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?

Absolutely horrible.

Extremely mean

Mean and pointless.

I would say it's borderline abusive - can't afford an iPad, but Santa's bringing his siblings expensive presents, but to the oldest. How to ruin Christmas in one fell swoop while the other two get the presents they wanted.

It's an awful thing to do. And the reason we do like pps - Santa brings the stocking presents, expensive presents are paid for by mum and dad.

This is a really, really shitty idea.

I think the parents should have said Santa doesn’t bring big presents like that. With my kids the big present is from me and they get to ask Santa for little things such as this year the kids are getting a switch to share from me and they’ve each asked for a skateboard for one and a scooter for the other off Santa. I don’t think they’d be learning anything by tricking them. It’s totally pointless.

Batshit crazy. The person doing this needs a hobby.

My mother did this to me, and it taught me nothing about being humble. It made me feel sort of like I'm a bad kid because my siblings had gotten the expensive things they'd asked for. Once I was old enough to know santa was a lie it hurt even more knowing that it wasn't Santa leaving me out, but my own mother.

I taught my dd that writing a list or asking Santa for something absolutely does not mean she's getting it. She knew that it wasn't just a load of free stuff, so she made her list knowing she's not guaranteed to get everything and we always told her that parents have to pay for the materials to make the gifts and I also didn't teach her that "naughty" children don't get gifts or get less.

I think sometimes when kids have had the thing they really wanted every previous Xmas and they've been raised to believe santa does it all, it's kind of understand why a child would think it means it'll be there on Xmas morning if that's all they've experienced in their little lives.

Mean.

Absolutely agree. Buying each child a present worth several hundred pounds (IPad, Switch and Barbie dream house) is hardly teaching them to be humble.

I think it's fucking stupid.

Absolutely awful idea. And I’m no pushover.

Mean and manipulative

Had the younger child asked for the Switch?

Definitely very mean. Christmas day should be all fun and joy.

Unnecessarily cruel.

Plus in a year or 2 when the penny drops, that mum and dad are "Santa" - he's going to remember that his parent did that to him, not Santa..

Since dd stopped believing, she loves "being Santa" and keeping the magic alive for her little sister and her cousins - don't imagine for one minute that poor boy would be doing that in future.

They'll likely kick off during the day having built themselves up for months that that is what they're getting and ruin the day for themselves and others.

Then when they are given it (if they are after all that) soon after they'll be likely sent to bed and not able to enjoy their much wanted and waited for gift. Thus creating another meltdown

How horrible!!

Mean all I wanted for 15th birthday was 007 novels I never got them I spent that day in tears as usual my father promised never turned up until late that evening. Don’t do this I beg you just don’t.

Really mean, especially as you are still perpetuating the existence of Santa.

It’s evidently too late for a lesson in how to be humble because the child somehow knows that they’ll receive exactly what they want (no matter how expensive) for Christmas. The parents have obviously been hinting that the he’ll get the iPad for months. So the Christmas Day ‘lesson’ isn’t a lesson. It’s just a silly attention seeking show off and a horrible way to treat a child.

Just why? I can't believe any parents would do that to their child.

Mean. Why not just explain to them that you need to pay Santa for the presents, like some parents do to explain to their kids why some childreb get more from santa than others?

I would be more concerned about the fact that your DC thinks it is ok to ask for anything they want because Santa will pay for it. why do parents let their kids think that’s ok.