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Christmas

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Original poster

Spoke openly about Xmas presents and now worried

48 replies

Jolomanojo · 18/12/2022 18:35

I was talking quite loudly and openly to a friend about Xmas presents for my kids and having to check that i’d got them enough etc plus for their stockings, and I didn’t realise there was a child near me listening. I stopped talking as soon as I saw the child, but I’m worried that I’ve ruined Christmas for that child as they’ll start to question Santa etc. I realise I was talking too loudly now and I’m annoyed at myself as there were other parents around who were probably listening and are thinking I’m an idiot for being so open. Just can’t shake feeling awful about it even though it’s done now and there’s literally nothing I can do to change it.

OP posts:
GreenLeavesRustling · 18/12/2022 18:37

Ah, don’t beat yourself up. You’re a human! We can’t do everything right all the time.

xx

Dacadactyl · 18/12/2022 18:38

Did you say that you were Santa or something?

If not, don't worry. My kids thought Santa brought them one big present and that was it. The rest were bought by parents, relatives, friends etc.

Original poster
Jolomanojo · 18/12/2022 18:42

Thank you. No nothing like that, and you’re right because we get gifts for them from us and some are from Santa so I wasn't really specific but just feel terrible about it! But thank you, that makes me feel a bit better about it 😊

OP posts:
pinneddownbytabbies · 18/12/2022 18:49

I wouldn't worry about it. Until the age of 11 my Dniece apparently thought that all christmas presents were from Santa, including all the ones bought by grandparents and us. We didn't twig until one day, when SIL said something about cutting the tags off showing who they were from before she put the presents under the tree.
Bonkers.

stopthebarking · 18/12/2022 19:00

You could try to cover your tracks a bit or muddy the waters by having a staged conversation about how you were talking to so-and-so about the things they were thinking about getting for their own child for Christmas... or things that your child had put on their wish list? But really, even if you just leave it as it is, they will still find a way to believe, if they want to.

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 18/12/2022 19:04

I knew someone who did the ‘everything is from Santa’ thing.

They we’re confused about why there were presents under the tree and I said that they were from us and other people.

It didn’t go down well. He was like, “But Santa hadn’t BEEN..!”

It caused issues.

mam0918 · 18/12/2022 19:37

We where going to DS hospital appointment and being mid day when hes normally at school I completely forgot he was in the back of the car and had a whole discussion about my other DS xmas presents... I dont even think he was listening (he zones out into his own little world) or remembers lol.

They also know they get gifts off us and gift delivered by santa that we pick so it wouldnt 'ruin' anything except possibly the suprise.

mam0918 · 18/12/2022 19:40

pinneddownbytabbies · 18/12/2022 18:49

I wouldn't worry about it. Until the age of 11 my Dniece apparently thought that all christmas presents were from Santa, including all the ones bought by grandparents and us. We didn't twig until one day, when SIL said something about cutting the tags off showing who they were from before she put the presents under the tree.
Bonkers.

Did you point out to SIL that she is rude?

relabling a gift from someone else is theft.

ScarlettOHaraHamiltonKennedyButler · 18/12/2022 20:23

mam0918 · 18/12/2022 19:40

Did you point out to SIL that she is rude?

relabling a gift from someone else is theft.

Show quote history

It is not theft don't be so ridiculous. It's batshit yes but not theft! The items have already been gifted it doesn't matter what the bloody tag says.

Anyway OP we have all had our moments I'm sure. I remeber at about 7 finding a huge bag of sweets hidden in a cupboard just before Christmas, my Mum said she had bought them for the kids who don't get any presents. I was raging (very spoiled obvs) but it never twigged that they were actually our sweets from Santa, even when all the exact same one appeared in my stocking a few days later.

Thoughtful2355 · 18/12/2022 21:01

Personally I don't understand why people do the whole every present is from Santa...

Why can't Santa just bring the stockings! I'm not having all my hard work accredited to him!!

MisgenderedSwan · 18/12/2022 21:10

I remember my ds at 4 giggling because 'that mummy thought she had to get presents when Santa would be getting his' 🤣

If it were my child I would breeze past it with a 'well, maybe they do Christmas differently in their family, isn't it lovely that everyone has different traditions?'

Don't worry about it, I'm sure the child has forgotten all about it by now!

Original poster
Jolomanojo · 18/12/2022 21:34

Thanks for all of the reassuring messages. I really appreciate it! Just hate putting my foot in it and would hate to cause upset.

OP posts:
baxtersm · 18/12/2022 21:38

Done this once at a Boxing Day party.. my child got a really cool game and one of the adults asked me where i got it and we had a full scale conversation about how hard it was to find and that I eventually got it in Smyths or wherever.. only for us to realise one of the kids was hiding under the table for a game of hide and seek!!!! Can't remember how we got out of it but it was fine.. kids are gullible little things they'll believe anything lol

DappledThings · 18/12/2022 21:49

DH said something very similar at lunch in front of our own DC today. About moving some things from their stockings to presents from us as he'd bought so e more stocking stuff this morning. 6 year old knows already, 4 year old probably didn't hear, if she did she probably still wouldn't put 2 and 2 together. I wouldn't give it another thought.

Manicpixidreamgirl · 18/12/2022 21:50

I was in a restaurant with my two children last week when an older couple opposite us were doing some sickly flirting and the woman asked the man ‘do you still believe in Santa?’. The man said ‘of course’ and she said ‘oh that’s so sweet’. My 7 year old heard but didn’t say anything. It made me really sad. I feel like they should have known better.
Unless you said something that obvious, I wouldn’t worry. Everyone does Christmas differently.

Bimblybomeyelash · 18/12/2022 21:57

My kids know that I buy them presents that end up in their stockings. They don’t question it too deeply. Santa is magical and it doesn’t all have to follow ‘rules’.

Soakitup37 · 18/12/2022 23:11

one year I opened a stocking and I said this came from the early learning centre not Santa.(it had the elc logo on the packaging)

My father bless him thinking on his feet said no no… that a Santa sign- stands for elves love chocolate. I was about 7, totally believed it, because I wanted to, that’s how most kids are. They all get “exposed” to the talk of stockings etc but it goes over their head. I know it did a mine! :)

Noodledoodledoo · 18/12/2022 23:51

@Soakitup37 Our Santa subcontracts some of his elf work to Smiggle........!

Forgottenmypasswordagain · 19/12/2022 00:54

Pretend it never happened if it is mentioned. You "don't remember saying such avthing". Hopefully they will not mention it.
We told the dc to not ask for a lot of things in their letter to Santa, as that would seem greedy and they risk a lump of coal. I suggested putting 3 things in order of what they wanted the most.
They did.
But they still had lists a mile long stuck up on the fridge for us , often with cutout advertisements glued or taped onto the list! :D

JustCakeInDrag · 19/12/2022 06:56

Manicpixidreamgirl · 18/12/2022 21:50

I was in a restaurant with my two children last week when an older couple opposite us were doing some sickly flirting and the woman asked the man ‘do you still believe in Santa?’. The man said ‘of course’ and she said ‘oh that’s so sweet’. My 7 year old heard but didn’t say anything. It made me really sad. I feel like they should have known better.
Unless you said something that obvious, I wouldn’t worry. Everyone does Christmas differently.

What’s wrong with that exchange? Whether or not a person ‘still’ believes in Santa is the premise of most Christmas films. Has your child seen Polar Express, or Elf?!

CoffeeChocolateWine · 19/12/2022 07:09

Years ago, I put my foot in it with my niece who was 3 at the time. It was my own first DC's first Christmas (so this may explain why I just wasn't used to the whole way things were done at Christmas!) and we had all gone to my parents house for Christmas. We turned up on Christmas Eve and I had all of our presents to give everyone including our DS in bags. My little niece was so excited and started helping me by taking all the presents out of the bags and putting everything under the tree, and without thinking, I said:
"Oh hang on DN, not all of these presents are to go under the tree?"
"Why aren't they all going under the tree Auntie Coffee?"
"Because some of them are going in DS's stocking!"

O.M.G. What a clanger. I realised what I'd done as soon as I saw her little face so confused and her eyes so wide. I made up some nonsense about how Father Christmas had had to deliver his presents slightly early because I'd forgotten to tell him that we won't be at home for Christmas, which fortunately she bought. But I was massively kicking myself for potentially ruining the Father Christmas thing for my little niece at the age of 3!

She's 16 now...I keep wondering whether to bring it up with her about whether she remembers! But I'm happy to say she was an absolute believer until she was well into double figures so I've forgiven myself! It happens and we're only human. I'm sure if this child bring up any questions about FC, the parents will be able to make up some nonsense. We're quite good at that!

EllesB · 19/12/2022 07:31

At the risk of derailing, it seems odd to have Santa either bring everything or just fill stockings.

My parents had Santa bring anything that was a pain in the arse to wrap. New bicycle? Santa. Awkwardly-shaped dollhouse? Santa. Huge stuffed animal? Definitely Santa, no one wants to find a box to put that in. These items would appear unwrapped and be waiting for us on Christmas morning amongst all the wrapped presents. Doesn’t anyone else do that? Xmas Grin

girlmom21 · 19/12/2022 07:37

OP if my child heard that I'd just tell them you were on the phone to Santa as he was extra busy this year so needed a hand

Overthebow · 19/12/2022 07:39

Manicpixidreamgirl · 18/12/2022 21:50

I was in a restaurant with my two children last week when an older couple opposite us were doing some sickly flirting and the woman asked the man ‘do you still believe in Santa?’. The man said ‘of course’ and she said ‘oh that’s so sweet’. My 7 year old heard but didn’t say anything. It made me really sad. I feel like they should have known better.
Unless you said something that obvious, I wouldn’t worry. Everyone does Christmas differently.

Why should they have known better? They might. Or have kids so it may not be on their radar, not everyone’s world revolves around kids. Also it was their private conversation.

Overthebow · 19/12/2022 07:39

They might not have kids*