Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Christmas

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

Original poster

Do you make sure your dc's get all the items on their letter to Santa?

101 replies

omama · 15/12/2013 19:28

We finished all our Christmas shopping a few weeks ago. Did letter to Santa last week & DS (3.4) asked me to put 4 items on it - 2 toys, a game & a pack of chocolate coins. We'd already bought the toys & chocolate coins, but hadn't bought the game.

Its a cross between a board game & buckaroo - looks fun but reading reviews think might still be a bit tricky for DS to play until he's a bit older, so not overly keen to buy it. Plus we've already spent plenty on the presents we've already got.

But.... am remembering last year when he didn't get a particular item & went on about it all day I don't want to disappoint him & am having a 'should I buy it?' wobble

Have you ever NOT bought a much wanted item they had asked Santa for? Did they forget about it when they saw all their other presents? clutches at straws & kicks self for not having done letter to Santa earlier Hmm

OP posts:
FortyMerryFuckers · 16/12/2013 00:48

I have always got everything he has put on his letter but tried to guide him on what to write ie no you can't ask for a pet donkey you know Santa can't bring pets Xmas Grin but this year he has asked for GTA and there is no way he is getting it but I still feel bad.

lade · 16/12/2013 02:12

Up until now, we always have, as they write their letters, post them, and the original letters mysteriously appear in the bottom of their sacks all ticked off. Thankfully, they usually ask for one decent present and two little things. Requests in the past have included a bag of peanuts, dried mango and a cardboard box.

This year, we are going to have to break tradition, as my 10yo DD had requested earrings, but is no longer allowed to have her ears pierced. So I think FC will make a comment in his letter to her. Her other requests were a "cheap pandora charm" and a pack of vests. She'll get those Grin.

FixItUpChappie · 16/12/2013 02:19

When I did letters to Santa as a child my parents considered it a "suggestion" list for Santa as opposed to a "please select from these gifts list".

The idea being It's up to Santa what he will bring if anything and you should be grateful to get anything at all. I like this take on it and will do the same. So no OP, I don't think it's at all necessary to get everything your child requests.

callmekitten · 16/12/2013 03:11

While DD doesn't get everything on her list, we have always tried to get her greatest wish. Santa always writes back to her saying that he will bring some of the things she asked for and some other things that he thinks she will like. Ever since she started understanding the whole Santa thing, we have told DD that Santa will not bring her anything that her Mom and Dad don't want her to have.

BagOfBats · 16/12/2013 03:16

Can I ask- what is GTA?
DS1 is 3 and has asked for something quite random but has stuck to his guns and it's the only thing he's mentioned in the last 2 months. We wanted to buy him a bike but he hasn't bitten, no matter how many hints I've dropped!

Rosvita · 16/12/2013 04:47

bagofbats grand theft auto

jeee · 16/12/2013 05:36

My six year old's letter to Father Christmas -

Dear Father Christmas

I would like an i pad, i pad mini, I pod... [a theme seems to be developing here Grin] a computer because I am never allowed to use the computer at home and a luvly doggy.

I love you Father Christmas [a desperate attempt to get FC on board?]

XXXX

Somehow I don't think the elves will be wrapping those presents before the reindeer fly!

ZingChoirsOfAngels · 16/12/2013 06:14

we don't do letters to Santa

wonderingsoul · 16/12/2013 07:28

no, because i am unable to get a flying bed and a real penguin (he was adament a toy one would not be an ok sub) ... nor am i able o make it snow.

i normaly get at least one thing from their list.

RhondaJean · 16/12/2013 08:37

Mines are 14 and 9 and no.

Dd2 usually lists everything she's seen in tv that day so we right several lists over a few weeks and I cross heck for the items she really wants then suggest them into the Santa letter.

Dd1 chances it with things she knows I won't go for ( like contact lenses to change eye colour, she has 20/20 vision, no way would I encourage them)

RhondaJean · 16/12/2013 08:38

Jeeee Santa can't do apple products cos of copyright or live animals cos they startle the reindeer!

Spink · 16/12/2013 08:56

Here, the dcs get 1 pressie from FC, & their letter to him is a wish list, which he might or might not use for inspiration....

Ticktock80 · 16/12/2013 08:58

Depends. This year the lists were really easy, 5 Or 6 things, all pretty cheap, so yes. Plus other non list items we got them. But they know santa won't get them everything on the list. Grandparents or family may get them things on their list too. But they usually get it covered by someone.

They know not to ask for electronic things, they have realistic expectations of what santa can deliver.

SantaStuffedMyStocking · 16/12/2013 09:26

we always buy everything they ask for, I would hate to see them disappointed on Christmas morning. we also add a few surprises so they have things they don't know their getting.

snowmanshoes · 16/12/2013 09:36

My eldest dd never writes anything expensive on her list to Santa, its always things like books, board game, crafty set thing she's seen out and about and then surprises. So yes, she is usually able to have what is on her list as its not out of control. However her vebal hints to me with what she would like, now that's another story!
We always make sure she has her most wanted item (only being 7 its never anything expensive, lets hope that never changes!)

RunSantaRunQuiteFast · 16/12/2013 09:40

DS has listed numerous Lego sets, all of which are old and now collector's items, starting at £895 on Amazon, so no, none of those will be making an appearance! He has gone through the list again and added some sensible things that are actually available in shops now.

DD wants a dragon and a dinosaur, so I think she's out of luck too....

Luckily we too go with the idea that the letter is a wish list, not an order form.

Marne · 16/12/2013 09:44

Dd2 is getting everything on her list but only because there were only 3 things on her list, dd1's list consisted of 6 ds games and a couple,toys so she won't be getting all the games ( she's getting 1 as I'm not having her glued to her ds for the whole of Christmas ), she knows that the list is just to give Santa ideas and she won't get everything she has asked for.

ziggiestardust · 16/12/2013 10:28

Can I ask what people's cut off date is? Like, if your DC's write their lists at the beginning of the month, is there a point where, if they say 'ooooh I forgot to put x down' where you decide to cut your losses and not get it?

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 16/12/2013 10:37

No we discuss the fact that Santa will get him some things but not all, and maybe one or two surprises.

This is accepted with perfect equanimity, no moaning or wailing.

MerryMarigold · 16/12/2013 10:43

ziggie. we write a letter then post it (it probably ends up in a bin). There is a certain amount of discussion before the letter writing event about not asking for too much, 1 or 2 things, writing some polite things to Santa eg. How it's going etc. (the lost art of letter writing). Dd asked for a nightie and a pair of tights with no prompting! Ds1 started at a laptop, but I said that was much too big for FC and he said, "Yes, how could he afford one for every child in the world?!". Once the letter is posted, that's that. Ds1 did change his mind as I forgot to post letter, but once posted it's gone. Finito.

Flibbertyjibbet · 16/12/2013 11:04

No. We tell them that the lists are just for santa to get ideas. However apart from 'eypad minny' at the top of ds1's list, most of the things are quite small so they are getting quite a few things.

We also tell gp's a couple of the things, like dvds etc so they can get the kids stuff they really want to. Which may add to how 'clever' santa is because he must get to know what gp's are buying so that there are
no duplicate presents Grin

When I was small we wrote lists and never got anything on them. Yes money was an issue but we were not greedy. Its almost as if my parents thought that getting anything on our lists would encourage us to be spoilt and entitled. Instead it gave me a good grounding in how not to expect anything, and wondering in the new year how friends at school got things they asked for, and we didn't . Doesn't do much for a child's self esteem to get NOTHING from the list year on year I can tell you!

mumof5plusazoo · 16/12/2013 11:08

No.

  1. my eldest asked for an ostrich
  2. my dd2 asked for a pet tarantula
  3. their list/letters are stupidly long
  4. I couldn't afford it all
  5. some of it they all ready have
  6. they need to learn they can't always have everything they want exactly when they want

However I do always try and get there most wanted present.

ImaginativeNewName · 17/12/2013 23:12

My ds' list also changed dramatically the other day to include Power Rangers. Twice. I'm not even sure he knows what they are, assuming he has heard them mentioned in school. Have advised that Santa might not be able to get them at such short notice. And directed my lovely but unreliable younger brother to Asda...

arfishy · 17/12/2013 23:19

Dd wrote a list back in October, including items like iphone, Macbook which she won't be getting. I've bought quite a few things from the list, but not everything and a few other bits and pieces for stocking.

She keeps trying to add things but I've told her the list was closed a long time ago.

ZombieSquirrel · 18/12/2013 00:30

I don't listen to lists.

My 14yo has mentioned some presents he'd like me to get though. Of about four or five suggestions, I'm buying him two outright, a smaller present, and giving him some money- he can choose to put them towards the others if he wants.