Kids and Christmas lists, ever NOT get the items?

[daileyad]

Well, my 8 year old's christmas list includes an Ipad, Iphone, and a dog. So not happening!

 

[lovesmurfs]

For me (DH is pretty uninvolved in any gift-giving activities), it depends on the list. The kids are going to have a pretty nice Christmas this year. However, DS16 has asked for a paintball gun and all of its accessories, etc. He goes paintballing maybe once or twice a year, and I don't agree with spending $500 or more on something he won't use more frequently.

DD11's getting most of the things on her list (including an iPod touch 8gb), but I've let her down about some others (cell phone).

I try to get something I know they want but have forgotten (or not thought of). For DS, it's a leather jacket (got a 75% off deal), and for DD it's a parakeet and its cage, etc.

 

[lonegirl]

So are we bad parents or do you also not buy things on their lists??

Does your child have parents that love him, food on the table and clothes to wear? If so, he is well ahead of most of the kids in this world, so I would say you are not bad parents. Perspective has taught me that the fact that there are ANY presents to be opened Christmas morning is way more than most kids can hope for!

 

[jeepgirl30]

Does your child have parents that love him, food on the table and clothes to wear? If so, he is well ahead of most of the kids in this world, so I would say you are not bad parents. Perspective has taught me that the fact that there are ANY presents to be opened Christmas morning is way more than most kids can hope for!

awww, thank you! We sure do love them both more than anything!

 

[Boston Tea Party]

My son wants a PSP, too and he ain't gettin' it, neither. I'll sit next to you in the bad mommy corner.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

Well, my 8 year old's christmas list includes an Ipad, Iphone, and a dog. So not happening!

Sounds like my 9 year old's list, except substitute hamster for dog.

Not happening at our house either. Actually, we've promised her that if she keeps her grades up all throughout the year, we will get her a hamster at the end of the school year in June.

We've never gotten our kids EVERYTHING on their lists, whether we've been in a position financially to or not. I don't think you're bad parents at all.

 

[npmommie]

I try to get everything on the list, but sometimes I can't because they are items unavailable.
like the barbie dream townhouse I can't find it available anywhere ( at a price I want to pay I should add!) It was avail at TRU at $179 and out of stock at walmart for $125. the 125 is still a lot, but I can swallow that better than the 180 at TRU!
also my ds has some Thomas trains on his list that are not even available in this country yet, he thinks "santa can get them"
I already tried to set it up and say, maybe not!
I found one on ebay, but I keep losing the auctions!

 

[dzorn]

No my children do not get everything on their list. They asked for game boys, DS and Ipods for more than one year each. We explained that santa would ge those thing when he felt they were old and responsible enough for them. We also explained that Santa has to cover many children's needs so he would just pick on or two items.

There is no way I would expect to spend several hundred dollars just becasue that what a child wants. Heck DH is trying to talk me into a touch for himself.

Anything else we buy is from us not santa. Children need to learn they cannot have everthing they want.

Denise in MI

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I am always amazed when I read threads about gifts on the "Dis". When my children were younger they were told that Santa picks "one" gift off your list.

Now that they are a little older they live by the rule in my signature below. So I will provide homemade cookies and some coffee and cocoa to those joining me in what is considered the "bad" Mom corner of this thread. Personally, I think we are the good Moms/Dads though!

 

[Minnie_me]

Everything on the list?!? No way!

My DDs are BOTH asking for laptops, Nintendo DSi, cameras and cell phones!

Not to mention the clothes from Abercrombie, Aeropostale, Hollister, etc.

And Uggs.

 

[richmond282]

I also don't buy everything in the list. Of course my DD6 puts everything she sees on the list so I don't feel too guilty. We try to give her 1 or 2 "big" things from santa and smaller gifts from mommy and daddy. I've told her that mommies and daddies have to approve of the gifts AND we leave some money to help pay for the gifts (this explains why some kids get better gifts than others) Last year she got a DS Lite with some games and accessories and a Disney Princess vanity. This year she is getting a trampoline and maybe a lulu my cuddlin kitty if Santa can find one at a price he is willing to pay.

 

[ragtopday]

My kids' Christmas lists are "Wish Lists", not "Get Lists". While I do tend to get a lot of things on their list, I don't buy everything. This year I am cutting back and doing 4 major items - something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read. Plus Santa will be bringing something too. I explained all this before they wrote their lists and they are fine with it. I am tired of them getting so much stuff, not just from me, and then not even using it once it's been opened.

My kids also have winter birthdays (Jan and Feb), so anything they were really disappointed about not getting I can get for their birthdays.

 

[Topper]

Dear Santa,

My Christmas wish is for Artie to walk.

Love,

Brittany

 

[3boymthr]

Yup, I top the list of the bad mommy corner as far as not getting my kids everything what they want. They've been told over and over that Santa always checks with mom and dad before bringing items they've asked for. They've also been told that santa has a budget and can only spend just so much per family. On their lists this year that they're not getting:

DSi x2 = Younger DSs both already have DS lites and they work fine
Ipod Touch x2 = DH said a Nano was okay for youngest DS but he doesn't need the touch and oldest already has a Nano that works fine so why replace it just so he can have another gaming system.
Xbox 360 + Kinect x3 = They already have a Wii and we don't have the ability to connect another gaming system to our TV so ain't happenin'
Go-Kart - Ummmm, not
Parrot AR Droid = $300 worth of flying remote control toy I got him the Air Hogs Vectron ($17) that was also on his list
Laptop x2 = DH and I both believe that we don't want the kids having access to the internet where we can't monitor it.
Gerbil = My philosphy nothing that needs to be fed - I don't have time to hide it and at the same time care for it and feed it. Plus, I store all my stuff in my mom's barn I dont know if it would survive the cold.
TV x2 = Well, I kind of gave in and bought 1 of these for the oldest but the youngest child isn't getting one
Data Plan for the phone for oldest - the gift that keeps on giving - figuring 30/month this one would cost me about $3000 by the time he finishes college
Mixing and CD recording set up for oldest DS- Price alone stopped me on this one.

Don't get me wrong my kids are getting lots of stuff - things that they'll really love including the TV for the oldest and a Nook for the middle one and I may yet get a Nano for the youngest or I may go with something else - but I need to add up what I've purchased for him first.

 

[pennymom]

We never get everything on the Santa list! First, because Santa doesn't bring anything that mom and dad don't think is appropriate or too much to ask for. Second, we made it very clear from the time they first started to understand Santa that the things on their list are 'wishes', not a shopping list. Santa always brings something (or a few things) from the list, never brings everything on the list, and always brings something that they didn't expect.

 

[mamaLori05]

Actually I feel the opposite. I think you are a good parent for NOT getting everything on the list. Christmas should be about spending special time as a family, not about the gifts. Plus later in life kids are going to remember and cherish that family time more than some gift they opened on xmas morning. My kids have never gotten everything on their list, and they are still happy and excited on Christmas morning. I refuse to let my kids think that Santa will bring them anything they want. If my kids ever became ungreatful for a gift, or pouted because they didn't get a particular item, I would be taking the toys away and giving them to someone who appreciated them. Kids need to learn that they can't have everything they want.

 

[jeepgirl30]

Yup, I top the list of the bad mommy corner as far as not getting my kids everything what they want. They've been told over and over that Santa always checks with mom and dad before bringing items they've asked for. They've also been told that santa has a budget and can only spend just so much per family. On their lists this year that they're not getting:

DSi x2 = Younger DSs both already have DS lites and they work fine
Ipod Touch x2 = DH said a Nano was okay for youngest DS but he doesn't need the touch and oldest already has a Nano that works fine so why replace it just so he can have another gaming system.
Xbox 360 + Kinect x3 = They already have a Wii and we don't have the ability to connect another gaming system to our TV so ain't happenin'
Go-Kart - Ummmm, not
Parrot AR Droid = $300 worth of flying remote control toy I got him the Air Hogs Vectron ($17) that was also on his list
Laptop x2 = DH and I both believe that we don't want the kids having access to the internet where we can't monitor it.
Gerbil = My philosphy nothing that needs to be fed - I don't have time to hide it and at the same time care for it and feed it. Plus, I store all my stuff in my mom's barn I dont know if it would survive the cold.
TV x2 = Well, I kind of gave in and bought 1 of these for the oldest but the youngest child isn't getting one
Data Plan for the phone for oldest - the gift that keeps on giving - figuring 30/month this one would cost me about $3000 by the time he finishes college
Mixing and CD recording set up for oldest DS- Price alone stopped me on this one.

Don't get me wrong my kids are getting lots of stuff - things that they'll really love including the TV for the oldest and a Nook for the middle one and I may yet get a Nano for the youngest or I may go with something else - but I need to add up what I've purchased for him first.

Okay you got it! This is exactly where I was coming from and what I was hoping to hear. Yep they are asking for a lot of stuff they don't really need. I'd love to give the little sweetheart the world but I'm can't and am i'm not.

It isn't that he expects it, i just want to! Part of this is he still really believes in Santa and that makes me so happy. I love the innocence in children. There are so many kids out there acting grown up. He really is a sweet child and deep down I know he will be happy with Pokemon cards in his stocking or "my Christmas sock" as he calls it.

 

[cari12]

We have the kids (DD7 and DS5) write letters to Santa and to list the 3 things they want the most. We also tell them that Santa only brings one toy each and then fills their stockings. We explain that Santa can run out of the popular toys so that is why they have to put 3 things so Santa can choose.
This way we only have to buy one of the 3 things and we are good regarding Santa. We can then choose either to buy the rest of the things on their list or other things we think they will enjoy and they know those are from us, not Santa. It keeps things simple and if we have a year where we cannot afford to buy everything on the list, they do not have to lose faith in Santa. I think not getting what you ask for is a big reason kids start doubting Santa is real and I would like to keep the magic as long as possible.
To OP: IMHO, it is not fair for DS not to get his wish just because DH already has one. As far as your DS is concerned, he does not have one and really would like one.

 

[pennymom]

Actually I feel the opposite. I think you are a good parent for NOT getting everything on the list. Christmas should be about spending special time as a family, not about the gifts. Plus later in life kids are going to remember and cherish that family time more than some gift they opened on xmas morning. My kids have never gotten everything on their list, and they are still happy and excited on Christmas morning. I refuse to let my kids think that Santa will bring them anything they want. If my kids ever became ungreatful for a gift, or pouted because they didn't get a particular item, I would be taking the toys away and giving them to someone who appreciated them. Kids need to learn that they can't have everything they want.

 

[Ava]

Dear Santa,

My Christmas wish is for Artie to walk.

Love,

Brittany

I will admit that episode made me cry more than once.

My DD is too young yet to make a list, but I know when I was a kid I didn't get everything on my list. My sister & I would make one (sometimes very loooong) list each, and would get a few gifts from parents & several from Santa. But we didn't get everything, and we usually got things not on our lists as well. Usually one or both of us asked for some type of animal, which we NEVER got. We had pets but my mom was not into trying to hide live gifts.

I know once my DD is old enough for a list she won't get everything on it (Unless its a very short list!). I think it's better for her to learn that she can't always have everything she wants.