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Christmas

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My DD's main santa present has been one upped.

119 replies

JongleBalls · 20/12/2021 17:26

I feel so sad and annoyed and I don't know if I should be, or what I can do (nothing really this year).

My DD2 has wanted a Barbie dream house for Xmas for months, she's asked Santa for it and tells everyone that's what she wants for Xmas.

I try to be mindful of the environment and often buy big items from Facebook marketplace. They're like new, means one less toy eventually added to landfill, and cheaper. So I found her a fab Dream House bundle on there that was like new and snapped it up.

I'd been asking her dad what he wanted to do for months about Xmas. Last year we split the cost of the main present and then bought a few smaller bits each for her too. This year he was very non committal and vague so I just went ahead and bought it. I scoured marketplace and ebay, spent ages looking, went across town and picked it up, hid it, etc.

Last year on Xmas day (of which he was invited to mine for the day) he declared all the toys from his relatives would be going to his house (DD goes there for tea 3 times a week). His relatives had asked me for ideas and I based these on thinking they were to stay at home, so after Xmas there were some gifts she'd been really looking forward to playing with that she could then only play with a few brief times a week.

This year when his relatives have asked for ideas I've advised them to ask her Dad as he will want them to go to his house and I don't know what she already has there.

When he knew I'd bought one he said "oh shall I give you the money or half the money". I said if you do, will you want the toy to be at your house and he said yes. Hmm We were in a room with DD1 and in my head I was thinking..... How do I say no without being arsey about it or pointing out how I'd been asking for ages, had spent hours searching, etc. Thankfully DD1 chimed in instantly and said "I think that's an awful idea because then DSis won't barely be able to play with it and she's super excited." (DD1 is 12 years old with zero social filter). Secretly I was so relieved she had pointed this out to her Dad and I could then say yes that's a good point maybe you choose another lovely gift.

A week later ex announced that he had bought DD2 a brand new Dream House for her to open at his house and keep there, and his mum had bought a HUGE bundle of barbies and stuff to go with it. Sad Angry

MIL is awful for over buying and when we were together ex was very strict with her and tried to reign her buying in slightly. It's lovely she's generous but it's over the top minimalism and opposite of my views and how I want my kids to think about Xmas.

So now DD2's main present from Santa has been fully paid for from me, so I haven't bought her (in her eyes) a big present, but Daddy has bought her a bigger better shinier version of her santa present, and granny has bought her tonnes to go with it. And they've then also bought lots of other bits too.

I feel annoyed with ex. I feel sad I'm going to be spending all future xmases like this. Anything I buy and take time to get and make special they will just out buy me and go one better. Sad DD1 has special needs and I'm her carer, I'll never have the income to match them and even then I wouldn't want to. I don't want them spoilt or materialistic, and I don't want to enter into an ever increasing spending contest. Sad

OP posts:
LoveGrooveDanceParty · 20/12/2021 18:09

@Bluntness100

I don’t really understand, you both bought her the exact same present? Except his is new and yours is second hand?
The one the OP bought is from Santa. The one the ex bought is from him.
Somepup100 · 20/12/2021 18:12

She'll love the one she can actually play with the most. The other one won't feel like hers. It'll be more like the barbie house at her friend's house.

Theunamedcat · 20/12/2021 18:13

Personally I would hit the Facebook market place and pick up some unique second hand barbie bits to go with the house your child will love them mine got a moped and a bike even a car really cheaply just before Christmas she loved them

AliceMcK · 20/12/2021 18:13

[quote Guttedbuyer]@Paperyfish are Harry Potter audio books £50?![/quote]
Yes, the CDs arnt cheap.

inappropriateraspberry · 20/12/2021 18:15

'Aren't you lucky! You get to have a house here and at your Dad's! Not everyone gets 2 Barbie houses!'
It's a stupid thing for him to have done, but spin it to her that she gets two and can play with it at both homes, without having to bring Barbie's back and forth.

WonderfulYou · 20/12/2021 18:17

What did he say when you asked him why he brought the exact same present for her?
I think that’s weird and really unfair to your DD that essentially she’s only got one present between as it’s the same thing, when she could have had two separate lovely gifts.

In future you need to not go halves.
He and his family get her presents which stay at his you and your family get presents that stay at yours.

Most couples that have split share out Christmas.
So one of you has her Xmas Eve and half of Xmas day and then they go to the other parents the rest of Xmas day and all of Boxing Day, and then they do the opposite the following year. Or one if you has her Xmas Eve and Boxing Day and the other has all of Xmas day and then swap next year.
Then your DD will get two Christmas days and will get to open the presents where she’ll keep them.

SleepingStandingUp · 20/12/2021 18:18

@Bluntness100

I don’t really understand, you both bought her the exact same present? Except his is new and yours is second hand?
Yes.
SleepingStandingUp · 20/12/2021 18:20

Op she's opening yours first so you will get the WOW!! He'll get the wow, I got one of these off Santa too.

Generalpost · 20/12/2021 18:21

Ita a bit odd really. Why does he thinks she would want 2 of the same thing. I different surprise would have been better .

Let him get on with it. Do you really think in a few year time your dd will say do you remember when I got the dream house off dad and it was in a box that was the best Xmas ever.

My 2 youngest are only 5/6 and their dad has got them ps4. I can't afford that I let him get on with it. It does not upset me at all . The only reason I check in with him is to make sure we don't get the same thing .

My dd has a child but her income is very low I don't want to see gs go without so I buy most of his stuff and a main present . She gets him a few cheaper bits that he still enjoys. But he does not know who the presents are from. As long as kids have something to play with they dont care who got what who got the biggest or the smallest what cost the most bla bla

AliceMcK · 20/12/2021 18:23

What a dick. In future do everything separate and if he asks what your getting, you havnt sorted it yet. Don’t tell him anything.

Don’t worry about it being second hand or open, I’ve bought loads 2nd hand, got my DDs a giant dolls house one year, all they cared about was playing with it straight away. If it’s boxed up then your ex is going to have to put it together for her to play with so she’s going to be waiting around at his house, but at home she’s got one to play with straight away. I also did lots of our generation stuff one year, again, DDs just happy they could dive straight into playing with them.

If she’s young she won’t notice or care where it’s come from. We never did presents from us vs Santa, it’s only as mine have gotten older we’ve explained that some of the presents come from us.

IgneousRock · 20/12/2021 18:24

Yes I agree - as she's opening yours first his won't seem as good in comparison!

user1493494961 · 20/12/2021 18:24

But she will open yours first, it won't be so exciting to open his.

2catsandhappy · 20/12/2021 18:25

I don't get the gift from Santa bit. Why don't you say it is from you?

thatsallineed · 20/12/2021 18:25

Well next year, give him a whole long list of things she hasn't asked for (ideally very large and expensive so maximum pocket hit and inconvenience - like the entire Sylvanian Families range for instance), and you & Santa buy the stuff you know she really wants.

saleorbouy · 20/12/2021 18:28

Could you not agree that Santa has bought one for each home so she always has it to play with.
I wouldn't worry about the one up manship that's going on I'm sure your daughter will be under no illusions as to your input and love into her life. This will become more apparent to her and appreciated as she grows older.
There are some great things on Ebay and local groups,I have picked up some exceptional lego bargains.

daretodenim · 20/12/2021 18:30

She's not going to be at his this week before Christmas? Is there any chance he opens it earlier/first with her? To me that's the biggest issue here.

He's a dick though and you definitely don't need to be entertaining him in your house on Christmas Day.

mugglenutmeg · 20/12/2021 18:30

Won't she be really disappointed to open the same thing again after already getting it?
(Trust me she won't see new or second hand!)

It sounds like he's shot himself in the foot as she won't be excited to see it at all.

The newness of it (and trying to do better than you) is all for his own enjoyment, DD won't notice. What a clueless dick!

thelegohooverer · 20/12/2021 18:33

I wouldn’t worry about you not getting credit for a big gift - being from Santa adds a ton of magic to the experience and one day (far too soon) she will realise who Santa is and appreciate your efforts all the more. And she will have learned some wonderful lessons about generosity and giving with no strings.

His shiny boxed set is likely to be puzzling rather than wow. But she will get to play Barbies in whichever house she’s in so in that sense it’s not the worst idea ever. (I still think he’s an ass)

LoveGrooveDanceParty · 20/12/2021 18:35

@2catsandhappy

I don't get the gift from Santa bit. Why don't you say it is from you?
You’ve heard of Santa, right?

He comes at Christmas. Lots of families go along with the magic. It’s not unheard of for young children to get gifts on Christmas Day from the big guy in the red suit.

RussianSpy101 · 20/12/2021 18:35

Oh OP. Massive hugs. He is such a twat!

I wouldn’t invite him for Christmas Day tbh. Let him have her Boxing Day or something and they can do their Christmas the . Your house will be the one she plays with the most as it’s at her HOME.

He and his mother can spend whatever money they like, but they will never replace you ❤️

Toomanysofttoys · 20/12/2021 18:41

Is the house customisable? If so cut up some nice paper, wrapping paper will do and a pot of pvc glue so she can wallpaper it. Make memories in that dolls house as that's what she will remember. Add some battery fairy lights and jazz it up.

Cherrytart23 · 20/12/2021 18:44

Does it matter aslong as dd is happy. She will get 2 houses instead of one and open the one from you first. If your worried because its from santa and you don't have a big present from you switch it say its from you and give something smaller from santa and as for it not being in a box that's better my dds will be getting set up on Xmas eve so Box will be binned an dd won't have to wait to play with it.

MolkosTeenageAngst · 20/12/2021 18:47

You say she’s not at school yet so presumably she’s four or younger. I don’t think at that age she will care or even notice that the doll’s house is second hand and as long as she has something to unwrap from you (rather than Santa) I don’t think she will care how much you’ve spent. But if you think she will compare you and her Dad can’t you give her the dolls house from you and Santa just give her a stocking of smaller gifts? That’s how many people do it, with main presents being from parents and other relatives/ friends; I certainly never got a main present from Santa as a child.

In future I would also keep quiet about what you are buying your DD so that her Dad can’t try and one-up you, let him ask DD what she wants and plan her gifts himself without requiring your input. I would also look to putting a plan in place as to how you can share Christmas without him going to yours in the future.

glitterfarts · 20/12/2021 18:48

I have a whole bunch of barbies that I am giving away in Facebook. Where do you live roughly op.

Arethechildreninbedyet · 20/12/2021 18:50

What a Twat. She’ll play with yours more, don’t worry.

It’s just another event you can store up for when they’re adults. He’s a petty little man and I imagine the girls will learn they soon enough!

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