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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Original poster

Do you get them everything on their list and if not how do you explain?

110 replies

Marne · 02/11/2010 10:33

I made the mistake of getting dd1 to write a list as i had no idea what to get her, i have bought her a few things (in sales) which i thought she might like and was hoping to buy her a couple more things that she could choose.

So last night she wrote her list which consists of 15 items, most are around £20-50 each . I explained that 'father x-mas wont to be able to get her all those things as they are very expensive' she said 'well, im sure his elfs can make them in the workshop' .

Do i just buy her 1 or 2 items and hope she forgets about the rest?

How many things off of your dc's list do you actually buy?

OP posts:

nappyaddict · 04/11/2010 01:06

Hope you don't mind me being nosey, I'm finding this all quite interesting.

How come you don't buy birthday presents?

piprabbit · 04/11/2010 01:11

DD can put as much or as little as she wants in her letter to Santa. She won't be getting it all.
I will not be explaining or justifying this. It never did me any harm - just made Christmas Day more exciting because a) I had no idea what items I might actually get and b) I'd usually forgotten most of my list.

waterlooroadisadocumentary · 04/11/2010 01:12

I don't see the point in birthday presents, she gets them from other people . Her party is a gift from us.

She is no selfless angel, she likes nice things but is not a collector of stuff. She rides horses which costs in excess of £100 a month. We take her to the theatre about once every other month. She sews so we spend money on buying fabric and patterns etc. She also goes to a local art group which also costs money.

Clary · 04/11/2010 01:19

Mine don't do a list as such but for the last XXX yrs have done a letter to Santa at the infant school fair, so I guess that is kind of a list.

Certainly it has proved useful tho it can be annoying if the toy bought at some expense and difficulty in Nov turns out not to be on the list in Dec!

I have, as others, always said that the list is just some ideas for FC.

Anyway they have all left the infants so I am guessing no letters this year (no Santa at jnrs fair! ). We shall see what transires.

Mummy not so organised this year anyway so not much shopping done yet!!

nappyaddict · 04/11/2010 01:40

That makes sense. I thought you were meaning you didn't celebrate it at all. DS doesn't get a party but he usually gets a nice day out instead of a present.

nappyaddict · 04/11/2010 01:41

BTW am thinking of maybe doing a party next year but do they work out expensive? How much do you usually spends on DD's parties? Am thinking sticking to the day out may be cheaper but he is at school now so will probably want a party instead.

FishesLately · 04/11/2010 02:40

MollieO I'm extremely interested to know what your son has put on his list from 100 to 500 quid!

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 04/11/2010 07:19

It's like getting blood out of a stone getting a list out of mine. Both my parents threatened no presents if lists weren't received by the end of last month which focused DS's mind but DD has no idea. Mine have to ask FC for one present and I have to approve it. I tell DS (DD too old) that I ring the Elf hotline to let them know what they want and parents make a contribution, which got round the whole John got mote than me thing.

sarahtigh · 04/11/2010 08:53

my DD is too young for list but our intention is that stocking will be from FC (though DH is not keen on FC idea!!!) and a list drawn up with mummys help will be for us and other relatives who want to know what to buy her as her birthday is beginning of december have to think of things right through till she is 2, my sisters girl is christmas eve b'day and they do a half birthday type thing on 24th june, to stop the thats for xmas and your birthday type of thing!
in our family we always had limit presents from mom and dad about £20 grandparents and aunts about £10 so list had to have small ideas as well, I think it does not spoil christmas to have small gifts as we know mostlittle ones are as happy with box and paper, my DD would really like some electric cable as fascinated by cables a set of proper keys including fob in chrome please not plastic a screwdriver a cardboard box with dividers like wine comes in a large ball of string to unravel and a box of tissues to shred, and lots of bubble wrap and the section of newspaper i'm reading can not be fobbed off with sports section......... how do they know!

tinkortreat · 04/11/2010 09:22

i am not sure about al ist!!

my dd1 who is 5 years old had a look in the elc catologue and chose some things
i am getting her 2 things he chose and 2 things i am choosing

moosemama · 04/11/2010 09:46

My boys do write a list, mainly for my benefit, as my memory seems to be getting worse every year and I'm hopeless at remembering things they've mentioned that they like.

It also helps when they want something very specific eg ds2 wants a Lego Hero, but there are lots of different ones and without him writing it down for me I wouldn't have a clue which one he has his eye on.

They think FC chooses which thing he'd like to bring and Mum/Dad, Grandma/Grandpa, Nanny/Grandad etc can also choose things off the list if they want to.

They understand the the list is just suggestions of what they would like and that they won't be getting everything on it, but if they are lucky they might get one or two surprises.

MooMooFarm · 04/11/2010 13:24

I bet she'll not even notice on the day what she didn't get, as she'll be too caught up in the excitment of what she did get. Especially if you know which things on the list she 'really' wants. I

Ours write a different xmas list practically every week! Usually pages long, and different every time! I let them get on with copying words from the Argos catalogue to their heart's content; it's good reading and writing practice without having to nag them to do it!

We've always told ours that Santa fills the stockings at the end of the bed, and also leaves two or three big presents under the tree as well, if they've been really, really good! Otherwise I dont know how we would explain how some presents are labelled from nanna, auntie, etc, but mummy & daddy don't seem to buy them anything! I buy 'Santa-ish' paper to wrap the Santa presents (with scrawly old-man-writing labels of course) and other stuff to wrap & label ours with....

FlyingInTheCLouds · 04/11/2010 14:23

ours write a list.

I go to kid's carboots in manchester, buy cheap but brilliant 2nd hand toys,

if they happen to be on list hurrah, if not the dc are so chuffed they don't care.

personally I think it is good to not get everything you want in life with no effort (ie saving up/asking lots) makes you spoilt and not appreciate things if you just ask aND GET EVERYTHING. soorry caps.

mummumer · 04/11/2010 16:49

With presents being so expensive at the moment I thought i would pass on this good tip
I hear Father Christmas has his own album coming out
singing all the favourite Christmas songs
Its at Tesco
How exciting
Only £7.99 its a good stocking filler for Christmas day
I will probably grab one for the car too

mummumer · 04/11/2010 16:49

mummumer · 04/11/2010 16:51

with presents being so expensive at the moment I thought i would pass on this good tip
I hear Father Christmas has his own album coming out
singing all the favourite Christmas songs
Its at Tesco
How exciting
Only £7.99 its a good stocking filler for Christmas day
I will probably grab one for the car too

LadyInPink · 04/11/2010 17:17

What was that again mummumer?

Ineedsomesleep · 04/11/2010 19:19

We tell our DC that Santa won't have the time to get all those things ready and they seem to accept that.

FionaJT · 04/11/2010 20:39

In our house FC only fills the stocking with surprises (and a satsuma), all other gifts are from people. So DD (nearly 6) has written a list for me, and any other members of the family who ask, to choose from. I've told her a couple of things she definately won't be getting (too expensive/no room in house for etc) and she knows she won't get everything, it's just to give us all ideas.

waterlooroadisadocumentary · 04/11/2010 21:30

nappyaddict She tends to have quite big parties so hundreds, it could easily be done for less though

TheLastMelon · 04/11/2010 23:02

I used to write a xmas list for Santa when i was little out of my own choice. I thought it was great fun and wasn't too bothered when i never actually got anything off the list. I never threw a tantrum or argued, just happily accepted the presents i got. They were less expensive but just as appreciated. But that might just be me, depends on the child i guess!

moajab · 04/11/2010 23:20

My DS1 and DS2's list already runs into many hundred of pounds each!
I've told them that FC has to buy for all the children in the world and so can't give them the really expensive things.
I've also told them that Mum and Dad aren't made of money, that we do our best to get them what they want but that they wont get everything.
I pass their list onto other relatives who don't know what to buy for them.

I also tell them not to spend any pocket money in the run up to Christmas and to save any money they get given for Christmas. Then after DS2's birthday in January they can go to the shops and buy something from their list that they didn't get. This helps them understand how expensive things are!

ConstantlyCooking · 05/11/2010 03:10

I used to tell the DCs that they could only put 5 things on the list and if they were good then they might get three of them (this allowed me to ignore at least two requests for over-hyped plastic). They accepted this and they would spend a long time thinking aboutwhathey really wanted.

nickstmoritz · 05/11/2010 11:45

My DCs have always made lists usually in the shape of a stocking with pictures too. I keep them in the christmas boxes in the loft and now they are older it is really sweet to look back on them. My DD once asked for one of those Barbie head things which I thought was a bit rubbish and said I would never buy one. She was so unbelievably chuffed that Santa had left one for her that the magic of Father Christmas was wonderful and worth the tacky plastic tat in the house! "He must be real because you would never buy that for me" I adore Christmas and still secretly believe in Santa even though I am shopping and hiding the goodies! I once had to hide in the loft for half an hour on xmas eve when one of the DCs woke up while I was trying to bring down the pressies. I will be forever grateful that my in laws took us to Lapland to meet Father Christmas, it was absolutely freezing and we got to his house on a sleigh down a track lit by firelit torches. Unforgettable. I do a boot shape in the fireplace and sparkly dust mixed with the ash from the fire...aahhh can't wait. My DDs are 13 and almost 12 and my DS is nearly 10 and we will never have the official santa talk, I will leave it to be an unsaid fact so they can continue to enjoy the magic even if they do know. And as for the list thing I just get the most wanted and lots of surprises. Quite sad now that my DDs have passed the toy age..they still love a sylvanian or barbie item that said. Hurray!!

bumblingbovine · 05/11/2010 12:46

We get ds to do a list of things for his birthday and Christmas (His birthday is in November). I have always managed his expectations though so that he understands that his list is just what he would like. I make it clear he won't get everything on his list just hopefully some of them.

As his birthday is 4 weeks before Christmas we probably buy more of ds's list than we would otherwise as he gets some for his birthday and some for Christmas. Also ds gets a stocking from Father Christmas only. He knows that most of his presents come from people so he knows not all his list will be bought.

Usually there are some small items on his list which I try and include in his stocking from FC, otherwise the bigger presents come from us, his grandparents and his Aunty.

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