Shit, my child has just trumped me with Santa. What the hell do you say in this instance?

[justanotherneighinparadise]

My seven year old wants a certain expensive toy. Four year old wants a different version of it. I say, woah kids this stuff is crazy money. I don’t think it’s worth the price tag in terms of the play I think you’ll get out of it, so I’m happy to buy one version but it will be a shared toy for both of you.

Seven year old then says it’s okay, he’ll put it on his Santa list and Santa can bring it. Four year old says he’ll do the same. What the fuck was I supposed to say to that?!!!

Our DC write a list, and we tell them it has to include everything big and small they might think of, and has to include ‘something I want, something I need, something to wear, something to read’. Then you get a list of totally random stuff including new gloves and colouring pens and football boots and what have you in amongst the expensive desirable items.

Father Christmas gets the letter, obvs, but he won’t bring it all, it’s just suggestions for him to choose from. And as parents we choose too.

They’ve never questioned it - and they know they can’t get everything, that’s just life.

Their

I'd always say 'Santa doesn't go against what parents have already said' so because you have already said they should share, Santa will think that too

@TheRuleofStix

This is such a tough one - my DC both have friends who would easily have over £1000 spent on them at Christmas so it did appear that they had been much “nicer” (although unsurprisingly they really weren’t ).

Like lots of posters have said we did the “Santa gets the stocking presents” thing then we could explain that the other presents were from us. It’s hard though because then what’s the point of a Christmas list??

God don’t. I had another conversation with a parent today at the school run who just told me when they’re teenagers I’ll be buying them £100+ trainers every couple of months and the most expensive iPhone/games console etc for Christmas . I don’t understand why I’ll be doing that. I never had these things growing up. What’s changed? Why are expectations so high and parents are just going along with it. I feel like we’ve all gone mental.

My in-laws told my dh and his sister that they sent FC the money for the gifts, and then he made the toys and delivered them.

You could try this route?

I’ve told the boys that Father Christmas has to give every boy and girl presents so they can’t ask for expensive things otherwise FC won’t be able to give toys to everybody. They’re 6 and almost 4 and are fine with that.

Yes and the list is just ideas for Santa - no expectation that they'll get it all. I then try to suss out what they'll get most use out of (and what is actually available - I kind of wish they'd just go through the Argos catalogue with a biro like the old days instead of writing stuff they've seen on Youtube that doesn't really exist/can only get in the US/was available 5 years ago but no more!)

@Ohdoleavemealone

I tell my kids that we have to pay Santa for the toys.

I say the same. It explains why some children get more or less than others too.

@justanotherneighinparadise

I spluttered out that we have to be respectful of Santa’s budget too and he has to make toys for all the children in the world. The look on his face 🤣🥴

That’s what I say- that Santa has to get all the children presents and he can’t get very expensive things, we have to not be greedy. If it’s something I really don’t want them to have I just Vito and say it’s not going on their lists I’m afraid (ie a new games console when they already had one last year)

tell him santa doesn't exist. He's going to find out soon anyway....

DD always said that if I said that I couldn't afford it, so I told her that Santa has to buy some special toys and that he can't afford the really big ones either ... like Disney Hogwarts Castle £350.........

Santa doesn't bring electronics as you can't send them back if they are faulty like you can with amazon!

I just say we have to send Santa the money for him to make the toys

Even Santa doesn't have endless amounts of money... and doesn't like greedy children!!

This

What works here is;
1 Santa only can bring 1 or 2 things you've chosen, the rest he brings are suprises that him and the elves have thought of just for you.
2, Santa has to make and buy the materials to make everyone's toys so he can't get crazy money things like an Xbox.
3, Santa doesn't bring pets.

Santa only ever brought one present here and it wasn't usually the big most expensive gift. They came from us usually.

When growing up Santa was only ever a delivery service for us. He delivery gifts from family rather than himself.

@yaboo

tell him santa doesn't exist. He's going to find out soon anyway....

🤣

I've always fed the idea that Father Christmas is a sort of cross between Amazon and DHL. He picks up packages from Grandma and Auntie S and delivers them and I send him money for the stuff the elves make, so he can't bring stuff I can't afford.

In our house Father Christmas brings 'stocking fillers'. If it doesn't fit in a stocking he doesn't give it. The toe of the sock has a satsuma and some nuts and sweets, then it moves on to some small toys, games and toiletries, then a magazine curled into a tube and shoved into the top so it sticks out. Father Christmas has to provide children all over the world with present so they need modest expectations.

we were also told that if you were too greedy Father Christmas would think you weren't nice and you'd get nothing!

Our stockings were mostly books, socks, chocolate, small toys, stickers etc rather than big things!

and ^ yes to "FC only brings things that fit in a stocking!"

Although when I asked for a pony for the 8th year running I told my mum that he could write a note in the stocking and leave the pony outside!

That Santa doesn’t exist...

We give Santa money for materials to build the toys .

Seven year old then says it’s okay, he’ll put it on his Santa list and Santa can bring it. Four year old says he’ll do the same. What the fuck was I supposed to say to that?!!!

Letter back from Santa saying that neither of them have been good enoug for such a big pressie along with some advice about how Mummy likes her brew in the morning and which disney songs are so irritating they get them on the naughty list.

I tend to say that Santa has to give gifts to every child and children can't be greedy and he brings gifts that he knows Mummy is happy for them to have. He also doesn't bring hugely expensive gifts such as the Lego Millennium Falcon :) or pets!