3 Christmas days - what to tell dc about santa?

[ninnynono]

Sorry if this has been done to death.

We live abroad and will most likely spend Christmas alone and do two seperate Christmasses in December; one with my family and one with inlaws.

What do I tell dd who is 3 about santa? When I was young we wouldn't see family on xmas day but presents would be sent. But my inlaws like (understandably) to see dd open her presents. But won't it be a bit strange pretending that santa has come 3 weeks early to grandma's and 2 weeks early to grandpa's? Think she'll believe no problem this year but don't want this set up to spoil it for her in the future.

Thanks

My inlaws tell their gdcs that santa leaves presents at all the relatives houses. The presents those relatives buy come from eg Auntie Anna's Santa. I don't really like this though as it means Auntie Anna doesn't get thanked for her gift because kiddos think santa brought it.

Grandparents have had their time doing santa with their own kids. Just do santa with you.

We get our D.C. One or two each from us each year the rest is from
Santa. They buy for
Each other as well

Our DS thinks Father Christmas is like Yodel (albeit much bloody better) and just delivers the presents. No presents actually come from him. They are all labelled from Nana, from Aunty F, from Abuelo etc.

He is also bemused that FC brings his presents but many of his friends get their gifts from the 3 Kings on the night if 5th January (we are in forrinland).

He seems to just pick and choose which bits to believe and makes up some stuff himself. He is 6yo. As long as he has Lego and sweets - and a satsuma- he is happy.

See, I've probably become over invested in the whole "santa" thing, but I've told DS that parents sign up to different "santa packages". Basic package is just a stocking. Bronze package includes a few fits. Obviously the gold package would include extra visits to up to 2 other family residences on a day of your choice.

It got me out of a hole when DS wanted a stupidly expensive gift that he was convinced santa could afford. I just told him our package didn't cover it.

Gifts not fits!!

bella that is serious dedication (love the sims ref. by the way, Mortimer and I go way back)
I’m very impressed! How much does it cost?

Dmil likes to do stockings for the grandkids when we all get together before christmas with bil's family. The kids all know that grandma is playing at being Santa and that the christmas day stockings are the real ones, but dmil can still enjoy it.

No more multiple Santa visits. They benefit the grandparents but don't make sense for your DD. And it's really about her, isn't it? I would suggest to them that they now start taking credit for their own presents and she can open those at their houses, and still have Santa presents at home on the main day. 3 is a good time to start this as it's when they really start to understand the 'rules' of Santa as you do it.

Santa brings stockings. He can have already left one at in laws etc.

Big gifts come from the givers direct to the child.

Simple.

Sorry- I meant that if it is after christmas he can have left one. No stockings before christmas at all.