What do you do if DC change their mind??

[CoffeeChocolateWine]

Oh flip! 😩 So this has happened!

My 5yo DD has had her heart totally set for months on a mermaid tail for swimming. She tried one out during the summer - it was completely naff and just the moulded fin bit that she put her feet in - but she fell in love with it and hasn't wavered. Until last night she said the dreaded words 'I don't want a mermaid tail anymore Mummy!'

But it's already bought because there didn't seem any chance that she'd go off the idea. And obviously, I've gone above and beyond the one she tried on holiday - it's the moulded fin, a beautiful patterned tail cover and a matching swimsuit. It's stunning and I've been so excited about giving it to her.

But what now? The things she now says she wants are crap in comparison (think plastic tat and toys aimed a lot younger than her) and in her mind she probably only thinks the mermaid tail is the moulded fin thing rather than the whole outfit I've bought so I do think she'll be blown away by it. But she's only 5 😢 Will she change her mind again? Do I hold firm?

If it's relevant, Father Christmas only brings small stocking gifts in our house so she knows this gift is from us not FC so don't have to worry too much about ruining the magic. But obviously I want her to have things she really wants.

I’d still give it to her.

Have the relatives been given suggestions yet?… I can’t believe I’m saying this as I detest the plastic crap, but could they buy plastic crap she’s asked for?

FWIW My now 10yr old got the mermaids tail a few years ago and she loves using it in the summer each year at the lake. But they’re not usually allowed in swimming pools and I would strongly suggest a buoyancy aid to go with it.

I would be making breezy comments like, "well I'll add to the list DD but we don't get everything on our list at Christmas, so we'll have to see what exciting presents you get".

And don't beat yourself up, 5 year olds are fickle creatures, who will look back and see the love you put into buying the best present you thought she would love. Or not remember at all 😆

Small children are notoriously fickle, so best not to buy too far in advance next time!

Can you return the mermaid thing? Personally, I would in your situation. Seeing them happy and excited is one of the best things on Christmas Day and I wouldn't want to miss that!

Definitely give it to her she will still love it.

Grandparents have already bought their gifts for her so that's not an option. Her uncles might be able to get one of the things maybe. But there's also the issue that I think the toys are aimed quite young so I'm slightly reluctant about that too (we recently had a declutter of toys she's outgrown so it seem ridiculous to be getting g more!) For instance, one is a toy vacuum cleaner with lights and music!

And thanks for the tips on the mermaid tails - I was aware that they're not allowed in a lot of pools. Tbh she'll love messing around in the bath with it and in the summer we put a big pool up in our garden so she can use it then with a buoyancy aid.

Also re plastic tat, look for it second hand so you don't spend much and can feel better about the plastic on the oceans. Then she can have both.

Could you show her better mermaid tails, a bit more like the one you have got her to get her interested again?

This happened to us one year with a gift for our son that he’d wanted for months. We still gave the gift and our son loved it, but we also bought the other things he’d asked for. 😬 We laugh about it now but at the time I was 🤦🏻‍♀️

Second-hand is a good idea actually. Might look into that. We are trying to cut back on 'stuff' as well as expense this year so reluctant to just buy the other bits anyway.

One of the other things she's asked for is a toy laptop, but not one that actually does anything, just for role play?? She wants to sit with it going tap tap tap on the keys! Where can I even find this?! A quick google and all I can find are more expensive things that actually have batteries and games (we have tablets etc so don't need something like this).

And re. buying so far in advance. It's November...it's not that far in advance! And she's been set on this mermaid tail since July so thought it was a safe bet. Hi him!

*Ho hum, that was meant to say!

Just give it too her.

Kids don't dictate what they get and if she wanted it for ages shes not going to horribly disappointed either way. It might just be because its not 'swimming' weather right now.

Not sure if they still have them as they may have been a “special buy” but Aldi had little wooden “office worker” roleplay sets with a wooden laptop, little briefcase etc for about a tenner

Have you checked with the local pool you'll be able to use the fins? Many don't allow them outside of separate 'mermaid' sessions. My local pools also don't allow training fins for competitive swimmers either unless you've hired your own lane in case of injury

So I'd check she'll actually get use of it first and then make my decision from there.

Edited: sorry I managed to miss your update at 10:00 about the pool

Aren't they supposed to be rather dangerous for children to use? I might be wrong, but I seem to remember reading something about it.

Generally though if dd changed her mind I'd probably gently try to persuade it back, we also say that gift lists are wishes/ideas and Father Christmas has a lot of experience and knows what you will love and play with the most.

I just say "we've already bought you presents, so we won't be able to get you anymore"