Gazzumped by Santa

[BroganMc]

I don't know whether to laugh, cry or just let my head explode. So I'll vent a little bit instead. Maybe someone out there can relate.

I've been a fan of Doctor Who since I was in high school. It's this British SciFi/Fantasy show that is a phenom in Britain but largely a cult thing in the US. Well I turned my nephew onto it in the last few years. And this year he has gone completely gaga for the show. Great, right? It's something we both adore and have in common.

Over the summer I learned they were releasing a special action figure set of all 11 Doctors. This is a collector's item for old time fans and a must-have toy for British kids. Only available in the UK and through certain US importers. I told my nephew about it and he instantly said he wanted it. The thing cost a lot (even more since it would be an import for us and subject to exchange rates and air mail shipping) so I told him that was something best saved for Christmas.

The nephew really wanted it and vowed to ask Santa for it. So of course as soon as it was available for Pre-Order in July I ordered it. Paid a small fortune to import it in August and had it hiding in my closet ever since. I told my sis and BIL when I pre-ordered and when I had received it, just so we didn't cross wires.

Wrapped it up first and had it under my tree last night awaiting my nephew to arrive (my entire family always celebrates Christmas Day at my house).

So this morning I wake up to snow and call my sis just to check in with the changing weather forecast. My nephews get on the phone and tell me all about Santa's deliveries for them. The eldest got a bunch of Wii games and the Doc Who-loving nephew...? He got the 11 Doctors action figure set. Yes the gift I special ordered months ago and had hidden in my closet and told Santa's helpers all about. It was delivered to Dnephew's house by Santa himself.

Oh great, I tell him, all excited for his benefit. DNephew asks if Santa brought me one too. I said I didn't know because I hadn't been downstairs yet. Then I get my sis on the phone. She asks if I heard about the gift. I was so mad. I told her yes and thanks so much for that since I had paid a bloomin' fortune for it and had it in my closet for months as I told her. She gets quiet and tells me she thought there had been a discussion about that. (i.e. My BIL touching base with me.) No, there hadn't. In fact I was completely blindsided. I ended the conversation civilly (it is Christmas and my sis has never done something like this before).

But I admit I fumed for a good half hour. I mean this was my special thing with my nephew. A show we loved more than anyone else in the family. (In fact my family, sibs and parents, mocked me for years for loving it as a teen/college student. Long before the kids discovered it was cool.) DNephew asked me for the gift. I had all the experience acquiring the action figures and related toys. I know the US retailers and UK exporters. (I believe that's where the set came from, a US importer I had shown him.) I even told the parents well ahead of time what I was planning every step of the way. But instead I find myself gazzumped by Santa.

I mean SANTA! Geez, how the heck do I argue with that? Poor kid is only 9 years old. I wouldn't want to be the reason he doesn't believe anymore. And yet I find myself with this expensive present I can no longer return sitting under my tree as a duplicate.

And to top it off, my nephew and I had been planning for him and his brother to have a sleepover tonight because BBC America is airing a special Christmas episode of the show. But now the nephew is thinking he'd rather go home and play with his new toys.

Makes me want to cry.

Caveat here is that I don't think my BIL did it on purpose. If anything I think he just forgot and my sis was too busy to correct him. Still someone should have raised a red flag last night and given me a call. Why did I have to find out based on a chance call to them? Fortunately I do have other gifts for my nephew, but if that had been my only one... Or if I hadn't called and he opened my duplicate present...?

I swear next year my nieces and nephews are just getting typical aunt gifts from me: socks and gift certificates. No more sweating over special presents for their parents and Santa to gazzump.

 

[minkydog]

I don't blame you for being mad. Maybe you can salvage the day, though. Have the sleepover as planned. Break open your own set of Doctor Who dolls and ya'll can build some little cities with leftover gift boxes. like playing Barbies, but cooler.

 

[Planogirl]

You didn't have a set for yourself yet did you? If not, you should!

This isn't to downplay your disappointment though. I'd feel just the same way. You are definitely a wonderful aunt.

 

[BillSears]

Doctor Who fan here too...I'd be very upset. But like you I'd suck it up and keep peace in the family.

I guess you get to share with him that Santa each brought you a set too. That Santa knows who the real Doctor Who fans are.

 

[BroganMc]

Thanks guys. Knew you'd understand.

I did not get myself a set of figures because I chose to spend the money on my nephew and when I did have extra money I didn't want to gazzump his special gift. (I figured I could always pick one up later. I guess later is now.)

Just floored me. Especially because (here's the kicker) my dad and I are taking my sis' entire family to Disney with us Tuesday. It's a surprise trip for the boys. My sis and BIL want to keep it a secret and spring it on them as they drive to the airport Tues night. (My dad and I own DVC together so we used points to get them a room. Sis is paying their airfare and tickets so it's not completely on us.) I've been happily playing along and won't even be there to witness the surprise reaction in their faces.

I do a lot of these sorts of things for my sibs' families. Along with my dad as a partner-in-crime. As the only household without kids or mortgages we have more financial freedom if not physical (I'm disabled and he's in his 70's) so we like to treat when we can. You know things to bring the family together and make the kids feel cherished. (There are 9 grandchildren.) But my sibs' don't always communicate well or make us feel as appreciated as we hoped. Me particularly since I have that baby sister/always picked on by older sibs phobia.

I'm not saying my sibs are awful people. They just forget sometimes. Like right now we've been busy cooking the ham and laying out the snack food for my sibs to arrive at 3pm. All we asked is that they called when they left home so we could time our hors d'oeurves and other meal prep right. It's going on 10 after now and now phone call nor text.

Part of me wants to just call it quits next year and plan to be in Disney instead of hosting Christmas Day. Let them enjoy being alone with their nuclear families in their households. Then the other part of me remembers how much the kids love coming to our house Christmas Day. It's just their forever procrastinating parents that give me headaches.

Do you think my dad and I are earning brownie points for heaven at least?

 

[BroganMc]

P.S. Don't get me wrong. I love my sibs. As soon as they get here I'll be so charmed by their presence I'll forget all my irks.

But why do they have to keep reminding me when I least expect it?

 

[superme80]

That sucks. I'm sorry.

 

[MoniqueU]

That stinks and I would be upset as well.


The good news is you are a wonderful aunt and so very caring and loving to the boys. How special your relationship is and will always be!! They will grow up knowing you love them tremendously and that is more special then any gift could ever be.

You are also a wonderful sister not to have flipped over this on the phone.

 

[BroganMc]

Well Christmas is done and we're officially into Boxing Day awaiting a blizzard (or not, hard to tell with weather forecasts).

My sibs were all an hour late to the party but still raring to go. So glad I had gotten to the point of laughing about the gift faux pas. That (and a couple glasses of Irish Meade) put me in a party mood.

FWIW sis felt horrible for the mistake. Between her work and the craziness of the kids' schedules she and BIL got their wires crossed. BIL got the job of handling "the list" so was just knocking off items as he saw them. He too apologized later. All's right with the world. These things do happen.

As for the festivities, my nephews opted not to do the sleepover (because of snow tomorrow) but it didn't matter after all. At precisely 9pm they settled down with their cousins, grandfather, uncle and me to watch Doctor Who. We had 8 people watching in true British post-holiday bliss tradition. (i.e after the presents were unwrapped, stockings unstuffed and dinner eaten)

Then they all proceeded to stay another two hours just talking and visiting. We finally sent them home before the storm hit (though now I'm not sure that will).

Only sad part of the day was my SIL came down with the stomach flew and couldn't make it. She was sick as a dog according to her daughter. My dad had her in Kris Kringle so we had a few presents for her, which she got later. She's one of those family members that for some reason you didn't feel close to but then things changed and suddenly you did.

The DW-loving nephew was adorable. He insisted in showing up dressed as the current 11th Doctor, complete with suspenders and a bowtie.

Families are funny sometimes. Just when you think you can't stand it anymore you realize you couldn't do without them.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Your attitude and ability to adapt is really great. A lesson I will take away with me this holiday. I hope you kept the collectables for yourself and choose to either keep them pristine in hopes of a little inheritance in the very very far futuure, or to open and be the inner child you deserve to be!!! Merry Christmas!

 

[BroganMc]

I did in fact keep my action figures. Took someone's advice here and Santa simply found all the true Doctor Who fans in the area. Everyone (my sis and BIL included) was glad I didn't buy two sets, one for me and one for Dnephew.

 

[kirbsam]

I don't know whether to laugh, cry or just let my head explode. So I'll vent a little bit instead. Maybe someone out there can relate.

I've been a fan of Doctor Who since I was in high school. It's this British SciFi/Fantasy show that is a phenom in Britain but largely a cult thing in the US. Well I turned my nephew onto it in the last few years. And this year he has gone completely gaga for the show. Great, right? It's something we both adore and have in common.

Over the summer I learned they were releasing a special action figure set of all 11 Doctors. This is a collector's item for old time fans and a must-have toy for British kids. Only available in the UK and through certain US importers. I told my nephew about it and he instantly said he wanted it. The thing cost a lot (even more since it would be an import for us and subject to exchange rates and air mail shipping) so I told him that was something best saved for Christmas.

The nephew really wanted it and vowed to ask Santa for it. So of course as soon as it was available for Pre-Order in July I ordered it. Paid a small fortune to import it in August and had it hiding in my closet ever since. I told my sis and BIL when I pre-ordered and when I had received it, just so we didn't cross wires.

Wrapped it up first and had it under my tree last night awaiting my nephew to arrive (my entire family always celebrates Christmas Day at my house).

So this morning I wake up to snow and call my sis just to check in with the changing weather forecast. My nephews get on the phone and tell me all about Santa's deliveries for them. The eldest got a bunch of Wii games and the Doc Who-loving nephew...? He got the 11 Doctors action figure set. Yes the gift I special ordered months ago and had hidden in my closet and told Santa's helpers all about. It was delivered to Dnephew's house by Santa himself.

Oh great, I tell him, all excited for his benefit. DNephew asks if Santa brought me one too. I said I didn't know because I hadn't been downstairs yet. Then I get my sis on the phone. She asks if I heard about the gift. I was so mad. I told her yes and thanks so much for that since I had paid a bloomin' fortune for it and had it in my closet for months as I told her. She gets quiet and tells me she thought there had been a discussion about that. (i.e. My BIL touching base with me.) No, there hadn't. In fact I was completely blindsided. I ended the conversation civilly (it is Christmas and my sis has never done something like this before).

But I admit I fumed for a good half hour. I mean this was my special thing with my nephew. A show we loved more than anyone else in the family. (In fact my family, sibs and parents, mocked me for years for loving it as a teen/college student. Long before the kids discovered it was cool.) DNephew asked me for the gift. I had all the experience acquiring the action figures and related toys. I know the US retailers and UK exporters. (I believe that's where the set came from, a US importer I had shown him.) I even told the parents well ahead of time what I was planning every step of the way. But instead I find myself gazzumped by Santa.

I mean SANTA! Geez, how the heck do I argue with that? Poor kid is only 9 years old. I wouldn't want to be the reason he doesn't believe anymore. And yet I find myself with this expensive present I can no longer return sitting under my tree as a duplicate.

And to top it off, my nephew and I had been planning for him and his brother to have a sleepover tonight because BBC America is airing a special Christmas episode of the show. But now the nephew is thinking he'd rather go home and play with his new toys.

Makes me want to cry.

Caveat here is that I don't think my BIL did it on purpose. If anything I think he just forgot and my sis was too busy to correct him. Still someone should have raised a red flag last night and given me a call. Why did I have to find out based on a chance call to them? Fortunately I do have other gifts for my nephew, but if that had been my only one... Or if I hadn't called and he opened my duplicate present...?

I swear next year my nieces and nephews are just getting typical aunt gifts from me: socks and gift certificates. No more sweating over special presents for their parents and Santa to gazzump.

John Belushi: "My advice to you... is to start drinking heavily."