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Christmas

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

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Original poster

Does anyone else have this panic looking at the piles ?

39 replies

mamatomany · 07/12/2010 13:40

Every year I do this, wrap up their presents and then think hmm there's not very much there.
Because they are getting older the presents seem to get smaller and less thrilling if you like.
And there is nothing they desperately want. I asked for lists and the eldest couldn't think of one sensible thing she would love.
So 10 presents each, things like books, bubble bath, DS games but it looks pathetic :(

OP posts:

propercrimbo · 07/12/2010 13:42

When I read the topic title... I expected it to be in Pregnancy!! ha ha ha!!
10 presents each isn't pathetic, and as they get older presents do get smaller, I won't turn my nose up when I am presented with a small cube!! hee hee!

thenightsky · 07/12/2010 13:43

I know what you mean... at least those big barbie's horsebox type presents made a big yummy looking parcel. DD's single envelope with Top Shop and Oasis tokens looks so mean, despite costing more than barbie's horsebox!

Original poster

mamatomany · 07/12/2010 13:46

I'll be keep those piles under wraps propercrimbo.

Oh for a small cube from Tiffany more like Ratners knowing my luck.

OP posts:

propercrimbo · 07/12/2010 13:48

ha ha!! I imagined you there with a mirror then posting!!
we can but hope!

loola2shu · 07/12/2010 13:58

I know exactly what you mean, DH braces himself for my face and 'oooh there doesn't look much there' every christmas eve and in reply I get a

I think every Mum does the same TBH!

fannybaws · 07/12/2010 14:09

My dad used to put the small things in big boxes, looks fab and makes it impossible to guess.

Glitterandglue · 07/12/2010 20:06

I think my mum has this problem, because she still gives me piles of tat small things to unwrap. It looks like I have a huge pile of presents, most of which turns out to be keyrings, erasers, socks etc. But that's okay as I collect keyrings and erasers and I've never bought myself a pair of socks in my life!

Anyway, if you really think it's not much you can always add to it with a few small things. Even complete rubbish, just for a laugh. One year my parents did that charity thing where they donate for e.g. a water pump in a village, in your name, and instead of giving me the card first, my dad wrapped up an old tap in some newspaper. Took some headscratching, that one did.

asdx2 · 07/12/2010 20:12

No dh goes way OTT and my thoughts are usually where the hell am I going to put this lot.

The3Bears · 07/12/2010 20:13

This just happens as they get older though, I wouldnt worry I prefered getting smaller presents as I got older because you start to realise there worth more.

Mabye you could add a game you could all play together or a dvd you could all watch together as that would make xmas fun.

taffetazatyousantaclaus · 07/12/2010 21:38

LOL my Dad had a thing about this and would always split up packs of things to make it look like more eg pencil, sharpener and ruler set, pack opened and each individual item wrapped. We loved it. There was often a competition to see who had the tiniest/smallest item.

What about getting a few silly small bits like some chocolate, socks etc. Mine have things like chapstick and peanuts.

healthyElfy · 08/12/2010 14:21

Maybe next year get them a cushon and a dressing gown and some clothes in the sale, three big presents to open then!

My MIL always does the seperate and individually wrap thing with Olay for me, its the anti ageing Olay so its several reasons to feel a tad depressed instead of one!

healthyElfy · 08/12/2010 14:21

Or a tent, wrap it up when up :o

Original poster

mamatomany · 09/12/2010 13:17

Arghhh a tent, they'd bloody love that !

OP posts:

Jinglesomeballs · 09/12/2010 13:29

I think people these days get to carried away and think they need to spend and get more and more, its the thought and love that goes into the gifts not how many there are or what it cost.

My DS is getting 4 presents under the tree and a stocking. I think if they get to much then they are overwhelmed and don't really appreciate it.

Plus DS has lots of relatives that will buy him lots of tat gifts so I dont think it is nessasary to give a BIG pile.

Merry Christmas everyone and dont forget its not all about the presents

wfrances · 09/12/2010 14:22

just been thinking the same about eldest sons pile compared to youngest sons.oh dear.

peanutsmuggler · 09/12/2010 14:39

I have a 2.5 year old and a 7 year old, the 7 year olds pile is much smaller despite costing lots more.

I think I might just have one big jumbled up pile of presents instead of 2 piles, it might not seem as obvious then.

healthyElfy · 10/12/2010 08:47

You could bulk it out with things in balloons, little bars of sweets etc, just to raise the height.

Guadalupe · 10/12/2010 08:55

You could put them all under the tree so its one big pile and then they can give them out.

GypsyMoth · 10/12/2010 08:56

oh i want a small cube from Tiffanys too!!!

Slobbadan · 10/12/2010 09:02

I thought the same the other week when i got the stuff out to asses but im not spending any more! DD has had more spent this year that prev yrs! think things get more expensive so you spend more but it looks like not a lot.

ps i got a medium box from Tiffany's for my birthday last year!

SuePurblybiltByElves · 10/12/2010 09:08

I buy too much for DD's birthday in October and spend the week before muttering and transferring little things from the Birthday bag to the Christmas bag. And back again.

When she was 1 and 2 there weren't stockings big enough in all the land - we got loads of lovely big chunky toys from NCT sales and the like and it looked ace, like a toy shop. Now she's 4 and into expensive weeny things it does look more sparse. So heaven knows what Ipod vouchers must look like! I have filled the stocking with second-hand books, pants, bubble bath etc and just spent my tesco vouchers on a satisfyingly chunky box of megabloks.

WhatsWrongWithYou · 10/12/2010 21:06

My DD's birthday is in October and she really is clueless as to what she'd like. Maybe a phone but not that bothered.

She does have a jewellery box and dressing gown which look big, and I suppose I could get her yet another cushion. Actually, I did see a silver sequined one in BHS the other day < boak >, which I'm sure she'd love.

DS1's pile is tiny - will be a watch, phone, rugby shirt, jammas, couple of DVDs, xbox game - not cheap but paltry-looking.

StarExpat · 10/12/2010 22:45

I thought this was a pregnancy topic as well!

Ds is 2 and our only and he has way too much. I always said I'd never do loads of presents at xmas, but it's a result of shopping early and ebay... and a bag of presents in the loft that we forgot about! We definitely didn't spend a lot and spread out over many months, but he'll be quite indulged this year .
So, yes - but the panic is different.

Joolyjoolyjoo · 10/12/2010 22:49

My panic isn't so much about the size of the piles, but whether they are even, as my lot would be sure to notice a discrepancy of even one parcel. Thank God for the poundshop

missmoopy · 10/12/2010 23:03

I have just wrapped dd's parcels. She's got 10 parcels, all of which I know she'll love, plua a bike from my folks and I STILL think I could maybe buy more....ridiculous. I am not going to as it is obviously quite enough.
Its parental guilt being exploited by toy adverts in my opinion. I am sure my parents never felt guilty.

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