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Original poster

DS changed his list after we've finished!

62 replies

theatrenerd31 · 03/12/2019 21:50

Writing ds's list tonight with him to send to Royal Mail and he's added a new Lego set to the top of his list. A £50 Lego set to be exact, so not a cheap toy.

We're already wrapped and ready, all gifts are done so that we can spend December on experiences (and the money on food!)

We could stretch to get it, but it would be stretching, and ds's been told that he isn't guaranteed everything on his list and it's late to add toys on as the elves will now be wrapping things!

We had it last year too with something he announced on Christmas Eve. He didn't get it and has talked about it all year (so it's on this year's list). I'm wary about ending up with something else to be talked at about all year!

I'm tempted to get him a voucher for the Lego store for £10-20 and leave a note saying he didn't have time but has sent a contribution towards it.

Is this a bit naff? What would others do? I'd be less wobbly about it were it not too if his list and the thing he's announced that he wants more than any other 🤦🏼‍♀️

OP posts:
SmellMySmellbow · 03/12/2019 21:52

Anything you still have receipts for you can take back?

SmellMySmellbow · 03/12/2019 21:52

Any relatives asking for ideas that can buy vouchers for Lego?

CryHavoc · 03/12/2019 21:53

Why would you do all of your shopping before he writes his list? I'm a last minute shopper, so an early Dec list is fine for me, but if I was an early bird I would insist on an earlier list.

dementedpixie · 03/12/2019 21:54

Why did you do the list after you bought everything?

MamaWeasel · 03/12/2019 21:54

How old is ds?

Imknackeredzzz · 03/12/2019 21:55

Yeah don’t understand why you bought everything and then asked him to write a list?! Bit risky.....

mnahmnah · 03/12/2019 22:01

Has everyone else who would be buying him gifts, already bought them? Or would anyone be giving him money that he could use to buy it?

Nacreous · 03/12/2019 22:04

We always used to have to write our list then post it up the chimney, so father Christmas could collect it. That way it couldn't be changed after that point.

IfWishesWereFishes · 03/12/2019 22:06

I don't get it; surely he doesn't think it's a list of demands and he'll understand that Santa can bring him some things on his list, and maybe some things not on his list, because Santa is really good at surprises.

You really need to get good at saying this kind of shit, makes parenting Christmas a whole lot easier Grin

NoSquirrels · 03/12/2019 22:07

How old is he? At the age where he 100% believes, or at the age where he’s gaming the system to see if either a) it’s true or b) it’s definitely not true but I could score big? Grin

Drum2018 · 03/12/2019 22:08

If you have family buying him gifts ask them if they would get a voucher for toy shop so he can buy it himself, maybe even reduced in January sales.

NoSquirrels · 03/12/2019 22:10

But yeah - any relative (grandparents etc) who’d like to ‘buy’ one of your existing pre-wrapped gifts?

ExpletiveFairylighted · 03/12/2019 22:12

That's the problem with shopping too early, we start discussing it / making lists about mid November so we can get the shopping done in the first couple of weeks of December then wrap in the last few days. We have also always made clear that the list isn't hard and fast.

Is his birthday soon, could you get it for then?

Landlubber2019 · 03/12/2019 22:13

What happens if you spend the extra and then in a weeks time , another item is added on.....

We have never followed the Xmas list primarily because its been a pile a crap and lots of huge nerf guns. On Xmas day, they always love the gifts they receive and forget all about the items from their list !

00100001 · 03/12/2019 22:13

since when do kids get everything on their lists?

surely they're just ideas/wishes? Confused

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 03/12/2019 22:15

haha, I've had 3 kids and they were all guaranteed to completely change their minds about what they wanted.

On Christmas Eve.

At 7pm.

It's tough, basically. Because santa has already got his elves to make the stuff

Fuckenstein · 03/12/2019 22:15

We make a list of ideas for Santa, you don't get everything on the list but It points him in the right direction.

Are the things you have bought him still on the list?

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 03/12/2019 22:16

A bit puzzled about why you brought the stuff BEFORE he did his list though.

WhereverIMayRoam · 03/12/2019 22:17

If you can’t exchange something you’ve already bought and there aren’t family members looking for ideas then to be honest I’d get it for him. Yes, I know some MNers will howl in horror at such spoiling of a child Hmm but to be fair this was entirely foreseeable and not about ds being entitled or demanding.

Lesson learned for next year - getting started early and nabbing bargains is fine but you do need to hold some of the budget back for when he writes his list! Oh and to avoid a Christmas Eve change of heart give him a cut off date ie the day he writes and sends his letter. After that it’s very unlikely Santa will be able to source something not asked for given he’s providing presents for millions of children.

changeforprivacy · 03/12/2019 22:18

This is why we don't do lists. 'Santa knows what you like Johnny' and some careful detective work along the way.

Of you have always bought him what he lists them he is going to be very disappointed. Maybe gently work on lowering his expectations before the big day

Shimy · 03/12/2019 22:20

ds's been told that he isn't guaranteed everything on his list and it's late to add toys on as the elves will now be wrapping things!

So what's the problem? Confused
If he wants to talk about it all year leave him to it BUT please next year, do the list first then the shopping.

Dyrne · 03/12/2019 22:21

Another one bemused by the fact that you bought the presents and then got him to do the list... bet you won’t be making that mistake again! Grin

But yes, best bet now is try to find a relative willing to “buy” one of the other presents from you to free up your cash for the big Santa present.

WhereverIMayRoam · 03/12/2019 22:23

I don’t understand how on one hand he’s only writing his list tonight yet on the other he’s been told it's late to add toys on as the elves will now be wrapping things. Why have him write a list at all in that case Confused?

Original poster
theatrenerd31 · 03/12/2019 22:25

He'd already written his list (several times) including images cut from catalogues so we'd bought from that. We only wrote it today to post to Royal Mail as handwriting practice so that it was in a proper letter. He's not mentioned this new toy until this, at all, so it seemed a fairly safe thing to do so that he could post it and get a response 🤦🏼‍♀️

2 things that we got him are on there, his list has 3 things on it but all are on the more expensive side. He's got ASD and doesn't do playing us so def. still believes. He was talking while writing cards about how he really hopes he manages to make it in time. As I say, I'd be wobbling less were it not suddenly top of the list.

He's been told that a list isn't of things that will definitely happen and that adding things late means it isn't likely as Father Christmas is now wrapping and has finished making. No family to put it onto either unfortunately and nothing returnable - I start so early to bargain hunt and get second hand where possible so would have to return a lot to reach the total of this item. I could potentially swap the other 2 on the list for it but I think he'd regret that after the day as he'll get more play value from the other 2 items on there.

OP posts:
IfWishesWereFishes · 03/12/2019 22:27

If this is the first time it's been mentioned I really wouldn't bother; different if he had been after if for months.

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