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?!!!

You buy them one to share, and tell them that you told Santa that's what you were doing, as you don't have space for two and you wanted to buy it for them?

When I was a kid, Father Christmas was kind of logistics service, parents paid for their kids’ toys, FC just delivered them. I did the same with my kids. Otherwise it looked unfair when/if other children got less, like they weren’t as ‘good’ or deserving.

I actually never asked for anything big as a child but at some point my mother decided to tell me that “you do know we have to pay Santa to bring your presents don’t you?”
and really guilt tripped me (from a very young age it was drummed into me that I was only allowed to ask Santa at the grotto for one present such as a doll or game and then the rest had to be surprises). I was constantly reminded of my parents having to pay Santa. Problem was, absolutely none of my friends were told the same thing and as one pointed out “so what? Santa is just a postman? That’s not right! Maybe YOUR parents have to pay but Santa brings US presents because we are GOOD.” It made me feel really, really shit.

I think explaining that Santa has to go round all the children in the world and that he is on a limited budget so it’s important not to be too greedy so that all the children get a chance is a good idea.

Ours know that we have to buy gifts because not everything is available at the North Pole. We send them to the North Pole to be wrapped, the elves make and buy what they can too, and Santa delivers it all on Christmas Eve.

I don't want them to think we haven't got them anything- they open gifts from family, gifts from Santa, but nothing from us?! Nope, doesn't make sense. We deserve some credit too! And I think it's important that they thank people for their gifts, including their own parents!

Parents buy the presents and send them off to Santa. He stores them, collates the naughty and nice lists and delivers them (behaviour dependent) on Christmas Day.

He's like a slightly more competent Hermes combined with a storage warehouse and Paypal.

Yep, this is why Father Christmas is in charge of stockings, I do the rest.

Greedy children don’t go on the nice list.

Wait! Before everyone flames me! I don’t use these words but I tell my DC they need to ask for something that is not massively expensive because that’s not what Christmas is about. I tell them to ask us if they want something expensive (over £50 in this house). Then if we can afford it we’ll consider getting it from us.

They know they don’t get everything they ask for from Santa because he has sooooo many children to bring presents for.

Even Santa has a budget. His elves are great at making toys like Lego, less good on electronics.

Tell them Santa brings wooden toys!

It used to be one present and a stocking from Santa here.
Years ago when my eldest was little the hairdresser told me that all their presents used to be from Santa until her dd asked why there was no presents from her mum

Some posters life must be so boring.

Nope.
"Christmas magic" comes in many forms, not all of them in the form of "santa".
No need to be rude!

"We always told the kids that if you can, you pay for Santa toys do that he can buy for those who can’t afford presents."

"Because we gave him money for what he gave our D.C. to buy presents for children whose parents had no money."

I'm a bit at telling your children you are being really generous and charitable when you're actually just buying stuff for your own kids! And feeling proud of the pretend kindness!

@movingonup20

Note to new parents/those with toddlers - Santa brings small gifts that fit in a stocking, makes life a lot easier! Though Santa also bought goats for families in Africa in our house via oxfam, its was dd1's idea to ask him to help kids there one year and it stuck, despite them being adults they choose a project to donate to each Christmas, it's maternity/women's care in rural Nepal this year

My query on this, is what do you do when they get old enough to want expensive things that can fit in a stocking? E.g. an iPhone, a fully decked out Pandora bracelet etc?

Because Santa has so many children in the world to bring toys to he only brings the stocking fillers and one or two main but basic gifts. No child should get an expensive toy from santa, that's what your family and friends are for and if they can't afford it give them pocket money to save up and learn the value of money. Mine have always have basic gifts from Santa and then he sends theirs lists to everyone in our family to choose something to give to them to so that they know some things are from Santa and some from family.

We had this last year. I bought the present

So far this year dd only wants a doll.

Santa has to get presents for lots of children. He doesn’t have an un,I tied budget. In our house we have already said Santa doesn’t give things tablets

Maybe say that the Elves won't be able to make all those presents as obviously some are self isolating and shielding this year because of Coronavirus. [santa]

Parents have to give Santa money for presents

I think there was a bbc thing that confirmed he'd be able to come even if there was a lock down but he'd had to scale back as the elves were socially distancing

When ds wrote his list
"Nintendo Switch
Xbox
Phone...."
Dd2 said, "Sorry Hazeyboy, Santa doesn't do tech"

This along with shoulder shrugs and, "Sorry, Santa plays by his own rules" seems to have worked in our house!

Say that Santa has to self isolate because of covid so you'll be getting the presents this year.

Main present this year is Nintendo Switch with a few games, from parents. Anything else with be from Santa in the sack, but generally everything from "him" costs less than £20 an item.... E. G. Extra set of play dough, books... Often use the 2 for £15/ 2 for £30 etc on Argos to bulk the sacks out a bit.

I would say "That's a good idea! Then if Father Christmas has any left by the time he gets here, he will leave you one. Otherwise, I'm sure he will bring you something you will like"

Father Christmas brought everything for our kids, even other family presents were from FC.
It worked for us, and expensive things, well he has to buy for all the children he hasn't that much money.

"It might even be too expensive for Santa - he has to pay all the little boys and girls presents so we can't be too greedy".