Is this a mean thing to do on Christmas Day?

[AFewScrewsLucy]

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?

That’s not only mean it’s cruel

So cruel. Why on earth would anybody want to hurt their child like this?

A ridiculous amount of money to spend on a 9 year old who are not known for being careful with their own property.

Teach him that Santa only brings small value gifts. The good stuff comes from loved ones. Have Santa leave a note, explaining he couldn't bring an i pad, but that his parents were able to get one for him, this time.

This is exactly why I am in therapy as my mother always chose the wrong time to teach me ( one of three kids) a lesson ! Don't do it please

Horrible idea.

I don’t think I’d take that approach, kids are only young once. There is no stopping you sitting down and explaining “as he is a big boy” etc that although Santa brings the presents, parents have to send money to Santa and this year it is a good chance it’s too expensive.

You can probably teach the message with a kinder delivery by having a conversation.

my parents did something similar. I'll never forget the feeling - I can still picture that Christmas morning so clearly, 60 years on.

It's a stupid thing to do but the parent set themselves up to fail in the first place by having santa deliver the expensive gifts. In our house santa always did small stocking items.

Big ticket items came from us. And if we couldn't afford it we up front said so.

But this is a shitty thing to do. Also at 9, I suspect the kid knows and thinks they have mum and dad over a barrel on this one.....

Mean

Super mean. The upset they will feel all day.

Christmas day is not the day to teach humility. Not in this way. You don't teach humility by humiliating.

Whoever has taught this child about Santa bringing the main present needs to wind their neck in.

On another note, why is it hard to believe a 9 year old still believes? They’re still a child and so young so why wouldn’t they!

Mean. Why on earth would you do this? I don’t see the logic here at all

Mean

Really mean!

No I don't think that's good at all :( 9 should still be magical for them they should get it from santa x you'll miss the magic when they're a teen

Very mean.

Please don’t do this to your child

Not in the spirit of Christmas to do that to a child. Let them believe in the magic and wake up excited to find what they wished for. Not a day for ‘teaching a lesson’.

Oh no please don't. That's gonna make them feel they weren't good enough to get a present from Santa. It's very mean. Will ruin their Christmas.

Not sure what you can do but that's very mean. I wouldn't do that to a child.

All through my childhood only thing I wanted was a pony my patents one year thought it would be good and funny to make out I'd got one and put my bike in the garden. Told me the best present ever was in the garden. I cried for hours.
I was 10 at the time it was 41 years ago I remember like it was yesterday..
So please Don't do it to your son.

Mean. And weird. Sounds like fodder for a future counselling session.

Are you for real you CF?

Give the iPad from yourselves and enjoy his happiness. Santa can give other less important stuff. I get that it’s winding you up but he’ll learn v soon indeed that Santa isn’t real and will hopefully appreciate it all in the end …

Wow. Mean and perverse.

How cruel. Very odd behaviour from a parent in my opinion though I appreciate everyone parents in different ways. Do you not understand how much you will hurt your own child’s feelings? It could result in an inferiority complex too.