Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Think the kids may be disapointed this year

74 replies

MrsSnape · 20/10/2008 11:41

I know I'm being a bit daft with this...

But every year the kids wake up to a living room FULL of presents. I mean, you litrally cannot walk around, there are presents EVERYWHERE.

I always spend a stupid fortune on them, buying loads of stuff that I know deep down they won't bother with after 5 minutes and their grandma always buys them LOADS...as in car fulls of presents too.

After last year, ANOTHER year where the kids only bothered with the console games and nothing else...I decided enough was enough and I wouldn't be buying them much this year. Plus we're saving for a holiday so I've told them not to expect much.

So basically I've bought them a Wii to share. A few xbox 360 games, a few wii games, a couple of DVDs and clothes. Everything I have bought them is hidden behind the computer desk and nobody has noticed...that's how small the 'stash' is but I thought "it will still seem like they have loads when MIL buys her usual masses..."

Anyway MIL has just told me that she doesn't intend on buying anyone presents this year, she's just giving money instead so they can buy what they want.

So what is usually an entire room filled with presents is going to be a room with two small piles of presents.

I've told them they won't be getting much but at 7 and 9, I think they're still a bit young to realise why things are different this year.

Am I being daft?

OP posts:

NotDoingTheHousework · 20/10/2008 14:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

piratecat · 20/10/2008 14:32

I sadi to dd 6.5 the other day, you can't have .... becuase it is very expensive, to which she answered 'yes but father xmas doesn't buy these tings mummy, he makes them, well his elves do'

any advice on how to tell a believer that money is important when it comes to gifts???

I see some of you have emplyed a few tactics, like the parents buy them and santa delivers...

NotDoingTheHousework · 20/10/2008 14:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

GhostlySinCity · 20/10/2008 14:36

Has he seen the ocean?

I've bought a wii with guitar hero, can't wait to try it!

And you have bought plenty! stop worrying.

BloodAndMutts · 20/10/2008 14:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PussinWellies · 20/10/2008 14:55

Ummm.

I do agree that computer games (a) get used and (b) look like much less than they cost.

Can I suggest that you add (needed) clothes to bulk it up? Or giant plastic plant pots and sunflower seeds? Or cake making mix with big mixing bowl?

Or pillows? My (9-yr-old, consumerist, spendthrift) son still says that his Special Pillow is the best Christmas present he ever had. Awwwwwwwww.

UmMwahahahaaaaa · 20/10/2008 15:04

Oh, I am looking forward to buying lots of pressies for both dd and ds. But they will be lots of little pressies, from pound shops or a new toothbrush or chocolate coins and stuff from car boots (just like I had). Think there are lots of ideas for stocking fillers here - and you wrap everything! For me, that's the fun of Christmas... hate greedy brattishness.

tortoiseshellWasMusicaYearsAgo · 20/10/2008 15:12

We have slightly opted out of the whole Christmas thing, by not doing 'big' presents at Christmas. We also don't do Santa as being a real person, rather ds1 dresses up as Santa and brings a present for everyone. So the kids get things like felt tips, maybe something playmobilish. Last year ds1's top present was a couple of toy cars from the film Cars, and dd's was a Russian Doll. Then if they want something 'big' they can choose it themselves. We don't have any games systems or anything like that, so no pressure for games!

The advantage of that is that they have the fun of lots of little presents to open, and there isn't the pressure of having to find the 'perfect' present, and the disappointment of not having the 'exact right one'. And I think it is nice having new pens .

tortoiseshellWasMusicaYearsAgo · 20/10/2008 15:13

Should add, they are not deprived at all - they do get bigger toys, just not at Christmas.

clumsymum · 20/10/2008 15:13

Interesting, this thread.

I had the same worry last year, as we bought ds a Wii (well it was for all the family really), and hence the money didn't fill the room as in years before.
But we got him a smallish lego set too, and wrapped up annuals individually, and it was OK actually. Because he was getting older (8 last xmas), he learnt to take it in turns opening pressies, so it took longer, and ate some chocolate and stuff in between, so there wasn't the disappointment I'd expected.

My biggest surprise was that he chose to play with the lego before the Wii !!

This year there will be smaller gifts again, cos he wants Wii games, mainly.

The ultimate guilt-trip for me is that I've already got him one gift (a robopet) second-hand from ebay. I've never given second-hand gifts EVER to anyone. But it was 1/3 of the retail price, fully working with instructions. Apparently it was a xmas pressie last year, only played with 3 or 4 times (which sums up it's real worth, I guess).

tortoiseshellWasMusicaYearsAgo · 20/10/2008 15:21

clumsymum - we spin out the present opening too - we generally don't manage to get round to it till about 4pm (once we've done church, lunch etc), then we do 1 round of presents, then play a game, then another round of presents etc. Usually spins it out to an hour or so, including the 'Santa visit'.

sitdownpleasegeorge · 20/10/2008 15:28

To the OP

If you as an adult don't realise that an entire room filled with presents, no room to walk around, was wasteful gluttony destined to render your offspring unappreciative in the long run then you are a fool.

I can understand why your children are unduly rude when opening presents from other people, they have been overloaded in the past and need a reality check and a re-set on their gratitude demonstrating skills.

I would recommend getting involved as a family with a charity for the homeless or something to bring you all back down to earth.

You are not alone however. Many, many people do not understand that having shed loads of money spent on expensive toys does not pay a good return in the long run as far as turning out polite sensible children is concerned.

My problem is that dh wants to buy lots of gaming gadgets for our eldest who is only 5 and I don't want the pair of them glued to the TV wii'ing or staring intently at a little ds screen for the forseeable future. I know how it will end, and it's not going to be pretty, can anyone suggest research to put dh off his keeness to start ds off on the gaming route ?

expatinscotland · 20/10/2008 16:34

'I do agree that computer games (a) get used and (b) look like much less than they cost.'

so then they ask for diamonds when they're teen?

edam · 20/10/2008 17:20

My mother always spoilt us at Christmas so I do feel the urge to ask FC to give ds a big pile of presents. But some of the bulk is relatively inexpensive stuff that he will love, like Playdoh and art supplies. I'd rather do the big pile than spend £270 on one present, tbh.

edam · 20/10/2008 17:23

(I was a polite sensible child despite being spoilt rotten at Christmas, btw. )

midnightexpress · 20/10/2008 17:50

Well, my children are still very small, so I don't have any real experience of the pressure that they can put on parents at Christmas.

However, that said, I agree wholeheartedly with sitdownpleasegeorge I'm afraid. A roomful of toys, after 'the look on their faces', won't make them happy and most of it won't get played with.

melpomene · 20/10/2008 17:56

Haven't read whole thread, but that sounds like plenty of presents. I opened this thread expecting the OP to be skint/ on benefits and only planning on getting a couple of things from the pound shop.

Flightattendant2 · 20/10/2008 18:01

at the stuff already got by so many of us...loads of people have 'only' got their children a Wii.

Isn't a Wii about £200? (no idea what it's for btw)

I thought I was being extravagant. I've got ds1 a couple of £10 transformers and a chemistry set - might keep that back for his birthday actually.

I thought he was spoilt. In terms of having a lot spent I mean.

I'm sure your kids aren't spoilt in terms of their personalities but it is a huge amount of money compared to what a lot of us spend.

LIZS · 20/10/2008 18:07

yes you are being daft, didn't we debate this a few weeks back. They also have a Florida holiday to look forward to.

tbh they aren't likely to be satisfied however hard you try. Their expectations are already beyond those of most kids and they really aren't appreciative of your efforts. Bet they don't even recall what you did or did not provide last. Please use this year as an opportunity to teach them to value what they do receive not gripe about what else they might have "wanted".

CrushWithEyeliner · 20/10/2008 18:07

That thread link from last year is disgraceful. I think you ned to read it again MS......

Original poster

MrsSnape · 20/10/2008 19:00

Thanks for the link. Have just re-read that thread from last year and it did bring it all back.

I AM being stupid and they DO get too much. I know. I get annoyed with myself to be honest.

I've just sold some stuff on ebay and would you believe was going to put it towards some more dvd's for christmas I've just put it onto paying a bit off the holiday.

I'm buying NOTHING ELSE for christmas.

OP posts:

UmMwahahahaaaaa · 21/10/2008 09:01

Aw, good for you!
Maybe think of some fun things to do that don't involve expensive gifts - get the spirit back iykwim.

mumeeee · 21/10/2008 09:56

They will be fine you have alresy spent more than I would have on children that age,
Father Christmas has always only brought stocking in my family. He also only gets stogkings in my brothers and sisters family.
That way the children necver expected to get a playstation or something big from him.

bythepowerofgreyskull · 21/10/2008 10:06

Mrs Snape - I would copy the thread from last year - look at the responses - and work out how you are going to react this year if he is as unpleasant as he was last year.

Each time you want to buy him another pressie ( I know it is hard) read that thread!
Good luck. I hope you all really enjoy this Christmas

Flip

1 2 3