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Christmas

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Original poster

I've ignored my kids christmas lists - now I'm getting nervous.....

133 replies

allmytimeonmumsnet · 18/12/2007 10:54

DS was easy. He just wanted lego and thats what he's got. The girls were harder.

DD1 (7) insisted they write letters to santa and they were awful. She asked for Baby Born Boy (she has never played with dolls) and a few games plus a big chocolate snowman. She has got the snowman but I ignored the rest. She likes figuring out things on her laptop. She loves music and watching films - so we got her a nano. Fab present I think.

DD2 (4) is even worse though. She asked for a dog with shoes, a cat that sings and a baby that poos!!!!!! What kind of a list is that? She has loads of dolls and I hate the idea of spending so much on one of the gizmo ones. So we got her a DS because she constantly fights the others for theres. She will love it. Its just she didn't think to ask for one. But she is telling everyone she is getting a baby annabel now.

I don't know what to do? I've overspent already - don't want to fork out more but will they be disappointed that they didn't get their list?

Its all because Ganny lets them watch pop and boomerrang and they are reciting the adverts but I'm starting to feel bad about ignoring them now. I know they will love what they have got and they are not greedy kids. But I am still scared they will want to know why Santa has ignored them. Do I tell them he has run out? Do I write them a letter from him explaining his actions? Have you ignored your kids requests and if so how do you deal with it?

OP posts:
EniDeepMidwinter · 18/12/2007 11:58

is somehow less spoilt than a nano

EniDeepMidwinter · 18/12/2007 11:59

[nods meaningfully behind Tamum]

BrightBaublesBeetroot · 18/12/2007 11:59

or airfix

OhGiveUsAPruniPudding · 18/12/2007 12:00

I think tbh the biggest problem you have is that one of the children has got what he wanted from his christmas list and the other two have had their wishes ignored. Children do not forget things like this ad it all contributes to the general tenor of relationships within the family.
Well, that and you've really upped the ante for future years.

Tamum · 18/12/2007 12:01
hatrick · 18/12/2007 12:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

SquirdleSomeCreamOnMyXmasPud · 18/12/2007 12:02

I have to say I agree with Cod. DS1 didn't even get a games console until he was practically 7 and didn't have a tv in his room until he was 10. DS's 2 and 3 are interested in DS1's X-box thingy, but no way would I get them anything like that! They are only 3 and 5, they need to play.

Mine are getting an electric guitar (DS1 is 14 and v. good on classical, so we felt it was worth it, also tis a joint pressie with his birthday in Jan) and the 2 small DS's are having scooters plus a few bits and bobs.

I haven't stopped playing with their playmobil since they got the farm and airport for their birthdays yesterday...tis sooooo cool

SquirdleSomeCreamOnMyXmasPud · 18/12/2007 12:05

Aeroplane and control tower, not airport...

Original poster
allmytimeonmumsnet · 18/12/2007 12:05

Robin3 - its got speakers with it cos she'll want to dance about (not sit in a corner)

OK I'll try to lighten up a bit but you can't blame me for getting a bit upset when people are trashing my presents that I thought long and hard before getting. My post was about whether I should feel the need to splash out more on other items from their list not whether their main gifts were good or not. I feel like I've been told I'm a bad mother. Honestly if I thought she would play with a doll then I'd get her one but I've been there before and its DD2 that inherited them all and plays with them. Maybe I should get DD2 the roby doll if its only £15 then they will all be happy as they do share everything happily. Good point about the money too. They all get vouchers from DH work so they can spend those on dolls if they feel they are missing out.

OP posts:
sandyballs · 18/12/2007 12:05

My 6 year old DD's asked for a DS and I have said that santa won't bring six year olds presents like that, far too young. They completely accepted this and changed their request to a Baby Born boy and Baby Born girl. I don't think a ds would be treasured and looked after enough at their age, also, as other posters have said, if we start buying stuff like that at six where does it all stop - what do we get at 10, 11 .....

My only problem is them hearing that santa did in fact bring a DS to other 6 year olds in their class .

BrightBaublesBeetroot · 18/12/2007 12:06

TV in their room???

NEVER

FlamesparodyOfAChristmasName · 18/12/2007 12:06

not read the whole thread... they had nice normal lists

The whole "they'll forget when they get their presents" - maybe they will forget the presents, but they won't forget that Santa read their letters and ignored them. That magic will be gone completely now.

At least SOME of the presents should have been from the list.

DD didn't write a list as such, so no issue there, but I think in one way or another we have managed to get most of her requests. She'll use her torch once, maybe twice, but she wanted it, it was within budget and sometimes that is what matters.

SquirdleSomeCreamOnMyXmasPud · 18/12/2007 12:11

You aren't a bad mother for buying your children presents you think they will love. I think the general feeling here is that children nowadays seem to grow up far too quickly and they get things like nanos (not that I know what they are ) and games consoles at an early age rather than toys. I know that if we got DS2 (5) anything like that, he'd never be away from it and would be pesetering to go it constantly, rather than playing with toys.

Plus, what on earth are you going to get them as they grow older? We found as DS1 was so bright, everyone got more advanced presents for him and then we were stuck in later years.

Though I'm sure some new techno thing will be out every year

OhGiveUsAPruniPudding · 18/12/2007 12:11

I've been a bit grumpy on this thread, sorry.
I never got anything I wanted from my Christmas list - my parents would make me write it and put it up the chimney etc with great ceremony, and Christmas morning was always a disappointment - that makes me sound so ungrateful, I am not, but you know, once they had whipped me up into a frenzy about Santa, I couldn't fail to be disappointed.
Mind you I never got the seventies equivalent of a Nano or a DS...wonder what they would have been

Bramshott · 18/12/2007 12:13

This is a tricky one - there are 4 things on DD1's list, of which I have got 3. The thing is, it's her birthday in Jan, and I really want to give her one of the things for that, but not quite sure how to 'divert' it with a suitable explanation. Any ideas?

SquirdleSomeCreamOnMyXmasPud · 18/12/2007 12:14

BBB, the tv for his room was (and still is tbh) only for playing said games console thingy. One because DH found if it was downstairs, he would play it all night, and two because I hated the thing in my lounge and three because his brother came along when he was 9 and while he has always been fab with his brothers, we felt he needed somewhere he could play the thing without them bugging him.

SquirdleSomeCreamOnMyXmasPud · 18/12/2007 12:14

And four, because I don't want DS2 and 3 playing it.

OhGiveUsAPruniPudding · 18/12/2007 12:15

Bramshott - we told ds that Santa gets ideas from the list but can't get everything on it

Bramshott · 18/12/2007 12:18

Thanks Pruni! But when it comes to the birthday, how will we explain that we knew what was on her list - did Santa tell us?! Just trying to get my story straight!

Tamum · 18/12/2007 12:19

Bramshott, I certainly wouldn't worry about getting everything- I always try and get something I know they really want that's on the list but I never get more than a couple of things. Lists have never been a big "thing" for my children anyway, luckily.

Oh Pruni

wrappingpaperBOwZZAndribbons · 18/12/2007 12:19

Actually I think you are right here allmytime. I think 4 is a bit young for a DS, but then so do you, but it is a fact of life that younger siblings get things (both possessions and being allowed to do things) at an earlier age. So I can see where you are coming from on that one.

And I don't think 7 is too young for an mp3 player although i would question getting a nano rather than a cheaper version. DS(6) has a personal CD player which he uses for journeys and on holidays mainly and I have considered replacing it (it is held together with insulating tape) with an MP3 player.

And £35 is a lot for a doll that won't be played with - and in any case is pretty much sold out everywhere. Can you not get them a couple of cheaper things off their lists? eg we have got DS a champions league football, even though he has got loads of footballs.

FlamesparodyOfAChristmasName · 18/12/2007 12:20

Squirdle - there is quite a big age gap with your boys, it makes sense to have the tv in his room.

GooseyLoosey · 18/12/2007 12:21

Bramshott - our dcs know that we are in communication with Santa - how else would he know whether they have been good. Could Santa not have let you know what was left on her list, a magin note dropped down the chimney?

Original poster
allmytimeonmumsnet · 18/12/2007 12:21

Am trying to track down one of the games she has asked for but its out of stock everywhere round here (piranha panic) but they will ALL get stuff from there lists.

I used to be very anti the gaming thing thinking that kids would just veg out. Obviously a lot do. But mine are not too bad. They play with the DS's in the car and while we are waiting at swimming lessons. But they are also very active and spend a lot of time outside. Plus since they discovered the pictochat thing we've used it for homework etc.

I do agree with the comments about next year etc (but at least then you don't have to worry about lists). But there will always be new things they want or need. I don't just buy techie stuff honest - last year DS got a climbing wall to get into bed (not as extravegent as it sounds £40 for the holds off ebay plus a large sheet of ply).

Incidentally I find the comments about the ipod being spoilt and too expensive quite amusing. A DS actually costs more than a nano (because you need at least one game with it). And to be honest the cost of lego is not that far behind. How many kids are getting a DS or Wii for chistmas yet an ipod seems more? Why?

OP posts:
twofishes · 18/12/2007 12:27

Unless it is something completely stupidly expensive we always try to get most things on the list (although there is a limited number of items you can list cos if you ask for too much Father Christmas thinks you are greedy and you get nothing! and also we have a cut off date, once that letter is written there is no going back!!)my DS1 has asked for 5 things: a playstation (getting a playstation one, 2nd hand but in good nick!) , a Thundersaurus Power Ranger Morpher (that he didn't get last year apparently!)a DVD 'thats good to watch' and some other bits of plastic that he asked for ( five things in total) he will also get the obligatory slippers, socks, chocolates etc ..
DD1 (2yrs)is getting a Princess Doll and lots of pink tat and poor DS2 (11mths) is getting very little...
Think part of the magic of Christamss is the letter writing and receiving stuff that will only last 5 minutes but you still want there and then..think as a parent you sometimes need to edit it (due to ££ usually), but Father Christmas has the last say and if he thinks you didn't need it.....