How do you do presents from Santa?

Whattodowithaminute · 2016-12-12T06:03:50+00:00

When I was growing up I think my DM told me she sent all of the presents to santa and he delivered them. What do you do? Are all presents from santa? Are just stocking presents from Santa?

KateyinBaku · 12/12/2016 06:33

Growing up, it was stocking presents plus one "big" present from Santa (too big for stocking but not necessarily expensive, one year for example, it was a leopard soft toy). Everything else was from whoever it was from. I'm not sure what we're going to do with the kids - this is the first year we've had one old enough to do Santa. We may do stocking only. I really want to minimise the amount of stuff, which will be an uphill struggle as DS was the first grandchild on both sides & MIL in particular loves giving gifts!

Ilovecakeallday · 12/12/2016 06:39

Santa brings stocking for children and one present.

torroloco · 12/12/2016 06:43

With us growing up we just got our "main" present from our parents then the rest was from Santa (stockings and other tree presents). And then gifts from friends and family.

My family was a bit weird though because sometimes our parents would give us their gift on Xmas Eve probably to shut us up so they could sit and drink wine

Popskipiekin · 12/12/2016 06:50

Growing up, Santa filled our stockings - size and quantity of gifts being dictated by whether they could fit in stocking though some were tied on/left out like a book etc. Good quality but mainly small gifts.
Everything else from our parents/family.

I'd like to continue doing this with DS as I don't want him thinking he can ask for anything and the magically deep pocket of Santa will miraculously produce it!

UnoriginalNN · 12/12/2016 06:52

With DD, the best presents are from me but she's 2.

MrsBellefleur · 12/12/2016 06:55

Dd is over 3 and a half and seems to have an understanding of Christmas this year.

I have so far gone with santa brings the stcoking. I may add in that he brings one present as well but I think I can get away with not making a decision on that until next year.

MrsBungle · 12/12/2016 06:59

Santa brings the stockings and majority of the presents in our house.

NancyJoan · 12/12/2016 07:01

Just the stocking.

Original poster

Whattodowithaminute · 12/12/2016 07:30

Thank you! Sounds like there is consensus that stocking from Santa. Now need to evaluate what will fit in stocking (buy said stocking) and assume add wrapping paper consistency for stocking presents?!!

OP posts:

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 12/12/2016 09:20

With dds it was stocking things only from Santa, ditto when I was a kid. It was still just as magical for all of us.

Personally I don't understand the 'everything coming from Santa' bit. For a start, if money is at all tight, it can put huge pressure on parents and leave them feeling terrible if they can't afford this or that. I don't think it does kids any harm to learn very early on that things have to be paid for, and sometimes (or often!) there isn't enough money for everything they might want.

belleandsnowwhite · 12/12/2016 09:32

We always had 1 gift from father Christmas and rest from parents. I do the same with my kids.

NotCitrus · 12/12/2016 09:41

I don't really remember ever believing Father Christmas was anything other than my parents, so everything could be 'from' FC - if I didn't look impressed they would say FC must have thought I might like it in future, and if I did they could take the credit!

Ds knows, dd age 4 sort of knows and wants to play along. So FC is responsible for stockings here. Though I admit at 11pm when she had woken me up, I've told her to get back to bed or FC won't bring her main present (and did the same to ds - even if they don't believe in daytime it helped get them to sleep).

ElfontheShelfIsWATCHINGYOUTOO · 12/12/2016 10:18

what your used too is what your used too, personally i would have questioned why on earth they all need to be sent to him to bring back.

All my gifts from FC arrived Christmas eve when I was asleep and when I woke up, there they were. Presents from other family members were labeled from them.

We do same, stocking by bed to wake up too, come down and FC has been. We do a few gifts from us - in case he cant make it. But the main bulk is FC. In special paper not from any local shops.

Credit etc is not an issue in our house and its not a concept I understand. I get more than enough pleasure seeing my DC reaction, and older is now 9 and will soon stop believing - she is probably 70% non believing this year anyway and its all gone = POOF. For ever more.

ElfontheShelfIsWATCHINGYOUTOO · 12/12/2016 10:21

For a start, if money is at all tight, it can put huge pressure on parents and leave them feeling terrible if they can't afford this or that
when dd was very young ie born to about 4/5 the bulk of her gifts were sourced all year from second hand places and even free.

I never encouraged list, the list is a wish list, something may come, maybe not...but there will be LOTS of wonderful surprises. My DD is probably too aware all year of our shortage of money, and having a few gifts on xmas day from FC has not turned her into a spoilt brat who does not know the value of money. I try and get one thing off her list. Its one day.

TheChristmasCardy · 12/12/2016 10:42

We just have stocking presents from Father Christmas, and other presents are under the tree from whoever bought them.

Thinking back, when we were children, the presents under the tree did appear overnight, but it never occurred to me to think that FC had brought those ones too. But I know some people have the tradition that FC delivers all the presents.

StepfauxWife · 12/12/2016 21:59

Just debating this with DH. He thinks we should tell DD (3.5) that all presents are from FC. But I think that's confusing as she has already seen presents being delivered by my sister, who we won't see again until after Christmas.

So i think stocking plus one gift that she has asked for and the rest from us.

Shadowridge · 12/12/2016 22:02

Just the stockings from Santa here

HeddaGabbler · 12/12/2016 22:08

Just the stocking from Santa. I don't get the whole 'Santa brings all the presents'. It seems unfair on aunts/grandparents/friends etc to give their credit (and thanks) to the fictional guy in red!

Dilligaf81 · 12/12/2016 22:17

I never believed in fatber christmas, i always knew ot was my parents.
I have 4 Dc and all the presents myself and Dh get are from father christmas.
Up until last year all their toys were left by santa in their bedrooms. All this is hubbys idea Im fed up of doing all the thinking, shoppinh, wrapping and a fake fat man gets all the credit!

MrsDilligaf · 12/12/2016 22:17

My parents sent our presents to Father Christmas and he brought them to us if we had been good

We were very good

We always wrote a letter, never got everything we asked for because we knew from being little you didn't get everything on your list (as it should be IMHO)

My mum still tells me she sends my presents to FC and I'm 42...

Sunbeam18 · 12/12/2016 22:23

Our house was always stocking plus a chair full of presents from Santa, then one big present from mum and dad that was under the tree along with all the presents from other people. The tree presents were wrapped and there for a while before Christmas Day; the Santa ones arrived for Christmas morning

Abecedario · 12/12/2016 22:29

I think I thought all presents were brought by FC, as in delivered by, but i can't remember who they were 'from' as in bought by coming up when I was little. I had a pillow case on the end of my bed, and there would be presents under the tree, and they were all brought by him in the night, but then presents from grandparents, aunts etc would be given separately and I knew who they were from.

I remember my real dad (had regular contact with him but brought up by adoptive parents) taking me to buy some roller skates when I was about 7, that's the first time the whole 'oh we buy them but then we send them to FC and he brings them' came up and I remember thinking 'errr, hang on a minute????' That was the beginning of the end of believing.

My nieces and nephews all get a few presents from FC and the rest from family.

AllPizzasGreatAndSmall · 12/12/2016 22:41

Just debating this with DH. He thinks we should tell DD (3.5) that all presents are from FC. But I think that's confusing as she has already seen presents being delivered by my sister, who we won't see again until after Christmas.

I think even if you say that all the presents bought by parents are from FC, anything bought by extended family or friends should be from them.

Yesitsmeagain · 12/12/2016 23:15

Everything we buy is from FC. Stocking and a sack full. Nothing is labelled from us. (There's no need as we know FC always goes crazy and brings them too much. Silly old Santa!!)

Presents from other people is from other people. Trying to pass them off as your own / from santa is just tight!!

roseteapot101 · 12/12/2016 23:38

For us father christmas fills the stocking and brings one big present.The rest of the presents under tree are from family.

stocking fillers are a mix of two more expensive toys,then poundland assorted,home bargains/bm bargains assorted and a bunch of cheap party bag fillers

our big present will be a shared present for our daughter and her cousin .A paint your own Santa's grotto