05/12/2023 08:38

Santa brings everything for us too. Gifts & stockings.
Mine have never really asked, but I vaguely remember my eldest explaining Santa just goes shopping or makes the same one she's chosen for her list.

Never been an issue. The magic on their faces.

It's a pain to hide everything but worth it

Order everything online, or at least big stuff
So it comes in big boxes, boxes straight in the loft
Usually delivered when kids are at school too so they completely none the wiser
Much easier than having various things dotted about
Although I have been known to hide a toy kitchen in my room covered by a blanket 😂

Getthethrowonthesofa · 05/12/2023 09:35

All gifts from Santa, don’t need the credit, they know when they get older. Mine never questioned other gifts, just it’s Xmas and people also buy gifts for each other.

LanaL · 05/12/2023 09:36

I have always said that people buy the presents to send to Santa and then he delivers them if you’re on the good list! Santa isn’t taking credit for my hard work 🤣

x2boys · 05/12/2023 09:37

My son never questioned it ,neither did I when I was a child
I had friends whose parents Appearently "sent their presents to Santa deliver"
Or who had a pillow case rather than a,stocking
I just didn't over think it

shivawn · 05/12/2023 09:42

When I was a kid Santa brought most gifts, there would be a big pile under the tree on Christmas morning, I remember bursting with excitement seeing my pile. We used to be so excited that we'd be up crazy early that morning. We'd still get seperate gifts from parents and family so I wouldn't question people Christmas shopping.

Mine are young now, a newborn and a just turned 2 year old. 2 year old is only just getting the concept of Christmas so this is our first proper year of Santa, I think I'll do the same and have Santa bring most gifts.

KimberleyClark · 05/12/2023 09:46

I remember a work colleague many years ago saying her son had berated her for not giving him anything. “Those are from daddy, those are from Santa, but you haven’t got me anything!”

x2boys · 05/12/2023 09:47

sanityisamyth · 05/12/2023 07:18

Santa bringing everything makes no sense. When they get a little bit older and start wondering why they've only got a colouring book but their friend got an iPad, how do you explain that? Santa spends more money on other children? They must have been better behaved/nicer/kinder etc?

DS gets one present from Santa, which is from a short list he's put together Amazon wish list up to a specific value, which goes in his stocking. The rest are from my family and me.

Maybe because once they start questioning it, they are probably on the verge of realizing Santa doesn't actually exist and wether all presents come from Santa its just the stocking ,those who are less privileged are still less privileged .

Original poster
SleepingStandingUp · 05/12/2023 10:22

Getthethrowonthesofa · 05/12/2023 09:35

All gifts from Santa, don’t need the credit, they know when they get older. Mine never questioned other gifts, just it’s Xmas and people also buy gifts for each other.

I don't think it's about the credit, but about being thankful to the people who brought them, like Nanny and Aunties etc. Nanny brings presents and the kids open them and say thank you Nanny and Nanny gets to baske in their joy and how awesome Nanny is rather than Santa being so nice buying us presents but no one else does.

BUT maybe I'm overthinking with my adult head

OP posts:
Original poster
SleepingStandingUp · 05/12/2023 10:23

TheSuggestedAmendment · 05/12/2023 00:26

its all about Thank You culture. Posh kids are brought up writing thank you letters, so all the presents under the tree are From Someone. The stocking of small gifts comes from Father Christmas (no thank you required, just small sherry/mince pie/carrot).

And the working class kids are what? Rude little beasts who don't say thank you so might as well all be off Santa??

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SnacksToTheMax · 05/12/2023 10:27

My kids ask Santa for between 1 and 3 presents, depending on size, and he brings those + stockings. I’d feel weird not giving credit and thanks to friends and family who have taken the time to choose gifts!

Original poster
SleepingStandingUp · 05/12/2023 10:28

carddino · 04/12/2023 20:49

I remember babysitting for a family when I was a teen. The children were super and desperately wanted a special doll.

Three girls. Three dolls. £60.

I asked their mum and she said they were getting whatever. I asked if I could get them the dolls and she said yes.

I spent my own babysitting money and bought the dolls for them.

I called round to babysit Christmas evening so they could go out and the mum took the parcels, re wrapped them and said look what carddino found outside that Santa dropped.

I was devastated.

Oh that's so naughty ☹️

OP posts: