Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

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

Is this a mean thing to do on Christmas Day?

772 replies

AFewScrewsLucy · 10/12/2022 19:09

Imagine you are the parent here.

You have a 9 yo, who turned 9 in early October.
They still believe in father Christmas (yes, really)
They have asked for an iPad.
You've told 9yo you can't afford it, so can't have it.
9yo says "it's OK, Santa will get it for me" and then proceeds to tell everyone they know since November that they're getting an iPad for Christmas.
You are actually buying the iPad for them.
But, you have decided that to teach them to be more humble, you're going to pretend that Santa hasn't brought the iPAD when you all open presents in the morning. And you're going to "find" the iPad at the back of the tree at some point in the evening,.and give it to them then.

Full context, you also have a just turned 6yo and 7yo who will be receiving their Santa present in the morning. (Barbie Dream House and Switch)

What do you think? Mean? Or fine?

OP posts:
mondaytosunday · 10/12/2022 21:41

Mean

Bellagio40 · 10/12/2022 21:42

Mean

Algor1thm · 10/12/2022 21:45

RewildingAmbridge · 10/12/2022 21:24

My parents did a much lesser version of this, came down brother had dream present of his, I didn't seem to have a main present. Bit upset but tried to not show it, as I had other things so tried to be grateful. Parents ask me to open the curtains (floor length bay window). There was my most wished for present. That five minutes was soul destroying, if they'd kept it going much longer it would've actually really upset young me. That plan is cruel.

My parents also did this - the bike I had been desperate for was outside in the garage. I had to sit through the whole morning of opening presents, watching my sister open the thing she had really wanted, pretending to be happy, before finally being taken to find it. And the way my parents were, if I'd dare shown I was disappointed in my other presents they wouldn't have bloody given it to me either. Then they all laughed at me "your face was so funny, you thought we'd forgotten, haha" 🙄

Emotionalsupportviper · 10/12/2022 21:47

AFewScrewsLucy · 10/12/2022 19:09

Imagine you are the parent here.

You have a 9 yo, who turned 9 in early October.
They still believe in father Christmas (yes, really)
They have asked for an iPad.
You've told 9yo you can't afford it, so can't have it.
9yo says "it's OK, Santa will get it for me" and then proceeds to tell everyone they know since November that they're getting an iPad for Christmas.
You are actually buying the iPad for them.
But, you have decided that to teach them to be more humble, you're going to pretend that Santa hasn't brought the iPAD when you all open presents in the morning. And you're going to "find" the iPad at the back of the tree at some point in the evening,.and give it to them then.

Full context, you also have a just turned 6yo and 7yo who will be receiving their Santa present in the morning. (Barbie Dream House and Switch)

What do you think? Mean? Or fine?

Mean!

Like a guy who I worked with who pretended to his kids he'd put their litter down the toilet (he'd hidden it at the side). They broke their little hearts until he went "Ta-daaaah!" and whipped the kitten out.

He thought it was hilarious. If I'd been his missus I would have rammed his head down the loo!

Emotionalsupportviper · 10/12/2022 21:48

*KITTEN, not litter

Autocarrot you bar-steward!

CrunchyCarrot · 10/12/2022 21:49

Horrible, mean thing to do!

dcut · 10/12/2022 21:52

Nah the annoying part is people telling the OP they are despicable etc because they can’t be bothered to click the button right under the OPs posts that say “see all”

OP should have put it in her first post if she didn't want to be flamed (some of the flaming is over the top - you can point out that something is mean without going over the top).
As I said, not everyone knows about see all, and even if they do, sometimes there are absolutely loads of posts from the OP to wade through.
Critical information should be in the OP - and that would include it being about a friend not the OP themself.

Doowop1919 · 10/12/2022 21:53

Show your friend this thread...

SuperSue77 · 10/12/2022 21:53

Mean

Redebs · 10/12/2022 21:54

Who would want to hurt child like this?
Mean
Nasty

Noodlehen · 10/12/2022 21:54

I just don’t get why your friend would do this, like what reason does she have to want to do this to her child.

WandaWonder · 10/12/2022 21:57

Op would you have learnt anything if it happened to you?

Thr idea is appalling

ozymandiusking · 10/12/2022 21:58

I don't think it's a matter of the child not being humble. He just has utter faith that Father Christmas will deliver the present he wants. What a miserable pair you are.

legalseagull · 10/12/2022 21:58

My mum did this to me. I asked for a camera. I opened my other presents and then when I realised I didn't have one I put a brave face on, smiled and pretended not to be gutted.

I 'found' the camera at lunch time.

I didn't learn any lesson and it was mean. Either give her the iPad, or teach her a lesson by explaining why she can't have it

Misunderstoodagain · 10/12/2022 21:59

Yeah that wouldn't be good OP. I'm also of the mind that the main big expensive present should be from you / the parents and only something little is from santa. Had it before when kids come back from the holidays to school and santa didn't get them the big expensive thing they wanted and think that they must of done something wrong or santa doesn't like them. It's a horrible feeling for the kids that don't get luxury items from santa.
Don't do this to your little one, she will be miserable all day

Daffodilis · 10/12/2022 22:00

So they are going to punishment the child for believing in something they brought them up to believe! It's rather sadistic.

SammyScrounge · 10/12/2022 22:02

AFewScrewsLucy · 10/12/2022 19:09

Imagine you are the parent here.

You have a 9 yo, who turned 9 in early October.
They still believe in father Christmas (yes, really)
They have asked for an iPad.
You've told 9yo you can't afford it, so can't have it.
9yo says "it's OK, Santa will get it for me" and then proceeds to tell everyone they know since November that they're getting an iPad for Christmas.
You are actually buying the iPad for them.
But, you have decided that to teach them to be more humble, you're going to pretend that Santa hasn't brought the iPAD when you all open presents in the morning. And you're going to "find" the iPad at the back of the tree at some point in the evening,.and give it to them then.

Full context, you also have a just turned 6yo and 7yo who will be receiving their Santa present in the morning. (Barbie Dream House and Switch)

What do you think? Mean? Or fine?

No thanks. I can't imagine being that mean and cruel to a child. Letting her think that her siblings have been granted their wish and that only she hasn't verges on the wicked. Why would you want to spoil a child's Xmas Day?
.

FormerlySpeckledyHen · 10/12/2022 22:03

What other shit things do they do to their kids I wonder.

spuddel · 10/12/2022 22:03

This parent is a perfect example of 'just because you can get pregnant, doesn't mean you should get pregnant.'

londonmummy1966 · 10/12/2022 22:03

WHy did you ever set Santa up to bring the expensive presents? Here he fills a smallish stocking with little things and the bigger presents come from us which means that if we say something is too expensive they know it is.

I suggest Santa doesn't bring the expensive presents for anyone this year and they all get them later in the morning and very obviously from you

Daffodilis · 10/12/2022 22:07

londonmummy1966 · 10/12/2022 22:03

WHy did you ever set Santa up to bring the expensive presents? Here he fills a smallish stocking with little things and the bigger presents come from us which means that if we say something is too expensive they know it is.

I suggest Santa doesn't bring the expensive presents for anyone this year and they all get them later in the morning and very obviously from you

We did similar when mine were young. They thought Santa gave all children something inexpensive but special.

Bpdqueen · 10/12/2022 22:08

Mean don't do this let them enjoy the day. Childhood is short let them enjoy it

ZombieMumEB · 10/12/2022 22:09

You won't be teaching them how to be humble.

You will be teaching them that you are nasty and cruel and this lesson will probably stay with them for a long time.

knittingaddict · 10/12/2022 22:10

Wll that's what you get for encouraging a Father Christmas who will bring anything they want. It's mean to make a point when its now become an issue.

user1496262496 · 10/12/2022 22:10

it will teach them nothing except that adults are cruel, and the cycle will continue.

Swipe left for the next trending thread