So…. What have you got the kids?!

[TheGirlWhoLived]

I KNOW it’s not to everyone’s taste, I KNOW people could/will pile on about excess and budgets and gluttony, greed, and the spirit of baby Jesus himself … but I’m nosy and want to know 😁 I’m also here for the very divisive annual Christmas Fridge bunfight in a couple of weeks.

I’ll go first.

ds3 4 in January
stepping stones
magnatiles road add on
floor is lava game
craft tub
wellies
bluey aeroplane, some bluey people and a pool
Marble run
a shark car loader thing
pizza pizza game
Poseable cuddly Mario
paw patrol zoomer and his boat
lego adventure set
outfit
pick and mix box
stick man pj’s

dd10
slime set
bedazzler set
ugg boots
phone case
glow recipe set
sol de janeiro mini perfume set
satin pajamas
ipad pencil
white fox hoody
stanley cup
Outfit
ariana cloud perfume
tree hut scrub
jellycat coffee
freeze dried sweets

dd14
ipad pencil
Carolina herrera perfume
Jellycat marshmallows
conan gray jumper (not sure this will arrive in time!)
satin pajamas
outfit
freeze dried sweets
Laniege mini lip balms
summer Fridays lip balm
Ugg boots
hair rollers
whiteboard markers, magnets and accessories
Court of thorns and roses book set
better than the movies books one and two

It's very apt at this moment in time 🤢

This has made me think of Forever by Judy Blume, which did the rounds when I was in year 9 (I think, was a long time ago!). Not a single teacher or parent said a word about it, which I just can't imagine happening now. That book and cosmo girl was basically our sex education😂

Well I have to thank @TheGirlWhoLived for starting this thread and @Arraminta for contributing because skimming through this morning I thought hmmm… why do BellaJane stacking bracelets ring a bell? I somehow managed to completely forget that I bought one for dd months ago!

I’m not in the habit of forgetting about £100 gifts I swear. I got it delivered to my SIL in the UK, she brought it over while visiting weeks later and I immediately put it away without even opening it so it didn’t “stick” in my mind. I’m delighted so thanks again to you both 😀.

Not everyone has family.

I suppose your very lucky to live in a world where the reality of losing all your family has happened to you though - hold onto that ignorance as long as possible because it sucks to bury your loved ones.

We do have a lot of family and I still bought a fair amount. Let's not pretend it isn't the done thing!

DS16

• Dart board
• Mini Archery
• Axe throwing game
• Bingo
• Band merch
• Lego style car
• Fidget stress toy
• Burrito blanket
• Fiesty pet
• Fuggler
• Hex bots
• Sliders
• Wall sign
• Headphone holder
• Lamp

DS6

• Trading cards
• RC car
• Lego type kit
• UFO toy
• Spy kit
• Drum pad
• Fuggler
• Oodie
• Hoodie
• Funko pop
• Minecraft torch
• Minecraft blanket
• Minecraft sword
• Board game
• Wooppee cushion

DD3

• Doll house
• Pram
• Mermaid barbie
• Mermaid ragdoll
• Mermaid tail blanket
• Playdough hairdressers
• Princess shoes
• Read me peppa pig
• Talking peppa toy
• Rainbocorn
• Handbag
• Toy tool in a case
• Fuggler
• Light up wand
• Pens

My dad only got one gift growing up poor in the 1950s, raised basically by a single mam after the war... everyone else I know younger than that (60s, gen x etc...) grew up with it the way it is now.

It would be really odd to insist on still doing Christmas like a poverty stricken post war family for 3/4th of a century ago.

But what if the one gift is a bike or a pair of trainers or a laptop? I’m not talking about a wrapped up lump of coal FGS 🤪

That would be one of my DD's main presents, I would still get her more as I love seeing her reaction to the gift pile that magically appears in Xmas day

Then it's embarrassing when your DD asks you questions about sex that you haven't got a clue about. 😆
I was always open about sex with DD but I was always worried as she got older I would seem as though I'd gone through adolescence in a convent. Thankfully it never came to that.

Maybe she heard about it from her friends. Maybe she's allowed on tiktok supervised. I see nothing wrong with a scrub for 10yr olds. Maybe the parents know sol de janero is popular with young people and chose it. Your reaction seems a bit overblown IMHO.

It's been normal for decades.
I'm 44 and I got lots of presents. My husband is 78 and he recalls just one from his parents and one from his Gran.
Bear in mind he was born in 1946. He grew up in the late 40's and the 50's

I only know of children getting very few presents nowadays if either their parents are struggling or if the children are older and getting a very expensive present like their first car or a gaming laptop. Even then they tend to get some smellies and chocolate and a jumper or similar.

Even then it's normal to get a few other gifts. You seem to have dozed off in the late 1950's and woken now. How have managed to not know this? It comes across as though you've been living under a rock.

I've never known anyone to get one gift

DD1 (5):

2 x Pokemon plushies
5 x packs of Pokemon cards
6 x craft kits, she's craft mad
4 x board games
Slime kit
Lots of books
Tiny baking kit
Pokemon trainer game
3 x PJs
2 x jumper
Microscope
Gem excavation kit
Lego kit
Pokemon Lego type stuff kit
Nail stickers
Hair clips
Hot chocolate bomb
Fluffy socks
Novelty lip balm
Selection box!
And various other tiny stocking bits

DD2 (2.5)

Micro scooter and helmet
Toot toot track
Happyland farm set
3 x PJs
2 x jumpers
A few books
Sticklebricks
Road puzzle
Ice cream parlour
Rubble plush
Squishmallow
Water flutes
Selection box!
Choc coins
Rubber ducks
Toothbrush
And other small stocking bits

We only have one family member buying for them, although that family member does go above and beyond!

@BellaTheDarkOverlord Did you get the Moriah Elizabeth stuff online? DD1 loves her and it's her birthday in Feb, would love to get her some bits!

So good to read others lists and get some inspiration.

For my DS age 5:
Torch
Walkie talkies
Dinosaur bingo
10 in 1 board games
Bluey colour by numbers
Brio construction set
2 books
Maze puzzle book
Football kit and thermals

Stocking: Rubik's cube, jelly sweets, pencils, chocolate coins, stretchy Santa, grow your own Christmas tree, yoto card, bookmark

@FatAlec The plushies I did yes but the clothing I got from Amazon. I was actually really surprised how good the quality of the plushies are. They aren’t cheap really and I wasn’t expecting them to be any good but I ordered some anyway as dd was obsessed. When the first one came even dh said how good they were. Quite big too. I’ve got plushies Poopy, Pickle, Derp, Eustace and Shelley. Just bear in mind some of them are preorder. Derek isn’t coming until end of January 😂

If you’re ordering from their site order plenty in advance. I think they took about 2-3 weeks to come maybe?

I was just going to post a list but then noticed I've spent nearly 3 times more than my budget was so now I'm in a mood!!!

Absolute idiot.

Brilliant, thanks! Will go look. It would make her day as I told her before that we probably can't get her stuff over here!

@FatAlec Also a thought but try Vinted too. I’ve seen some of the plushies on there.

DD15
Desk mirror with lights around.
Adidas gazelles

Stocking - lots of expensive makeup and skincare, honestly I was happy with Barry M at her age, tangle teezer, body spray, cookie pan, books, highlighter pens, socks, chocolate, sweets, Lego.

DS12
Star wars lego
American candy hamper

Stocking - T-shirt, socks, books, Starface stickers, chocolate, sweets, Uno No mercy, custom Lego figure, animal tracker bracelet, Lego.

Weve twitched.

DH got them a knife each.

A pair of trainers is not really a Christmas gift. I see trainers as a necessity.

Basic trainers... necessity
Fancy designer ones... present.

Bike for having fun... present.
Bike for commuting... necessity