Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

DD just found her "santa" presents

180 replies

MrsMerryMent · 18/12/2021 11:01

I only have myself to blame but help me salvage this Sad

Dd is 5 and very very excited for christmas

We dont have alot of money this year I managed to get 2 playsets of a type of toy she likes on marketplace brand new in boxes and my plan was build them up and they would be sitting out 'from santa'

Picked them up this week been very busy and hid them in a cupboard in a room she never goes in...well somehow curiousity overcame her and shes found them!!!

Santa should have been making them ib his workhouse!!!

How do i resolve.... buy new gifts from santa and those ones she found are from me!?

My own fault and I probably feel disproportionatly sad about this Sad at least she is getting nice gifts but have i spoilt the magic...(yes...)

Dont know what i am looking for help me feel better!!!!

OP posts:
RuinedReindeer · 19/12/2021 22:06

I convinced my 8 year old a present he’d found was for a relative & not for him.

Redleavesfalling289 · 19/12/2021 22:23

My parents always told us they bought the presents & posted them to the North Pole Grin

They used to send a choc orange from Santa.

LouBan · 19/12/2021 23:23

Can't these things be from you and whatever presents you were going to give be the ones from Santa?
Another option is to say that Santa sent them early but he is coming on Christmad Eve to build them and maybe add one or two small things to the stocking.

Augustmummy · 19/12/2021 23:42

My parents always told me they sent the presents to Santa to be delivered on Christmas Eve. Just say they’ve not been sent to Santa yet

Harmonypuss · 20/12/2021 01:34

@Mrsmch123 @Sturch16

My mother used to beat it into me that I must never lie, so when I discovered that she'd been lying for years about all sorts of things (santa, tooth fairy, easter bunny included), I hated her, not least for her double standards (although at almost 7 I didn't know it was called that, it was just straight up lying).
I do still hate her but for a catalogue of other things she's done to/against me all my life, so when my own children came along I vowed that I would never lie to them about anything, needless to say, I have far better relationships with them than I ever have (or will have) with the old witch! By the way, my children are now grown adults and although they don't have children, they agree with me that kids shouldn't be lied to and should they ever have any, they will do as I did and tell the truth.

liveforsummer · 20/12/2021 05:50

DD has found a few of her and her sisters things. She's such a nosey Parker it's hard to hide stuff but thankfully she can't keep it to herself so I know what she's seen. I'm giving that stuff from me. Keep an eye on Facebook OP as round here people are having clear outs and giving things away or selling very cheap. Get her another one or 2 small things from Santa and give her the stuff she's found yourself

Original poster
MrsMerryMent · 20/12/2021 07:17

Everyone you have made me feel so much better about it all and your right about what santa brings etc we usually only give one or two things that were cheaper from santa and everything else is from us but I kight scale that back again to a few "bits"

The things she found will come from me.

Glad to hear so many people have been in the same position Gin

OP posts:
fartypantsmummy · 20/12/2021 07:36

Could you say 'oh Aunty Blah' asked me to hide it for her?

Notdoingthis · 20/12/2021 08:16

One year my kids found the main Santa present on Christmas Eve. I just them that Santa had dropped them off early as he was so busy.

MyOtherProfile · 20/12/2021 08:21

Good move OP

Mrsmch123 · 20/12/2021 09:03

@Harmonypuss while it's horrific what your mum done to you doesn't mean that you can't keep the magic of Santa alive. I would have hated if my mum told me Santa wasn't real.

douliket · 20/12/2021 09:34

I really don't get why the parents have to have anything to do with Santa to get the glory of being the ones that bought and receive all the thank yous. I actually think it's a bit selfish to make it about you, amd not to mention Boring.Your children know you provide every day of the year,why take magic out of everything.
Everything for Christmas is from Santa as it should be. Let Santa take the credit,you don't have to control everything. In our home on Xmas morning,Santa will have delivered the whole room full of presents from colouring books and train sets to gaming consoles and chocolate to talking baby dolls.
We as parents step back after fulfilling the magic and watch their excitement and wonder and amazements. We don't need the credit,it's enough to know that our children experience the magic. And sorry, a few crayons and chocolates in a stocking is not really the Christmas magical Santa experience 🙄

mam0918 · 20/12/2021 09:40

@PeaceONoeuf

I don’t understand any of the ‘we buy, Santa delivers’ stuff - why? Why not just store it somewhere? So inefficient. Also - what’s the point in Santa lists if it’s just crayons and socks? All the old films and cartoons of his workshops show dolls and prams etc.
You know Santas is not real right... there are zero inefficiencies, unenviromentalness and we do actually store it lol.

Everyone here saying - it happens to everyone/kids snoop/all kids accidentally find a gift.

Well, non of mine ever had and my oldest is a teen... they wouldn't even think to go looking because they're not in our house Wink.

mam0918 · 20/12/2021 09:40

*has

mam0918 · 20/12/2021 09:51

@douliket

I really don't get why the parents have to have anything to do with Santa to get the glory of being the ones that bought and receive all the thank yous. I actually think it's a bit selfish to make it about you, amd not to mention Boring.Your children know you provide every day of the year,why take magic out of everything. Everything for Christmas is from Santa as it should be. Let Santa take the credit,you don't have to control everything. In our home on Xmas morning,Santa will have delivered the whole room full of presents from colouring books and train sets to gaming consoles and chocolate to talking baby dolls. We as parents step back after fulfilling the magic and watch their excitement and wonder and amazements. We don't need the credit,it's enough to know that our children experience the magic. And sorry, a few crayons and chocolates in a stocking is not really the Christmas magical Santa experience 🙄
Some of us have self-awareness and awareness of others who do things differently and how that impacts on innocent children.

Nothing to do with being boring or getting 'glory' (wouldn't do Santa at all if we wanted glory ffs).

I know we do huge Xmases with loads of gifts, I know many others don't (for whatever reason - they maybe can't afford it this year or focus on non-gifting traditions or are from other cultures etc...) but I am aware their kids still have feelings.

There's no need them feeling bad because they got some new clothes or a small stocking from 'santa' when my kids got piles and piles (so the piles are bought by us, we get zero glory for it).

Its the same way I don't want my kid to feel bad because he didn't get 'call of duty' (an 18 game) at 8 year old when his friend got it from 'Santa' (honestly, don't give a fuck what others do with their kids in terms of rules but that caused havoc in the year group as other kids couldn't understand why they couldn't have it too since Santa thought it was suitible).

It seems you are the only one choosing to be selfish by not considering others not us.

Harmonypuss · 20/12/2021 11:13

@douliket

Everything for Christmas is from Santa as it should be. Let Santa take the credit,you don't have to control everything.

If "santa" wants to give gifts to kids, it/he/she/they should pay for them, otherwise, tell the kids the truth then they won't end up the subject of the obnoxious, spilt brat threads on here, they'll learn from an early age that in order to have nice things, money has to be earned by parents and other family members/friends, there's nothing magic about having to find the cash for that expensive toy they're screaming "I want, I want" about.

Harmonypuss · 20/12/2021 11:14

Spoilt brats, not spilt brats

Mrsmch123 · 20/12/2021 11:25

@douliket I'm with you 100%. I find it very selfish of parents who want to take the glory for the gifts.

@Harmonypuss there are plenty children who believe in Santa who are not spoilt brats shouting I want!

@mam0918 so what about holidays?should one child not get because others can't go on holidays? It seems to be a relative new phenomenon of parents "not giving Santa the credit"

Buddyell040 · 20/12/2021 11:32

Say that you bought the presents and then they get sent to Santa for the elves to build then Santa brings them back x

Liervik · 20/12/2021 11:38

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for privacy reasons.

liveforsummer · 20/12/2021 11:38

You see the taking the credit comment a few times every year. - I always think it sad that these people prioritise their own ego over making it a magical time for young kids. Like WTF grudging a mythical character the 'glory'.

I also wonder about the buying and sending to Santa thing. Seems rather pointless and so far away from any depiction of Santa they on tv. Odd concept but still supporting the belief I guess. Here Santa brings the presents and always will. Even when they are adults 😆

liveforsummer · 20/12/2021 11:40

Maybe father Christmas saw how much she seemed to like them, so decided to get her the same?

Oh do you like that? I picked it up for a friend. Maybe Santa knows you'd love it too and will bring you the same. Not a bad idea and will seem different to her all built anyway

liveforsummer · 20/12/2021 11:46

[quote Harmonypuss]@douliket

Everything for Christmas is from Santa as it should be. Let Santa take the credit,you don't have to control everything.

If "santa" wants to give gifts to kids, it/he/she/they should pay for them, otherwise, tell the kids the truth then they won't end up the subject of the obnoxious, spilt brat threads on here, they'll learn from an early age that in order to have nice things, money has to be earned by parents and other family members/friends, there's nothing magic about having to find the cash for that expensive toy they're screaming "I want, I want" about.[/quote]
Maybe it would cause your kids to behave like that but Dd is getting a fairly expensive main present from Santa (one that she will need anyway and will get years of use out of). She turned round last night and said I know I won't get much else and that sister will get more presents than me as my main present is more expensive. It's not even expensive compared to what many dc get but valuable to her as we don't have a lot of money to spare. This was completely unprompted and not something I'd ever discussed with her. I'd never even mentioned the cost of the item.

1HappyTraveller · 20/12/2021 13:55

I know some parents who use two types of wrapping paper. One with gifts from them, the others from Santa. It’s a lovely magical time of year for children and families but there is a lot of pressure on some families. Don’t let the fat man take all the credit. Let her know that you you worked hard and saved up money to buy her those gifts because it’s Christmas. Maybe Santa could give her something smaller instead like a reading book or colouring books? After all him and the elves probably got Covid at some point this year so I bet there’s an extra rush against time this year to make sure all of the children in the whole world get at least one gift on Christmas Day.

UniBallEye · 20/12/2021 14:10

I would go the route of saying your're minding it for someone else - a cousin or neighbour who has a child similarish age.

I just don't get the mindset of begrudging 'Santa' the credit at all - why do Santa at all in that case?

I grew up in Ireland, Santa is huge there and brought all the presents and the sheer awe in the dc is incredible. A book and crayons in a stocking just doesn't cut it for me I'm afraid.

Santa brings all the presents here - lots of them - and still does even with teens and he always will!