If you feel bad and think you havent bought enough for dc's read this..

[frecklyspeckly]

Last year I bought my DS and DD (5 and nearly 3 back then )a fair amount of stuff.

Without wanting to be precise about amounts etc, there was one large main present, a stocking, several parcels in addition to many other gifts from aunties, friends etc.

I know this was more than many people can and do get for many reasons, tbh it was an exceptional year and I was fortunate to have a bit of a windfall which I spent on the kids knowing I would not be doing it every year as I dont usually have the money.

Today I had a clearout and tidy up of ds room and it struck me that much of this stuff meant not much, had not been played with much at all. They had stuck with the same stuff they always liked before. So I asked when ds got home, very casually, what he got off Santa last year.

And the only thing he could remember was Strawberry Haribo. And the wooden santa puppet. And after prompting, his main present. But mainly it was the Haribo that he remembered.

That is it really, I just wanted to pass this on to anyone who feels the urge to go out this week and spend or borrow money they have not got as I have done in the past.

• I must confess I think the DS's are getting quite a bit this year. I've bought them a big main present to share (well DS1 and 2) and was going to get them on or 2 smaller things to open for themselves, well it's turned into quite a few extra little things - although I haven't spent or borrowed money I didn't have (infact some of the stuff was given to me for free to give to the DS's - THANK YOU PEACHY)

They don't usually get a lot at Christmas (or birthday' for that matter) but I think I've gone OTT this year .

My excuses are

1. It's the first Christmas since exH and I split up, so it's going to be totally different for them

1. I'm only getting them for part of the day (going to exH's mid/late afternoon - for the night) so want to spoil them for the bit I do have them

1. They're not really going to be getting presents from anyone else.

I shall tone it down again next year

I sorted out DS2's bedroom last week to make way for his new art table for xmas. He has a cabin bed and underneath was still unopened games/boxes of toys.

We visited a family last Christmas Day evening and the kids had got so much stuff that they had literally not yet opened/played with a huge pile of gifts. I was and at the excess...

I had the same revelation in October when we decorated DDs room - same thing, lots of stuff untouched and she couldn't remember what she had been given. DS aged 3 this ear had so many cars/tractors/trucks last year that we count house them all and donated some to local hospital.

This year they have 1 main present each and a stocking and that's it. We have brought a couple of family DVDs that we all like and it's been quite liberating!!!

Ds is the only child in my family too. I have 2 sisters who buy him so much all year round. Most of his stocking presents are pants, socks, hats etc.

He really wants a tv in his room but I really don't want him to.

His first Christmas list had about 20 things on it. I told him he could choose three to put in his letter to santa. The others I have asked my family to get in the hope that he gets things he really wants (although, they'll still get him a ton of other stuff!!).

After reading this I think I might keep a couple of things for his birthday in the Summer.

I've mentioned this before, but my 9-yr-old DS will tell anyone that his Favourite Ever Christmas present last year was his special pillow in music-patterned fabric. I have never seen a child's face truly light up so much before.

DH (who'd slogged to distant shops in pouring rain for the perfect Knex kit) was understandably miffed...

Danae - we got this Noddy remote control car for DS last Christmas. He was only 1.4 then, but we figured he'd enjoy experimenting and watching it zoom around. And he did. Now he's a year older and can operate it himself really well - he hares it around in circles for ages and ages. The only thing is the beep has stopped working, which is a shame, but all in all it's pretty robust. I don't set much store by the 3+ tag - that goes for any remotely interesting toys IME. Highly recommended.

LOL. Next to "dolls house" on my DD's list to santa, is "chocolate".

They really don't make any distinction, do they?

Such a good thread! In the past I have been guilty for spending way more than we could afford on Christmas pressies. The result - a house strewn with toys that never get played with that I have to tidy up and somewhere to store.
This year we are REALLY broke. I have HAD to stick to a tight budget - but I am actually glad. With 6 kids in the house we already have SO many toys! The baby is going to get toys that DD4 had grown out of that I had pt away in the loft. I am telling the othe kids it was a special arrangement I made with santa clause!

I do think its slightly different though if you don't have huge families/friends who buy for your children.

I make sure my children have a big pile of pressies but i cheat a bit - so pj's, new pants/socks/slippers/wellies etc all get wrapped up even though i'd have bought them anyway.

I don't do plastic tat though - and to be honest my children seem to have far fewer toys in total than most of their friends.

Message withdrawn