Gifts: Santa vs. Mom & Dad

[Grumpy's Gal]

when I was a kid, santa did not wrap.

when my Dh was a kid, santa DID wrap.

so that was a big conversation once we had kids.......and now santa wraps at our house.

 

[klacey1]

santa was the only one to give gifts in our house. Parents didn't give gifts until they were older and no longer believers.

Same. Santa brought everything until my brother and I were around 9-10. DBF and I don't have children yet, but I definitely plan on doing the same with our kids.

 

[Keara'sMom]

In our house, Santa brought the one (or two) special gifts that were the most desired, and he also stuffed stockings. Mom and Dad gave some presents as well!

Now, my dd is almost 13, and some gifts are still signed from Santa, but I'll never forget when we had the "discussion" a couple years ago after she asked us, through tears, for "the truth" about Santa. She was a little sad when the idea of a big guy coming through the chimney was debunked, but then she said..."Wait! So that means YOU and DAD got me the American Girl Doll and the I-Pod!?! Cool!"

 

[Darcy03231]

Mom & Dad give the big ticket items and Santa the smaller stuff. I always thought this way if money were tight one year the kids wouldn't be surprised if Mom & Dad cut back.

 

[Buckimom]

My sister and I do the same as our parents did..everything comes from Santa..even to this day if my parents give me a gift it is from Santa..I was going to hold one gift back and make it be from mommy and daddy since I was having that "I need some appreciation" battle in my head. But I agree with a PP, this is what Christmas is all about and I don't know how many more years I will get to play santa..so the one I was holding back from me will also be thrown in with ALL the santa stuff..

Merry Christmas everyone no matter how you handle the Santa discussion.

 

[jacksonsmom]

Santa has always brought 3 gifts for DS10.
it usually is a lego set (one of the big ones, $80 to $100 range), a video game he has been really wanting and then one item that he really, really wants that he knows mom or dad won't buy him.

This year a huge Nerf gun is the toy he asked for because he knows mom and dad doesn't want another nerf gun in the house

Santa also fills the stocking, usually candy (because mom and dad won't get him that much candy! lol), a DVD, a book, gum, mini lego kits, extra nerf darts, movie gift card (to treat mom and dad), etc.

Everything else comes from mom and dad.

Oh and Santa wraps his presents in special Santa paper.

I keep thinking DS10 will start questioning Santa, because he knows about the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy, but so far not a peep about Santa.

 

[monorailsilver]

Santa brings everything & my kids never questioned it as to why my dh & I don't give them things.

Actually maybe my oldest did once & I told her that we buy them stuff all year long that Santa takes care of Christmas for us.

Gosh, if my kids knew we bought them stuff they'd be begging for more then they already got.

 

[kimsuenew]

Our DS is older now (19) so Santa does not visit however when he did (and both my DH and myself worked) DS had it made!

Santa versus Mom and Dad... neither one could do better than the other really so he got great gifts from both!

I tried to keep it equal, like if Santa brought a Game System (N 64, Gamecube, XBox, Gameboys, Gameboy Color, Gameboy SP all come to mind, lol) and all the accessories for it and a bunch of games then Mom and Dad would just buy oodles of wanted things on his list (non related to Santa's gift of course).

Santa usually bought the "big thing" and everything to go with it... we bought the other items like toys, GI Joes, RC cars, bikes, skateboards, skates, "cool clothing", stereos, televisions, action figures with entire playsets, Lego sets, Nerf guns, Power Wheels, and so on.

Our gifts were always wrapped and under the tree in advance... Santa always used Santa themed paper and these only appeared Christmas morning!

That was such a fun time in our DS life... I don't know who enjoyed it more... us or him!

 

[kimsuenew]

I wanted to add that DH was raised with Santa not being allowed (religious reasons) and I was raised with not getting much but what we did get came strictly from Santa during the "Santa years"... my parents never gave us any seperate gifts.

DH and I just came into what we did (Santa and Mom/Dad both going nuts equally for Christmas) after our DS was born... it just seemed right to us.

My two sisters actually ended up doing the same type of thing with their kids, however my husbands DSis followed how she was raised and Santa was never allowed with her children.