Are we being stingy?

[Lones80]

DS will be 3 in a couple of weeks, DD is 1 shortly after and then there are only three weeks until Christmas. We expect that between them they will get a mountain of toys from family and friends.

We're planning on getting DS a Knights' castle for his birthday and a balance bike plus stocking filler for Christmas and DD a Fisher Price door for her birthday and a trike plus stocking fillers for Christmas. Both will get PJs for Christmas Eve.

However, I've been to the other parenting website for the first time today. There's a thread where people have taken photos of all the gifts for their DC and the number of gifts some people have bought is staggering to me.

As they both have winter birthdays we buy small toys and gifts throughout the year. We are trying not to spoil them, but are we being too stingy?

Oh wow you lot really are nasty. Laura misery sticks to misery. So leave them be and dont give it another thought x

thank you sweetsomethings x

Unless I'm mistaken, the little girl was going be 13 months, so maybe that's why she didn't get play dough. My one year old isn't getting playdough either, she would eat it.

Our rule here is if you open a gift, have a proper look at it, little play with it because personally ,

Rules on xmas day for god sake!! what about that unbridled sheer joy and exuberance of literally opening one after the other after the other?

That doesnt mean the child is spoilt or ungrateful, it means they are excited.

My DD rips through and then throughout the day goes and plays with them and takes a closer look.

Sometimes, she doesn't come round to the present till later in the year...but she appreciates every single on of them,

I just cant imagine after all the build up of Xmas to then impose rules on xmas morning. Plenty of time for restraint and rules for the whole of their adult lives?!

I really, really cannot see the appeal of this type of showboating. But each to their own.

Not everyone is looking at that thread and calling it show boating, they are enjoying looking at it.

Just as the list threads on here, are the same but without photos. we enjoy reading them, and getting ideas. Its part of the build up and excitement, its not different.

Its your brain that is turning it into something like showboating but that says more about you doesnt it.

Jimmy, don't go mentioning helium now, things are bad enough as it is.

whats wrong with mentioning helium?

My dd's rip there presents open one after another, dd2 plays with everything she gets, dd1 doesn't really play with toys, never has done so this year I have bought her less and have bought her clothes and soft toys ( which she collects ) as well as her hudl which will get used daily, her pile looks tiny compared to dd2's but I'm not going to waste my money on things I know won't get played with. I could by loads more for dd2 knowing she will play with it all but I need to control myself a little

Am I the only one quietly hoping someone starts a present photo thread on here? Surely I'm not alone

can't believe the amount of stick you nmums are still getting as previously said though some of us over here get it too with our lists.

SeeChooJimmy

Am I the only one quietly hoping someone starts a present photo thread on here? Surely I'm not alone

No your not alone. I desperately want one too! But how could we keep the nasty miseries off it, turning it into something nasty

If people dont like xmas why click on the bloody xmas threads! Its our corner.

Exactly if your not a christmas lover there's plenty of other thread's to keep them occupied.

My names seechoojimmy... I love Christmas, I spend a FORTUNE, I love to spoil my dds, i don't get into debt for it and I am not ashamed to admit it

Does no one just get carried away buying stuff occasionally? I have a budget and try to be very careful and thought out with what I get, but it's not an exact science.

I start picking up stuff for stockings if I see them on offer, on the run up I add a small car here or a bath book there to the weekly shop, it's not wanton excess, it's excitement. I store it in a suitcase under the bed and I'm itching to get some child free time to see how much I've actually got and take photos

Or you get something free with vouchers in October as their main present then your dc suddenly develops an interest in something new come December and you decide to get that too as you can do without one yourself and really make their Christmas.

I didn't see the threads as showboating, more enjoying getting it all put together.

Thank you so much to you ladies for sticking up for me, I chose to defend myself but its obviously hard to do (emotionally) anyone can sit at a keyboard and type, So I really do appreciate you ladies, thank you x

laura How are you today? did you manage any sleep?

I see you discovered AIBU, did warn you! you remain calm and gracious, hats off!

any news of your son coming out of hospital? funny how you get concerned about a stranger on the old web isn't it

Hello, sorry got so caught up on that other thread in AIBU,

last nights sleep was crap, untill 3am, but he is is a lot better today thank you, his brother has just come home so they are off playing turtles.

We actually came out last night at about 7pm, apologies for not coming on to update, I didn't want people thinking I was going on and on.

Thank you so much for asking x

Is it sad that I actually don't like to post what I've bought for my kids on he because I know I will get the po faces and the comments?

you decide to get that too as you can do without one yourself and really make their Christmas

Dh and I do not buy for each other due to ££ and also we are not that bothered, I have no stocking neither does he or any other gifts. I have two other people to buy for and they will be very small token gifts.

The only people I go to town on our my daughters.

I just give token but well chosen (I think) gifts to family, nothing to OH (we are going our separate ways after Xmas but that's a whole other thread) and buy my daughter almost whatever she wants, said before I don't buy her much during the year (needs not wants) so this is the chance to go a bit mad.

Laura so pleased you are home, hope your son stays well and there are no more hospital visits

so this is the chance to go a bit mad

Yes"! Most people do go a little mad at xmas!!

TBH I feel like going totally bonkers and if had the space and ££ would change the house considerably for instance put xmas themed pics on wall instead of usual ones ( someone said she did an xmas dresser...) change all cushions, bedding over to xmas ones, all towls bath mats xmas, plates and so on...

I would have an enchanted Narina forrest

MagnificentMalificent Thank you! x

RJnomore that's a shame, but I do see where you are coming from, I too felt the same, worried about comment's but then thought 'what the hell, I'm doing no wrong' x

Thank you Grumpyoldblonde I hope so too x

I think we need a thread where we can post photos of out presents , would start one myself but can't do photos on the app. If people don't like it then they don't have to post.

Oh help, you do realise this isn't the bargain thread don't you? did you miss amazon gate

I can't do photos because neither my phone or iPod seem to want to let me. We usually have a " what have you bought?" thread where people list and I've seen some horrible things posted on there along the lines of it being disgusting buying so much while people are starving etc. we don't have one yet this year though do we?

I have been enjoying reading through the nm thread (despite my despair at the gender issue Laura! ) as there isn't any of that.

I think it's important for all of us, whatever our financial status or view on Christmas presents, to realise its okay for others to do it differently. My kids will get more than some, and less than others. I can't strive to buy them more than everyone because that way madness lies, and I won't limit what I can/want to get them because of someone else's ideology - or finances, although I've taught my kids very careful that you are not defined by what you have, but by who you are and how you treat others. And I show them an example of contributing to society through volunteering and giving to others, not only at Christmas but all through the year, which I am pleased to see my nearly 15 year old following by volunteering her time every week.

Sorrym I'm ranting...

Did you not see the helium balloon thread jimmy? It was a wild one.

RJ if you manage to sort your phone/ipod you should come over to the thread on NM, saves the judging comments over here.

Your not ranting, its nice to hear :-) x