Santa gift dilemma - how to handle

[lecach]

We are spending Christmas with my Mom's family 4 hours from our house. My husband is driving down today. After Christmas, DS will stay with the Grandparents the week after Christmas since school is closed. He wont come home til January 2.

So about 2 weeks ago DS started saying that he most wanted from Santa a train set. We were done with our shopping but we found a Lionel Polar Express set at Ollies for $45. So we got it. It's a really big box and we planned to leave it at our house and have DS find it when he gets home - tell him that Santa left it there (along with the basketball goal that he is also getting).

But since he said that's what he most wanted, I am worried he'll be disappointed in the morning. I thought about bringing just the engine but DH is worried that he'll be anxious to get home. We COULD bring the whole set but we cant set it up here.

Any advice? Stick to the original plan?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If you cannot set up the train at G'parents stick to the orginal plan.

 

[C.Ann]

If you cannot set up the train at G'parents stick to the orginal plan.

Agreed.. He knows there will be other gifts waiting at home, right? If so, I wouldn't worry about him being disappointed..

Safe trip and a very Merry Christmas to you and yours..

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I like the original plan! Think of how excited he will be to find it a week later!

Sure he might be disappointed for a few minutes on Christmas day, I have always told my kids that what they ask Santa for is just a request, not a guarantee. Santa could run out or there may be other kids that wanted it more and he only has so many.

If he is disappointed, I can guarantee it is only going to last a few minutes. He will have other cool toys to distract him!

 

[Tasha+Scott]

I would stick to the original plan. Just make sure he knows that Santa might still leave his gifts at his house and they will be waiting for him when he gets back.

 

[Tree]

How about wrapping a box with a picture of it?

 

[Magic Mom]

I say stick to the original plan too. If he mentions the train on Christmas morning, just tell him maybe he asked too late, and next year we'll have to remember to ask really early and then change the subject. But really with everything else he has to open, my bet is that he won't be upset at all. Then when you get home it will be Christmas all over again. Santa could even leave a note for him explaining why he left it at the house.

 

[Disfan1]

When DS was little, we made last-minute travel plans to relatives 8 hours away. We bought some smaller items for Santa to put under the tree at Grandma's Christmas Day and Santa wrote a note saying that he had already dropped off the best presents at our house before the head elf told him DS was actually at Grandma's house that year. Worked like a charm!

 

[cristit14]

I would stick to the plan. When I was a kid we went to my Grandma's one year for Christmas. We had a couple of smaller Santa gifts there, but I am pretty sure that there was a note telling us that he left most of our stuff at our house. I still remember that Christmas as one of the best. It was great having the surprise twice.