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Christmas

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

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Original poster

Bit worried we've bought too much!

38 replies

TheExcitablePrawn · 21/12/2013 14:02

Having looked at several threads where people only seem to do a stocking and a couple of presents (out of choice, not because of finances), I'm a bit worried we've gone overboard with our DCs!

They have several toys that they've requested, plus we've got them books, DVDs, puzzles etc. It seems loads but we don't tend to buy them really any toys the rest of the year. Stockings a mixture of 'useful' stuff and little bits I know they'll like.

I guess I just love Christmas and remember the excitement of coming downstairs when I was (a very lucky) child and seeing a huge pile of presents! I always appreciated everything so don't always think lots of presents makes a spoilt brat.

Is there anyone else like me on here? Are we ruining our DCs?I seem to be in the minority!

OP posts:

StillNoFuckingEyeDeer · 21/12/2013 14:04

I bought too much for DD1, because I've been buying things on offer and hiding them away. Got everything out last night and saw he much there was. Not loads of money, it's mostly small, cheap things. Half of it is going to be birthday presents now.

desperateforaholiday · 21/12/2013 14:05

I'm the same, they only get one or two presents on their birthdays and not a lot else throughout the year.
I used to love seeing all the presents when I was a child and I want my children experience the Christmas' I used to have

Dontletthemgetyoudown · 21/12/2013 14:06

Then I'm ruining my dc too I think one thing I've learnt from mumsnet is that people do things differently and we just have to accept that if it's not hurting anyone each to there own.

Some say it's low class to buy lots of presents but I always had lots of presents for Christmas Andy parents are certainly not low class. Not that it would matter if they were.

Have a happy Christmas op. Hope your dc enjoy their pile of presents

StillNoFuckingEyeDeer · 21/12/2013 14:09

I think I just got a bit over-excited because this is the first year that DD1 really gets Christmas. Anyway, her gifts include a toothbrush, toothpaste, mini box of coco pops, gloves, hair clips etc, so although there's loads to open, it's not like she's getting loads of toys.

girlywhirly · 21/12/2013 14:10

If you don't tend to buy them any toys during the year it's fine to do it at Christmas, especially if they are appreciative and don't squabble because one is thought to have more than the other or bigger/better gifts.

You'll know if they are spoilt if they just rip the paper off and barely glance at the gift before ripping into the next one, or moan about them, or even ask where the rest are!!

hootloop · 21/12/2013 14:11

I have bought 9 presents each mum has bought 12 Mil has bought 5. There will be presents from uncles and aunties too.
It will fill the living room, just like it has every other year. It is only on mumsnet I have come across people who just have one or two under the tree. I have noticed though that people who do less for Christmas tend to do a few presents for birthdays whereas here a birthday is a single present.

Marne · 21/12/2013 14:12

I always buy too much but most of it (if not all) gets played with through out the year, we don't buy much during the year and we only buy them something small for their birthdays so I think its ok to spoil them for 1 day a year and I don't see how it could ruin them. I love seeing their faces on Christmas morning, they get a stocking full of tat for when they wake up (stockings seem to be getting bigger each year) and then they have a pile downstairs, it does include lots of books (dd1 gets through a lot of books), a couple of big presents (from their list) and lots of small things such as craft items, pj's, fluffy socks, board games and a cuddly toy. Both dd's are always really grateful and dd1 knows how lucky she is compared to children in 3rd world countries who have nothing.

Spend and buy as much as you like (as long as you can afford it) spoiling your dc's for one day will not turn them into monsters .

hootloop · 21/12/2013 14:12

Original poster

TheExcitablePrawn · 21/12/2013 14:17

Phew, I'm not alone!

We too only do a few gifts at birthdays too.

I am wondering whether to let them open some presents from friends and family before Xmas day (we got more from lovely people than expected), or is this a bad idea? They're still quite small so maybe this might confuse them?

Yy to 'brattish' ripping off paper and then chucking presents-I'd feel mortified if they did that! A mum at play group yesterday was merrily telling me how spoilt her 2DCs were (2 and 4 year olds), and that theyd done exactly that ( they were doing presents early as going abroad)- I'm sure I visibly winced!

Merry Christmas to all the splurgers here!

OP posts:

TheNightIsDark · 21/12/2013 14:21

Meh. I've bought too much but they'll enjoy it. Everything is something I'm 99% sure they'll get something out of or it's books/clothes etc that they'll need anyway.

They'll appreciate it, I like seeing their faces and this year unlike other years we have been fortunate enough to afford it thanks to the bargain threads!

FalalalalalalaFiggy · 21/12/2013 14:21

To be honest my dh is tearing his hair out at what we've got DS who is 2 tomorrow but that's his bday and Xmas presents together.

I work hard throughout the year and don't find things for myself anymore do spend on DS. He won't be spoiled by any means a number of his gifts cost couple quid off eBay but that means that it looks a lot.

LadyMacbethWasMisunderstood · 21/12/2013 14:27

I buy my DCs a huge pile of presents each - stocking, a pillowcase full, presents on foot of bed and presents under the tree from family.

They appreciate it all and are not at all spoilt. I get as excited as they do. When I was a child my patents were quite hard up till I was around 9 or 10. But I always had a huge pile plus a jammed stocking.

Lots of books, art materials, puzzles and once year strung puppets that I still have.

Christmas was a magical time and I want to recreate that for my children. And yes I know its not just about the presents. It crooks be miserable if we didn't then sit with the children and look at them together. Bit we do that too!

I'd never say pei

LadyMacbethWasMisunderstood · 21/12/2013 14:28

Sorry.

Is never say people who buy less are wrong. But what we do works for us.

LadyMacbethWasMisunderstood · 21/12/2013 14:29

Typos galore. Sorry.

ISawMamaPizzaKissingSantaClaus · 21/12/2013 15:42

Ah well, then there is no hope for DS, he is getting a huge pile of presents

I don't care what others mumsnet think, he is my one and only special little boy, we have no family to spoil him so I do it all myself. I can't wait to see his face on Christmas morning, I am anxiously awaiting this moment. I can afford it, haven't gone into debts, we got space to store things afterwards so what. Let him have a magical day with a huge pile of presents from Santa and us. I also always had huge piles when I was a child and I definitely didn't grow up low class.

I also know that he will play with everything I got him, loads of playmobil (the complete zoo, all sets for it), a guitar, bongos, Scooby doo stuff, dinosaur stuff and loads more.

So, sod what others think and enjoy spoiling your DCs

ElfontheShelfIsWATCHINGYOUTOO · 21/12/2013 15:56

Same here there is going to be quite a pile. But no one large cost item. There is no one else to spoil her here though...

I do not think that once a year a pile of presents make a spoilt un grateful child....

Also the cost is irrelevant, when they are young anyway, you could put tons of stuff out that cost pennies or nothing...

ginmakesitallok · 21/12/2013 16:00

Our DDS always get a huge pile as their grannies and aunts buy them loads as well as us. I make no apologies for it. We can afford it.

Coconutty · 21/12/2013 16:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Marne · 21/12/2013 16:04

Our dc's don't get much from family, grandparents give them money (which is great but not as much fun on the big day), so we tend to buy quite a bit for them. I love Christmas so we go over board, dh will always moan when he see's how much I have bought but I rarely buy anything full price so it doesn't cost as much as he thinks.

wonderingsoul · 21/12/2013 16:19

seei would rarther celebrate thier birthdays more and normally they get more on their birthdays 6-7 presents plus anm outing or party.. becasue thats when they where born and is more important to me then christmas (we are not religiouse at all)

but i still get them more then one or two presents at christmas aswell.. they dont get things through out the year.

i dont think you buying loads of thingd for children atomaticall makes them brattish or spoiled. its how you bring them up to appricate what they have and not to exopect things just becasue they want it. so i say buy what you want for birthdays and christmass's

Luggage16 · 21/12/2013 16:21

This year I definitely think we have gone overboard - but I really dont care! They are good kids who dont ever ask for things and we are spoiling/ruining them for a number of reasons this year. I know everything we have bought will get used and played with and we havent gone in to debt to pay for it all. I can't wait to see their faces christmas day!

Artandco · 21/12/2013 16:27

We have brought just one main and a stocking. We also live in a teeny tiny flat and literally do not have anywhere to put anything. The main is bikes which we will store in our underground car park space. The stockings are mainly useful bits like pjs, with some small books, choc and odd bits

Grandparents are paying for annual zoo membership from one set and swimming lessons from another

MangerMinor · 21/12/2013 16:34

Well as I'm packing the car ready to go up to my parents, I'm thinking that yes, maybe I've bought too much for the dc! Ah well, who needs clothes...

starlight1234 · 21/12/2013 16:35

My DS has loads... I really don't care what other people on Mumsnet think...He isn't spolit..He is a good boy and I can afford it..He doesn't get toys really except birthday and Christmas.

He doesn't really have much family so buy him what he wants...

There isn't a right or wrong way , there are just lots of different ways...My son has a friend who asks and just gets...I can't see how that makes Christmas exciting but we all raise our children differently

honeybunny14 · 21/12/2013 16:37

You can never buy too much for xmas thats what i always say .

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