How do you 'do' Christmas?

[Scout]

Oh I meant to say that I didn't get anything from my parents and I didn't think about it tbh. I know my eight year old said a few years back (we didn't get them anything back then), that we do so much for them all year that is why we didn't get them presents.

That's what I said too. I think when you grow up with things always being a certain way and that's all you know, then it is what it is and you don't question it. I never ever wondered why my parents didn't get me anything for Christmas bc they never did and I thought that was they way it was supposed to be. It never bothered me. People who didn't have that experience say they would definitely wonder why their parents didn't get them anything, but that's bc they didn't have that experience and are thinking about it from their adult brain.

 

[Scout]

Oh, was going to say (wouldn't let me edit my post???) too, that however you do your own Christmas, your kiddo will think it's magical and special. It's nice that we all have different ways of doing it. I'll bet in 20+ years, these same kiddos will be doing Christmas with their own families the same way it was done for them because they loved it so much.

 

[_Meep_]

Exactly! I am 99% copying my parents, the remaining 1% being my own ideas creeping in.

 

[.Mrs.B.]

We do a stocking and a big gift from Father Christmas.
This year DD will have a bike and DS will get a Paw Patroller (he asked for this).
We then have a few extra presents and playsets from Mummy and daddy.

Also, I think if they know FC only gets one thing then it helps as they wont ask for 100's of things. (Which my son totally would if he thought Father Christmas would bring them all).

 

[jessmke]

I forgot to mention that we still get DD a gift from mom and dad, her gift from Santa is something small like maybe some Christmas pajamas, and her gift from us is something larger and more exciting.

For example this year I got 5 used books for $5 which will be her gift from Santa, and from us she is getting climbing holds so we can make a climbing wall in her playroom.

 

[sabby52]

My boys get one gift from mum and dad and the rest is from Santa, gifts from friends and family are labelled and put under the tree so they know exactly who they are from. I dont mind Santa getting the credit for all the bigger, better gifts, my boys have been told that we send Santa some money to help (santa cant make consoles, ipads, phones ect ) towards the costs but he always brings a few surprises as well. I love having the magic of Santa bringing everything and I hate the fact that from next year on Santa wont be visiting our house anymore My 9 year old has been questioning the whole Santa thing for about 2 years now I have managed to keep him believing for a bit but I know he really doesnt believe anymore he is just playing along for my sake

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

I wouldnt mine santa having 'credit' but I like mine to realise it actually has cost time/money/ effort. I dunno. Im feeling so sad about the world this year

 

[_Meep_]

It is a bit of a mess. All the more reason to have something nice like Christmas and Santa to hang on to I say!

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

I agree...but I think the next generation could realise a bit more...not like the 3 yr olds lol but my 10 and 13 yr old definitly have unrealistic expectations of what they 'need'

 

[_Meep_]

Heh, yes I am sure it will be the same for me. I'm lucky I just have a fascinated 2 year old at the moment. I think by that stage for us it'll hopefully be a set amount of money per child and if the thing(s) they want most take up the majority of their budget then they'll have to decide if they want a very few expensive items or lots of cheaper presents!

 

[sabby52]

I wouldnt mine santa having 'credit' but I like mine to realise it actually has cost time/money/ effort. I dunno. Im feeling so sad about the world this year

Thats why I always told my boys that we send Santa money, nothing for free in this world even from Santa My 18 year old has asked for nothing this year, when we asked what he would like he said to just get Darragh (his son) something. My 8 year old says as long as he gets wwe tickets he will be happy, he has asked for a few others things but has told me if we dont have the money to send to santa then he will buy them from his Christmas money after christmas So I think by telling them it costs for Santa to bring stuff has made them realise they cant have everything the want or think they need

 

[loeylo]

I agree...but I think the next generation could realise a bit more...not like the 3 yr olds lol but my 10 and 13 yr old definitly have unrealistic expectations of what they 'need'

I don't think many 10 year olds still believe in Santa and I would doubt any 13 year olds would?

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

No mine have not for ages! But I think even younger kids could understand the concept. I just cant believe some comments I saw about burying head in sand. God its shocking. Maybe I am hormonal...maybe not...but I just feel so sad about it all

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

Thats a good idea Sabby. Oh bless Daniel. So grown up now. I had my first at 17. He sounds like he is doing wonderful x

 

[catty]

We do all presents from Santa. Anything from grandparents/friends are labelled.
They are too young to care if its from mummy or santa imo but when i got older i remember my mum telling me that she sent money to santa so i could get some more presents so i always knew there was a limit and also it made sense when i seen that some children didnt get as much as maybe there parents couldnt send as much to santa.

 

[SarahBear]

Well Violet went back and forth about her feelings about Santa but enjoyed the idea in the end.

 

[Kiwiberry]

For us we have decided that Santa brings most of the gifts and the really special gift of the year is from Mommy and Daddy. I won't be telling them anything about the "cost". I will never be holding that over their heads. They are a blessing to us and I don't want it to seem like anything less. I don't believe in teaching them the hardships of this world either, I want them to enjoy being a child and not to have to worry about any of that until they were old enough. It's hard enough worrying about all of that as an adult let alone forcing it on my children.