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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:
PartyPrawnRingGames · 20/12/2021 18:57

Well he wouldn't be invited to Christmas day at my house in future.

Lovelydovey · 20/12/2021 18:59

In future don’t let him bring around presents to open at your house if they have to stay at his.

DockOTheBay · 20/12/2021 19:02

@sadpapercourtesan

Surely if she opens yours first and is thrilled with it - which she will be - her reaction to his is likely to be "I've already got one of these". Children don't notice things like newness, or at least mine never did.

He's an arse though, I'd be so pissed off.

Yeah I think this is quite likely too. It's certainly what my kids would say. She wouldn't notice the box.
FreeBritnee · 20/12/2021 19:07

@glitterfarts

I have a whole bunch of barbies that I am giving away in Facebook. Where do you live roughly op.
♥️
readwhatiactuallysay · 20/12/2021 19:10

So she has 2 toys she will love, she has one at each house so always one to play with, isn't that a good thing for her ??

If you dont want her to be materialistic or money orientated, what does it matter if one is new and one is used, she wont even probably notice and this is the lesson.

And then she has toys off her Nan, that will stay at her dads, so not for you to house. She is obviously loved, which is a great thing.

Why is this all being discussed in front of your daughter, sort it out between yourselves without a 12 year old.

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 20/12/2021 19:11

@paperyfish unless your Dd listens to the books on repeat you need the libby app (it's free and linked to your library card) and listen to them on there.

OP I learnt to unwrap and assemble Dds toys regardless of if they were new or not, nothing as frustrating as having to wait for something to be put together. I'd put a big cardboard box over it and wrap that, then she just had to lift it up.

Do you enjoy having your ex over on Christmas day? If not I'd start having your own Christmas and letting him have his in a separate day. Children adapt and often like two Christmases, it's one of the perks of having separated parents.

JongleBalls · 20/12/2021 19:14

@Lovelydovey next year I plan to change things for 2022 and onwards.

@2catsandhappy she has seen santa and asked him for it and santa said yes. She often says "Auntie X bought me this, Mummy bought me that, etc". I'm not sure if that's usual but I think it's because I've always encouraged my kids to say thank you to relatives when they give them a gift and feel grateful people have thought of them. So she expects this gift from santa and thinks she will get some surprises from mummy and daddy. She hasn't asked for a single other thing, she's really excited about it.

Thank you everyone. Sorry I can't reply directly to everyone. You're right she won't care that one is new and one isnt, and yes if the new one is boxed when she opens it that will delay her being able to play with it.

OP posts:
Itsalmostanaccessory · 20/12/2021 19:16

@Paperyfish

Why are you spending so much to get the CDs?

Sign up to audible for £7.99. Then you get 1 credit. You can buy 3 more credits for £18. So so that twice. Then you've got all 7 books for £44.

Then cancel your membership.

She can listen to them on alexa, Google, on a tablet, on a phone (any phone. An old phone would do it. Wouldnt need a contract - just connect to your wifi to download and then that's it. She can take the books anywhere).

JongleBalls · 20/12/2021 19:16

@glitterfarts oh that's so lovely but not necessary. She already has some Barbies they just need a home. You are so kind though and I'm sure some little one will love them. SmileFlowers

OP posts:
Scandisaurus · 20/12/2021 19:17

It would be great if your daughter would tell him she already has one of those, and could he return it and get her something else..

lemmein · 20/12/2021 19:32

He's a dick but I agree with the others, she'll be wowed by yours 'cos she's opening it first. I really wouldn't worry about his being boxed - for big presents like this I set them up before Xmas morning anyway so I'm not pissing about with excitable kids getting annoyed while I try and do the screws with a butter knife 🙈

CrimbleCrumble1 · 20/12/2021 19:47

I think it’s ok as she’ll be opening yours first.
It’s a shame he didn’t buy another big Barbie toy such as the ambulance to get the most play value from both your presents but hey ho it is what it is.
Just do your own thing next year and don’t try and coordinate or go halves with him.

Divebar2021 · 20/12/2021 19:53

Well I wouldn’t be so accommodating as to let him bring the Dream house to yours. It’s pretty weird to open 2 of the same thing.

I would also recommend Father Christmas bringing stockings only not big presents… helps when some kids get lots of presents and some less.

GarnishedOwl · 20/12/2021 20:02

The easy solution to this is to stop engaging with him so much. You don't need to tell him what gifts you're getting and you certainly shouldn't be inviting him for Xmas day! He is not your family.

He's your children's family and it sounds like he seems them for ample time in his own home / at his mums

Nothing changes if nothing changes. You need to just disengage or you'll be on this merry go round for years

As for what you do now. Nothing really I suppose. She will open her gift at yours first yes? Try and add in some dolls maybe if you can - unless she already has stuff good to go to play with it

And when she discovers a second one? ' ha ha oh silly daddy! But now you have one for playing with at blah blahs house! That's good!'

But the answer to all this nonsense is contact only when required. There's no need to discuss gifts with him or splitting costs.

until you manage that you'll always have these issues

Honeyroar · 20/12/2021 20:14

I wouldn’t involve him in any plans next year. Obviously he needs time with his daughter, but you plan your presents, he plans his.

But in this instance just see it from your daughter’s point of view - she gets to play with her favourite thing at both houses. She’ll be really happy..

AnAverageMum · 20/12/2021 20:28

@JongleBalls I have a barbie loving DD & have done my research and I think that last years barbie dream house is better anyway! & it not being in a box will meet nothing except you don’t have to assemble it 😀

Honestly if he’d bought the dream house and you’d got the estate house or something I could understand but they’re like for like IMO. She’ll be thrilled Smile

RedHelenB · 20/12/2021 20:41

It just means she has it to play with all the time, like she would have if her parents were still together. Don't sweat the small stuff.

Calmdown14 · 20/12/2021 20:50

Honestly already built and ready to play trump's newness. She'll love it.
Is she going to his immediately before Christmas? Because I wouldn't trust them not to give early in Christmas Eve. So I'd avoid that if you can

Lovemusic33 · 20/12/2021 21:03

What a c#nt (I don’t use that word often)

Seriously…uninvited him for Christmas Day. Your dd will get the dream house you have bought her first so she’s going to be a bit miffed when she gets a 2nd one from her dad (my 6 year old self would have cried). He’s the one that’s going to look stupid, the fact yours is 2nd hand won’t mean anything for dd, she’s not going to think his is bigger or better, she’s just going to be disappointed that her stupid dad has got her the same gift you have got her, just set yours up ready for Christmas morning, she will love it ❤️. She will soon be old enough to realise what a twat her father is.

Solasum · 20/12/2021 21:12

A house which is set up ready to go will be much more appealing to a small child than the same thing in a box that then needs setting up.

Put the barbies in having a tea party with her favourite biscuits and cakes that she can immediately eat herself. French Fancies always seem to appeal to little people. Maybe one of the barbies can be wearing an outfit that matches your daughters? Or the barbies could have a mini Christmas tree with a little present for her in the house, like a glittery bracelet or something.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 20/12/2021 21:19

Don't tell him in future, just say "you do you" and get your own stuff.

^^
This! Don’t involve him in anything I future

Honestly though, your daughter will appreciate your loving and happy home much more than brand new shiny stuff

Hariboqueen1 · 20/12/2021 21:21

Hes so werid. There are so many different Barbie dream houses did he literally get the same one? Would have been lovely for her if she had different ones at different houses. Or some barbie shopping mall or something different!

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 20/12/2021 21:24

My Dd 13 asks me to get second hand stuff (not barbies now of course but books, shoes, clothes etc) because of the environment so you’ve got that to look forward to hopefully!

BulldogDrummondBass · 20/12/2021 21:24

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.

Yes, but not everyone gets a ‘main present’ from Santa. We only got stockings from him and big presents from actual people.

I still think it’s dumb for Santa to get all the credit. If parents are the ones finding and buying the best presents, why not say so?

lanthanum · 20/12/2021 21:33

@Pinkyxx

I agree with others, don't talk to him about it in future. Suspect this will backfire, especially if she still believes in Santa.. I mean WHY would Santa bring the same thing to both her homes???... he may wish he hadn't.

My ex was like this and all it did was make DD cross that HER stuff had stay at HIS home. All this did was result in DD ''smuggling'' stuff home... so she could play with it, show her friends etc. All incredibly petty of Ex but there you go... Like DD used to say to me... why can't I have MY stuff where I WANT?

I was wondering whether the barbies might end up travelling between their two houses...
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