Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Christmas

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

Flip

Original poster

AIBU, what are you doing/done in the past?

21 replies

hannahkj19 · 20/11/2013 06:14

DS will be 22 months by Christmas and I am getting odd looks and comments because I won't get him a chocolate advent calendar! I have instead got a gorgeous reusable one and have searched out enough presents to fill it so he will not be completely without! But just beginning to wonder if I'm being over the top by saying no as everyone seems to think I am being?! Tell me its not just me!!!

TIA xxx

OP posts:

500internalerror · 20/11/2013 06:19

You're totally in the right! Especially as advent calendars are a morning thing, & choc isn't for breakfadt, plus it's usually that horrible kinnerton stuff which is vile!

We have drawers, but this year ds wanted to make sure we were having a picture one too. It really reminded me how much pleasure I got from the traditional calendars as a cHild.

drinkyourmilk · 20/11/2013 06:22

Yanbu. Miserable bugger that I am, wouldn't even get a child that young an advent calendar. Unless older siblings insisted

elQuintoConyo · 20/11/2013 06:22

My DF brought us a Cadbury's calendar that DS can have a nibble of every morning, he's 2. He still has no idea about Christmas so I don't think he'll be hard done by by not having a chocolate every day.

Just ignore those who tell you oh, it's just a bit of chocolate, it won't harm dc, it's once a year, it's just a treat etc. DS will have choc next year, but this year I still want to hold back a little.

Next time someone gives their opinion on it, just say, 'how interesting' in a really dead, bored voice and change the topic

Original poster

hannahkj19 · 20/11/2013 06:31

Thank you! I knew I was doing the right thing but so many comments was to starting to question my judgement and that maybe I should just get him one! DS isn't used to daily chocolate so I fear the reaction should I allow him to have it and then stop it again, am very Happy as it is now that he prefers a bit of fruit any day and don't want him to think chocolate all the time is acceptable!!!

OP posts:

BikeRunSki · 20/11/2013 06:32

Not just you. Mine just have a picture. Nearly splashed out on a Lego one this year? But Granny sent them picture ones in the post.

Anyexcuse · 20/11/2013 06:37

I think you're doing the right thing although it can get v expensive. I put wee tiny gifts in for my 1,then 2 and then 3 and by the end it was costing me a fortune. I still use the calendar but now I put choc in it. The dc, now 16,14&12, love it and actually count down to the countdown. I always think that once the calendar starts Christmas is just a moment away. Can't wait!

Taffeta · 20/11/2013 06:42

My DC are 7 & 10 and haven't had a chocolate one yet, until yesterday when Grandma turned up with one each.

Except they both did a baby tantrum about who should have each one so I confiscated them. They either agree between them nicely or I feed them to Daddy. The calendars that is, not the kids.

mamathechicken · 20/11/2013 19:44

i bought mine an usborne colouring in one , I would love one my self!

Luggage16 · 20/11/2013 19:49

my daughter is nearly 7 and my son 3 and they have never had a chocolate calendar. I dont want them in the habit of having chocolate every day either (plus theirs would cost a fortune as they are dairy free!). Mine get toy ones though so spoilt tbh!

ElfontheShelfIsWATCHINGYOUTOO · 20/11/2013 19:50

i would have avoided choclate too until grandma got cheap cadburys shite and now she is dissaspointed if she doesnt get one.

Maryann1975 · 20/11/2013 20:05

YANBU in choosing what advent calender you want your family to have. It is part of your families traditions and these start when your dc are young. But (IMO) yabu thinking that 24 tiny chocolates over 3 and a half weeks is going to ruin your dc. We do have chocolate calendars and let the dc have chocolate if they ask, not much maybe a couple of choc buttons, or a square of dairy milk. I keep chocolate and treat stuff in a box in the lounge. They have never taken anything out of the box without asking, but know if they want it they can have it. They ask at the most twice a week, which isn't a lot considering the eldest is 7. Try not to make chocolate a forbidden fruit, they will want it all the more.

SlightlyDampWellies · 20/11/2013 20:12

I have 3 Dcs, and am a Christmas-loving obsessive.

Never done a chocolate calendar.

Last year did an advent candle which I love.

A re-usuable one is a great idea.

Ignore everyone else. People always feel the need to stick their oar in.

Margetts · 20/11/2013 21:36

We have a lovely one which my mum made, you take a gift out of a pocket and hang it on a felt Christmas tree. They also have a lego one which they get given for their birthday and they love.
We have never had a chocolate one

ImaginativeNewName · 20/11/2013 21:40

Erm, chocolate is for breakfast. You are all wrong.

CatAmongThePigeons · 20/11/2013 21:46

There's chocolate in coco pops, Nutella, Weetos and Weetabix. It's absolutely very much a breakfast food.

It is not on for others to decide what you should do for Advent.

The DCs are given a chocolate calendar from a kind neighbour, they also have a toy one and I'll get an advent candle. Advent is personal, YANBU.

TheBookofRuth · 20/11/2013 21:47

See, I must be even more of a killjoy, because I insist on a religious one, pictures only. I'm not even religious, I'm basically agnostic, I just think if you're going to celebrate it you should, even if only in some small way, do something to remember why.

shallweshop · 20/11/2013 21:49

Oh mine love their Cadburys chocolate advent calendars and one tiny morsel of chocolate a day (after breakfast and before teeth brushing and only in the 24 days leading up to Christmas!) is fine in my opinion though obviously not necessary at 22 months old - mine were 4 and 6 when we started buying them.

MrsOakenshield · 20/11/2013 21:52

I hate chocolate advent calendars, DD is nearly 4 and I won't get her one. She has a beautiful reusable one my aunty made her, and a old-fashioned glittery one. I would rather a religious one (given that's what it's all about!) but MIL always gets her one so I don't get the chance to choose her one myself which is slightly annoying.

We never had choc ones and I always loved opening the calendar every day. There's enough chocolate going on at Christmas!

peggyundercrackers · 20/11/2013 21:59

your a bunch of old bah humbugs

I get a chocolate one every year, it wouldn't be Christmas if I didn't. I agree with imaginative though - chocolate is a breakfast food, nutella on toast is fab! :)

TheBookofRuth · 20/11/2013 22:03

Oooh, Peggy, that's fighting talk, that is. I defy you to find a more Christmassy soul than I, I just don't do chocolate advent calendars. There'll be all sorts of other chocolate and sweet things around though, including home-baked tree decorations

peggyundercrackers · 21/11/2013 00:35

thebookofruth - I eat all the edible tree decorations too :) and always get into trouble for it, especially from my parents when we visit, they always say they are for the gcs and not me I guess old habits die hard!

Flip