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?

I think this 'us and them' mentality is starting to get out of hand. NM is not for me but this is getting vicious now.

Thanks laura. I'm starting to feel quite festive now and I'll be taking the DSes into town so I can have my first Christmas costa of the year.

It obviously hasn't been said because she's sitting on her hands!!!
You can't bring me into this whilst sitting on your hands...no wonder your ashamed of yourself!!!!

It's probably cause you haven't even got anything to say at all!!!!!

Thank you bythewishingwell i cant see that i've done anything wrong either!!

Hi I am on the netmums website and although I have only looked and not posted anything on the xmas thread ( my presents are scattered everywhere otherwise I would have) I have enjoyed looking through the thread and getting ideas. I think it's appalling that people are judging others on what they do or don't do with their children. Laura I understand where you are coming from with regards to the iPads (not that anyone should have to defend themselves) my son is getting one for his birthday in January he's six and like you we use it for hospital visits when my son is unable to walk due to his blood clotting disorder but cos he is bored he will try and crawl to play with the toys when he is supposed to be bed bound or to distract him from his treatments he needs. For supposed adults to describe other people and their choices in this way i thought I had left the school yard antics behind until I became a mother. Also please don't riducule people on their spelling and grammar having a ? Dyslexic son this feels from grown adults spiteful. Xx

I think anyone from net mums here has to understand, us xmas lovers here on MN get the same miserable remarks from some poe faced posters, we just try and ignore them.

Its not a mn or nm thing its a - we dont like xmas or want to buy a wittled owl thing versus a we love xmas one.

I would love pics posted threads of what we have got already, there are pics threads around xmas time.

I have enjoyed looking through the thread and getting ideas. same here!

You haven't Dot, not at all, you started a popular thread on another site and have been subjected to some real vitriol by a few nasty bitches here.
Lots of us have a foot in both camps and enjoy both sites. You just carry on enjoying your thread.

99 years ago this Christmas, two warring sides called a Christmas ceasefire to have a game of football - Hey Ladies? Fancy a kickabout? I am happy to be goalie!

Lots of us have a foot in both camps and enjoy both sites.

grumpy let's do it. My names mouse and I'm a Christmas-aholic.

Hey Ladies? Fancy a kickabout? I am happy to be goalie!

TBH to do this fairly I think we need our own, what have you brought so far thread so they can see we are not all wood wittling poe faced xmas miseriers

I didn't mean it to sound like a netmum vs mumsnet cos I do look on mumsnet from time to time, just wanted to put my penny worth in, xx

Want to start it grumpy? I'll join in.

Sorry I meant knitted - got distracted there.

KnittedjimmyChoos Ok, My dd is getting an I-pod, perfume, makeup, clothes, pants/socks, shower gel, a ton of chocolate, a couple of cd's, a couple of dvd's, a wii game, some nail care bits, a big tin of party ring biscuits, pyjamas, a board game, some costume jewellery, books and a ton of stuff I cant even remember, and I don't care what anyone thinks - not even a tiny bit.

I don't know, it just feels like conspicuous consumption to post all the pics, especially when so, so many people won't be able to afford a fraction of those presents.

But of course those who choose to do so, have every right to do it.

Will a one year old even be able to open so many presents in one day? That was our issue last year and again we had a fraction of that amount of gifts.

You lovely ladies are more than welcome to come and join in on our thread theres not a single bitch on there and theres a lot of us lol xxxxx

I don't judge other people for buying within their means at all.

I do wonder if there is a 'need' (while accepting that kids don't 'need' presents at all) for so many gifts, and does such a large quantity do damage to the child.

I also think as pp have posted, it is rather vulgar to share in such a way as it seems like bragging. But I'm sure it's not and that is just one perception of it.

And yes, I was ashamed that my gut instinct on reading the first page of the NM thread was to think something vile about the reason it had been posted.

Great, are we all friends then?

Oh no, have the nmers brought pink glittery kindness over to us vipers?

I am happy to be darkly sparkly - Malificent style

slithy

I'm not a fan of the photos, I agree with you there. But I do like to hear what people have gotten, because I'm a nosy cow.

It doesn't matter about how much people can afford. If someone has only spent a tenner then they should be proud of what they've achieved with their tenner.

The thread is there to help people, especially those with less money.
We've all saved money by helping each other. And because we're looking at what others have brought, we're buying stuff we may not have ever of found on our own.
The thread is also there to show pictures of home made bits as well not just presents.
My one year old probably won't be able to even open one present on her own but myself and my husband will open her presents with her.

I will openly admit that i've brought more this year than the previous years but I'm in the situation where i can.

netmumsdot have you been over to the bargains thread?

What kind of damage would presents do??!
There is no 'need' for lots of things in life...such as your first post!
I wanted to buy my kids lots that was my choice. I had a shitty 9 months (including last christmas) which I'm not going to go into with you as there is no need. I want this to be the best christmas for my family EVER. And i will provide them with lots of presents, lots of food, fun days out including free days out and making christmas decorations and cakes with them. And most importantly i will shower them with my love it's not always about opening my purse!

Even if we were bragging whats it to you? Whats it to any of you?