Kids and Christmas lists, ever NOT get the items?

[jeepgirl30]

Growing up I stopped making lists because Santa never bought off it anyway! My mother is the WORST gift giver. I would get underwear and socks from "santa" every year. I always wondered why my friends got cool gifts and i got well not so cool.

when we had our first DD my DH was shocked at how little I did for her for Christmas! She was only 6 months so I got her a book and a couple toys. Fast forward a few years and we would discuss gifts. I also was because he is normally very grumpy but insisted the kids have good Christmas' now to me we go BIG but to everyone else we are still budget related. I still scour for deals. I buy and DH always says "do more"! I could not believe the first year he sent me for DS Lites for BOTH kids. since then we kept up. DD is 10 and DS is 8.

However we don't buy everything on the lists. This year for DS we are buying very LITTLE on his list and I feel heartbroken. He is an excellent child, does well in school, excels in sports, does chores and is such a sweet child. His major requests for Santa are an iPod Touch or a PSP in blue.

Now, he has a DSi. We have a wii and DH has a PSP he bought for son but said it was DH's so DS didn't take it to daycare. We also have a PS3. DS has an iPod shuffle and an MP3 player (no screen or touch or video). We are getting them one netbook to share.

DH said "NO" on the iPod touch. His reasoning is DS has all the other electronics and does not need the touch. He said he would think about a nano but no on the touch. He said no way on another PSP. Thing is, I agree. But I feel so bad because DS has his little heart set on a iPod touch. I told him this morning I doubted Santa would bring the iPod or the PSP because he has one. He teared up a bit and said "but mom, I'm a good boy".

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

He is getting Harry Potter hogwarts lego castle as his big gift, along with the netbook to be shared. He is getting several other smaller things too.

I just want to hear from others that do not buy up the whole wish list.

 

[grumpeeduck]

We buy the whole list! Granted, it is always reasonable. This year DD is asking for the itouch and a few other things. We have always fulfilled their list. I feel like it is our responsibility-I mean, we take her to see Santa, encourage her to make the list, etc. We kind of "ask" for it. I, also, as a child had a few disappointments and I never want that for DD. They really do grow up so fast-before you know it there won't be a list- and I won't be passing down any disappointments that I can control.

 

[RockAndRollBallerina]

First of all don't feel bad about not getting everything on the list. Having a good Christmas does not have to involve getting a lot gifts (and some on the list are very expensive). Its more about spending good quality time with your family. This held true to me when my dad had a stroke, and then needed heart surgery in 2008, no one got anything, I was just happy my dad was still alive. We had an amazing time just watching movies, playing board games, card games, had a very nice dinner, and turned all cell phones and other communication devices off. Was the best christmas I ever had.

So no, you are not being a bad parent at all by not getting everything on the list. You are just simply being logical about what you will and will not get on the list. So no need to feel guilty about not being able to get all of it.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

Before I had kids, it was my intention to never buy everything on a child's list because I didn't want to create the expectation that the child would get everything on their list. Until this year, however, DD kept making her list so small that I was able to buy everything on the list plus some!

This year, she is really only getting the top item on her list, but the one item is "the rest of the Monster High dolls." I bought a ton of Monster High accessories before I finally found the dolls, so I don't feel the least bit guilty about the rest of her list. Some of her choices are too big to fit in our luggage, so those are impractical anyway.

Honestly though, I think she would have been crushed if I hadn't managed to find the Monster High stuff. At 8, she really believes that Santa can work miracles, and I have been playing this one up big time - every time we are in a store, we go look for Monster High stuff. I make a big deal out of getting e-mail alerts and showing her that they are all sold out. I keep telling her that mom is going to be no help on this one - she better hope Santa's elves are working overtime.

I think in your situation, I might take the blame and break it to the kids before Christmas. I would probably say that Santa doesn't bring anything that mom and dad don't approve, and we told Santa "no" on those two items. I would hope that this would give DS time to get over it before Christmas morning and that he could get excited about some alternate choices before then.

 

[Shannon G]

I think in your situation, I might take the blame and break it to the kids before Christmas. I would probably say that Santa doesn't bring anything that mom and dad don't approve, and we told Santa "no" on those two items. I would hope that this would give DS time to get over it before Christmas morning and that he could get excited about some alternate choices before then.

I totally agree with this, and it's what I have done. There are certain things my kids have asked for that they aren't going to get, because I don't think they should. So I tell them that Santa won't bring anything that I've said no to. DD8 is not getting the ipod she asked for, because she just got an MP3 player for her birthday 6 months ago, and DD6 is not getting the trampoline she wants, because I simply don't like the idea of the potential liability involved. I've explained to the girls that it has nothing to do with them having been good or bad, it's about Santa respecting mom's rules! Lol.

 

[snowywhite89]

Growing up I stopped making lists because Santa never bought off it anyway! My mother is the WORST gift giver. I would get underwear and socks from "santa" every year. I always wondered why my friends got cool gifts and i got well not so cool.

when we had our first DD my DH was shocked at how little I did for her for Christmas! She was only 6 months so I got her a book and a couple toys. Fast forward a few years and we would discuss gifts. I also was because he is normally very grumpy but insisted the kids have good Christmas' now to me we go BIG but to everyone else we are still budget related. I still scour for deals. I buy and DH always says "do more"! I could not believe the first year he sent me for DS Lites for BOTH kids. since then we kept up. DD is 10 and DS is 8.

However we don't buy everything on the lists. This year for DS we are buying very LITTLE on his list and I feel heartbroken. He is an excellent child, does well in school, excels in sports, does chores and is such a sweet child. His major requests for Santa are an iPod Touch or a PSP in blue.

Now, he has a DSi. We have a wii and DH has a PSP he bought for son but said it was DH's so DS didn't take it to daycare. We also have a PS3. DS has an iPod shuffle and an MP3 player (no screen or touch or video). We are getting them one netbook to share.

DH said "NO" on the iPod touch. His reasoning is DS has all the other electronics and does not need the touch. He said he would think about a nano but no on the touch. He said no way on another PSP. Thing is, I agree. But I feel so bad because DS has his little heart set on a iPod touch. I told him this morning I doubted Santa would bring the iPod or the PSP because he has one. He teared up a bit and said "but mom, I'm a good boy".

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

He is getting Harry Potter hogwarts lego castle as his big gift, along with the netbook to be shared. He is getting several other smaller things too.

I just want to hear from others that do not buy up the whole wish list.

I can't believe you would buy the kid a gift but then call it your DH's. If the only two items on his list are a touch or PSP I would get him one.

Did he want the netbook or was it what you though he would want. Did the sister want the netbook? I can see this sharing not working if she wanted the gift and he did not.

 

[leadfootlevi]

DS is 5. His list is a mile long and it changes daily. No, I don't get him everything on his list.

 

[EMAW]

We never get the whole list, sometimes because it's too expensive and sometimes because the gift they ask for is impractical or whatever. The kids have never mentioned it, but I always make sure at least one thing on their list comes from Santa so that he brings them something they asked him for.

I wouldn't worry about it, chances are he will be like my kids and forget he asked for something else once he sees the other goodies.

Em

 

[maddiesmom0116]

We always buy the Santa item no matter what. One year it part of it was a red my little pony, easy right, no, they have never made a red my little pony at that point and it was a $70 custom order. But we did it.

Her other list, for the family has over 60 items on it, so no,we don't buy all of it. She is 6 and she is getting 20 presents around $500 worth from us, but not anywhere close to her whole list. Santa is bringing Lanie the AG doll which she asked for this year.

 

[jeepgirl30]

I can't believe you would buy the kid a gift but then call it your DH's. If the only two items on his list are a touch or PSP I would get him one.

Did he want the netbook or was it what you though he would want. Did the sister want the netbook? I can see this sharing not working if she wanted the gift and he did not.

Sorry I did not write a clear description. The PSP was bought for DH as a father's day present but intended to be DS's in reality. DH said he would share it with DS. We never bought it for DS as his gift. We didn't want to buy it as DS's alone because we did not want it leaving the house. There have been a lot of issues at the daycare he goes to after school with kids "borrowing" and then breaking electronics. DS can play the PSP anytime he wants in the home. He has a DSi he can take anywhere else.

Both kids have requested a laptop.

 

[EnchantedPrincess]

We get everything on the Santa list, but we encourage them to ask no more than three gifts from Santa. So they each get all three gifts from Santa. They make another list for Mom & Dad and they may not get everything on that one.

 

[SandrA9810]

If your husband bought the PSP for the kid, why weren't rules gone over on where it could go? If you just say it's daddy's so you can't take it to daycare, he probably doesn't believe it's his, that he has to borrow it from dad to use. Maybe if you go over the rules about the PSP, saying that it wouldn't be allowed out of the house (like the other one), he'd be less inclined to have it.

What are the rules for the other music players and would those stay the same for the new iTouch?

 

[snowywhite89]

Sorry I did not write a clear description. The PSP was bought for DH as a father's day present but intended to be DS's in reality. DH said he would share it with DS. We never bought it for DS as his gift. We didn't want to buy it as DS's alone because we did not want it leaving the house. There have been a lot of issues at the daycare he goes to after school with kids "borrowing" and then breaking electronics. DS can play the PSP anytime he wants in the home. He has a DSi he can take anywhere else.

Both kids have requested a laptop.

That makes more sense. If the laptop was on his list then that is enough electronics for an 8 year old.

 

[jeepgirl30]

I can't believe you would buy the kid a gift but then call it your DH's. If the only two items on his list are a touch or PSP I would get him one.

Did he want the netbook or was it what you though he would want. Did the sister want the netbook? I can see this sharing not working if she wanted the gift and he did not.

Oh and also, he has more than just 2 items. The iPod touch and PSP are the two "big" items. Although the HP lego castle is $130 so i guess that isn't really small. He is getting that plus the Quidditch match, cuponk and a few other things on his list. The netbook to be shared is on both kids' list. He will also get things he has mentioned but not on the list.

 

[Crystal0608]

I don't get everything on the list, though I usually get all the smaller $$ stuff.

We just bought a house in Nov so it is more budget than other years. We have 2 Wii's, a game cube, and both kids have a ds already.

On the top of ds's list: PSP, Ipod Touch, and XBox 360. His bday is next week and my mom gave in and got the Xbox 360 so I bought a controller & 5 games for that. I'm not buying a PSP or an Ipod Touch. DD has been begging for a DSI and a dog, not happening this year. In our house, parents have to approve the list before Santa can fulfill and our 2 cats said no to the dog .

 

[pilesoflaundry]

We do a big christmas as long as we can afford to. I bargain shop and I don't mind spending the money but there is a line I draw.

This year my son only wants a ps3 and an ipod touch. I said no to both. He is 12 and knows already I said no to both. I don't like being stuck into buying itunes vs. just mp3s and really I think besides aps you can do all the same things on a good cheaper video mp3 player so I am not spending $300. I am no on the ps3 because we have an xbox and the wii and that is plenty.

He's a little bummed but that's life. I am getting the video games he asked for and of course "lamo" gifts like pjs LOL.

You can't get them everything and there is nothing wrong with saying no. I have never made all the gifts from Santa so they don't associate being good with getting something nice or getting everything they ask for. Santa brings a few cool things but the rest is from everyone else.

 

[jeepgirl30]

If your husband bought the PSP for the kid, why weren't rules gone over on where it could go? If you just say it's daddy's so you can't take it to daycare, he probably doesn't believe it's his, that he has to borrow it from dad to use. Maybe if you go over the rules about the PSP, saying that it wouldn't be allowed out of the house (like the other one), he'd be less inclined to have it.

What are the rules for the other music players and would those stay the same for the new iTouch?

DH and I just talked about the PSP and he agreed to explain to DS again that the PSP is really his to have but we do not want it going to daycare.

The other music players don't have rules other than what type of music is allowed on after I stupidly downloaded a not so appropriate black eyed peas song! I learned my lesson, no need for flames here. It was a mistake, i thought they were more kids than rap. I was when I realized what i downloaded.

 

[msmayor]

I don't work off a list at all. Actually never really have. When our kids were little they decided they didn't need to make a list for Santa even if we asked them. They said "If Santa knows if we've been good or bad, then he already knows what we want".

I kinda like that they never made a list. Throughout the year I clue in to things I know they would want or need and just make my own list. On Christmas morning, they are completely and totally surprised at everything they get, and often remark how amazed they are that I remembered or knew exactly what to get.

Its to the point where they find even making a list wrong. My mother harps on my kids starting in September for their 'list', and they tell me it makes Christmas anti-climactic. My mother ends up asking them so many specifics (to make SURE she gets exactly what they want) that they say they already know what the gift is before its even opened. Matter of fact, they end up knowing weeks ahead what they're getting because of the third-degree.

 

[Samandmom]

I have always told my kids from the begining that you can make a "wish" list for Santa, but you may get some or all of the stuff or none of the stuff on your "wish" list. They have always understood that. But before I sound mean they usually get a good amount of what they are asking for. This is the first year that my son knows the truth about "Santa". But he still made a "wish" list like his sister. He has asked for a XBox and kinnect. He will not be getting those.
As some have mentioned let your son know that Santa does not always bring us what we want. Oh and I do tell my kids that I speak to him and let him know if we want them to get certain items or not.

Good Luck

 

[lillygator]

I try very hard to get what is on their list - usually but this year.....
my 8 year old wants a phone, laptop, camera
and my 5 year old wants a limo....to take her to school everyday!

We eat out for xmas eve dinner and I thought it would be fun to take a limo til I looked at the prices!!!
I did get the camera....I could get the phone really but what in teh world is she going to do with it?