Kids and Christmas lists, ever NOT get the items?

[Suellen]

Honestly I don't know why I ever even bother trying to post here.

Read into my post whatever you want.... you seem to anyway.

 

[js]

LOL, well I have 5 children and all of them are over 5 so I need a list. Oh and I homeschool my children so outside influence, commercials (we don't have TV service), or asking for what every other child is asking for...well that doesn't happen here.

I know all of my children, and they are very open with me....BUT with so many things that I know they'd love, I like having a list of their top 3 to narrow things down. I don't think that deserves a 'shame' on anyone though.

Me either. But oh well. I can tell you my almost 17 year old makes a list and she has been known to tell me I smother her although I take it as trying to be involved, which is quite a task at that age

 

[TheRatPack]

Honestly I don't know why I ever even bother trying to post here.

Read into my post whatever you want.... you seem to anyway.

YIKES.....you're the one that said if you couldn't shop without a list then you would be ashamed of yourself for not knowing your children better. No one wants to be accused of not knowing their children....and I don't think it was a stretch for what people are 'reading' in to your post. Maybe an apology would be better than the sarcasm and defensive retaliation post. But it's always easier to get defensive then say you're sorry for something that you might have not intended to mean the way it came out.

 

[Suellen]

Never mind. I'm not sorry. But I am done. I should have learned my lesson about disboards long ago.

 

[TheRatPack]

Well then I'll be a big girl and say I'm sorry that you got your feelings hurt. What you said might have been taken out of context but that's really not what matters. What matters is that other posters found it rather hurtful and rude, even if you didn't mean it that way. Sometimes we say things that hurt others feelings, even without meaning to. Like I tell my children, even if it was an accident or something was taken the wrong way, it's still nice to apologize.

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

 

[lts862]

First I should say that I did not read the entire thread.

To those who buy "everything on the list", is there no element of surprise or excitement because everything that was requested is given? Do you ever buy things that are NOT on the list just because you thought they would enjoy it? I am not being snarky, I am honestly asking the question. To me it almost seems like an order being taken and then request fulfilled.

Obviously, we do not buy everything from their lists. While we get a few items from the list, I like to look around for other things that they may not have requested. They like the surprise! My children do not get everything they ask for and are always happy and contented on Christmas morning!

 

[DawnM]

This is VERY true! My boys are really into Wii and DS games and there is NO WAY I would know the titles they already have, the ones they want, etc.....

I had to ask several times and finally just told them to make a list.

I can remember my middle son wants a DSi XL.....

Dawn

Lists are much easier when they get older IMO. I don't know every cd or dvd DS wants so it's better to have a reference. He doesn't get everything he asks for and I don't just follow the list but I do refer to it.

Funny thing is that he is asking me for a list this year.

 

[kayrosek]

My son just turned 9 and this is the first year he's ever made a list. He has autism and I think this is the first year he "gets" Santa and the list thing, if not then it's definitely the first year he can express that he understands.

So needless to say, yes, my son will get everything on his list, and then some, and anything he asks for between now and then. He has 9 years of Christmas lists to make up for!

This post had me nodding and tearing up a bit. DS10 also has an ASD along with several other dx's and for us this year his birthday was like that. This was the first year he wanted a party with friends and kids from school so we invited the entire third grade, all the scouts in his troop and all of the neighborhood kids as well as all of our friends kids. Pretty much every kid he knows. They diden't all show up of course but he had fun and he loved giving invitations to everyone he knew. I may of gone a bit overboard but kinda like you said about the lists he had ten years of parties to make up for.

 

[HS3kids]

This is VERY true! My boys are really into Wii and DS games and there is NO WAY I would know the titles they already have, the ones they want, etc.....

I had to ask several times and finally just told them to make a list.

I can remember my middle son wants a DSi XL.....

Dawn

I agree- some of the dsi & wii games are hard to remember. My kids make lists but they certainly do not get everything on it.
Kind of funny story: 2 years ago when DS was 8, he came to us and told us that he knew how to tell if Santa was real or not- he wanted a wii, and he knew we couldnt afford it, so if Santa brought it, he would know Santa was real.
All of our shopping was done, and the budget gone...luckily Dh got a bonus at work the week before Xmas, he called me that morning from Walmart to tell me that he got the wii for the kids Looking back though, pretty sure we got played.
Last year after Xmas, DS asked me to tell him the truth- was Santa real or did Dad and I buy the toys. I told him that it was us, but dont say anything to his friends (some of the neighborhood friends are younger) or his little sister. And he asked me- completely serious- "Does L know???" (L is my oldest, who was 16 at the time. I told him yes she knows! So cute!
Now this year youngest dd (almost 5) keeps asking for Bounce and Babbles Baby. I almost didnt get it, but decided to at the last minute and I am glad I did, she saw it in Walmart and almost freaked out she was so excited

 

[TheRatPack]

First I should say that I did not read the entire thread.

To those who buy "everything on the list", is there no element of surprise or excitement because everything that was requested is given?

My children only list 3 items, the top 3 that they really really really want. I pick up things on clearance and such and those are the 'surprise' items. Plus a lot of times their top 3 will be general things like 'games for my system'...etc and so of course for general request there is always that element of surprise too. But then again there isn't too much surprise with other gifts in our family or extended family. We usually try to find out what someone needs or wants and buy that. Nothing worse then getting that light up meowing cat sweater just because it was on sale LOL

 

[S. C.]

They don't always get everything they want.

 

[js]

My kids usually get what they ask for on the list.
I figure it is the only time of year they can actually ask for a list of items that they want and we actually say Yes. There are plenty of times throughout the year I say "no", sometimes more than I wish I didn't have to, but at Christmas, I get them what they ask for. So far it hasn't been anything too expensive, although this year for my dd's big gift she did ask for a GPS, which we did purchase.

 

[#1hoosierfan]

My 3 year old only asked for 2 things from Santa...... a rocket ship and a Thomas the Train..... We got him the "Follow Me Thomas," and he will LOVE it.

This is the first year he really "gets" Santa, so I had to make sure these 2 things will be under the tree for him.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

so if you ALWAYS buy everything on the list and then the year he is 16 he puts NEW CAR on the list, what do you do then?

of course we do not buy everything on the list.