Why I would like to throttle the mall Santa

[rentayenta]

DH took the kids to the mall yesterday and Santa was there. Our son asked Santa for a Wii. Santa tells him: it's already in my bag!

The kids are getting a Wii but what if they weren't???? I could throttle that mall Santa. I wonder how many other parents he has set up?

Bad Santa!

Santa must have seen the expression on DH's face because when DD asked for a mouse, he said he'd have to check his list.

 

[npmommie]

LOL, I am sorry but I was laughing reading this! My kids were wondering how santa was in multiple malls at the same time last year!!
I really don't care for the whole mall santa thing, my ds is very leery of him!!! LOL

 

[StephMK]

Wow, I'd be ticked too! Plus even though -lucky for him- you got one, it almost spoils the surprise. Usually my kids never know if their favorite wish items will be under the tree or not.

 

[Stitchfans]

Don't ask me why but I got a good chuckle over the "bad Santa" wonder how many times that has been said by a parent?

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I worked as a Santa's Helper when I was in high school and college (OK, we're talking the 80s!). Our main Santa was wonderful! He would never promise a present to a child. Sometimes if the parent caught his eye and nodded or gave some other signal, Santa would try to play along with it. This was the era when everyone wanted a Cabbage Patch Doll and all of the little girls were asking for them. Santa would always say that his workshop couldn't possibly make enough dolls for everyone and he couldn't promise to bring one. If the parents scored one, the kid would be surprised. If not, Santa did say that not everyone would get one so hopefully the kid wouldn't be too disappointed.

I think you should have throttled that Santa imposter! Or, at least sneak back and have a word with him. Tell him he should never promise any toy to any child. What if he promises something to a kid that the parents can't afford? What if the parents made a deal with the kid that he had to behave or get good grades or do his chores before he could earn a certain toy? What if Santa tells him he can have it anyway? What message does that send to the kid? These dudes in red suits have no idea about the families' circumstances or values. They should never, ever make any promises to the kids. In fact, maybe you should call or write the mall management to let them know that their Santa is a fraud! Afterall, the real Santa would never make a promise he wasn't prepared to keep!

 

[PrincessKell]

We haven't seen a Santa, because dd wont go, she is freaked when she sees them. So we dont have to worry about that.

But we tell her that her list is so long and santa has a lot of kids in the world to see, so she might not get everything on her list.

But yeah.. I would be ticked off too!

 

[CoffeeCup]

I overheard Santa talking to several young children in a department store several weeks ago, and he reminded them to be very good until Christmas. That part was fine, but then he told them they could be "rowdy and bad" from after Christmas until March since his elves didn't come out to watch until the end of March! The parents just stood there and smiled at him. I couldn't even figure out why Santa was in a store before Halloween, much less why the parent's didn't correct his terrible advice to their kids.

 

[TBGOES2DISNEY]

My dds have asked for presents in the past that are either too expensive or I didn't approve of. One time when I told one of them something was too expensive or what not, she replied, "Well, I can just ask Santa, Mommy." Luckily, I was quick on my feet and told her, "Santa won't bring anything that the Mom and Dad say no to." Boy was she disappointed then!

 

[disneymarie]

I feel silly and happy enough to say, what if it was Santa and KNEW already....
NOT, but what a warm thought if Yes Virginia there is a Sanata Clause!
I hope that the Santa got a clue over this and still has a job!
dianne

 

[Nicolepa]

The rule in our house is that Santa has a lot of kids to buy for so they can each pick one thing to ask Santa for and it can't be the "wow" gift as Santa can't afford to do that for everyone. That has to come from Mommy & Daddy.

Anyway two years ago my kids go see Santa, they were 3 & 5. They both wanted pound puppies. So they tell Santa what they want. Santa then asks if they want anything else. They say no Thank you. Santa started listing out things for my 5 yo DD, don't you want some Polly Pockets? A Barbie? Etc. Then he says "What about an American Girl Doll?" Fortunatly DD doesn't like dolls and she didn't even know about AG back then, but seriously, what Santa would suggest a gift that costs $100+, especially when they started out asking for a $15 dog? I was beyond mad!

 

[Rustysmom]

My DD is scared to death of Santa and cries when she sees one in the mall, so I don't have to worry about it.

 

[rentayenta]

LOL, I am sorry but I was laughing reading this! My kids were wondering how santa was in multiple malls at the same time last year!!
I really don't care for the whole mall santa thing, my ds is very leery of him!!! LOL

Yeah, it's not something we usually do either but they were there and he was there and it all just happened. My oldest knows that the mall Santa isn't the real Santa.

Wow, I'd be ticked too! Plus even though -lucky for him- you got one, it almost spoils the surprise. Usually my kids never know if their favorite wish items will be under the tree or not.

Exactly! If Santa said it, it must be true. My DS keeps saying he's getting a Wii.

Don't ask me why but I got a good chuckle over the "bad Santa" wonder how many times that has been said by a parent?

I am sure a ton from this gentleman.

 

[rentayenta]

I worked as a Santa's Helper when I was in high school and college (OK, we're talking the 80s!). Our main Santa was wonderful! He would never promise a present to a child. Sometimes if the parent caught his eye and nodded or gave some other signal, Santa would try to play along with it. This was the era when everyone wanted a Cabbage Patch Doll and all of the little girls were asking for them. Santa would always say that his workshop couldn't possibly make enough dolls for everyone and he couldn't promise to bring one. If the parents scored one, the kid would be surprised. If not, Santa did say that not everyone would get one so hopefully the kid wouldn't be too disappointed.

Now that's a good Santa. Maybe our mall is on a budget and hiring discount Santas.

I think you should have throttled that Santa imposter! Or, at least sneak back and have a word with him. Tell him he should never promise any toy to any child. What if he promises something to a kid that the parents can't afford? What if the parents made a deal with the kid that he had to behave or get good grades or do his chores before he could earn a certain toy? What if Santa tells him he can have it anyway? What message does that send to the kid? These dudes in red suits have no idea about the families' circumstances or values. They should never, ever make any promises to the kids. In fact, maybe you should call or write the mall management to let them know that their Santa is a fraud! Afterall, the real Santa would never make a promise he wasn't prepared to keep!

I was thinking about calling the mall on Monday for no other reason than to let them know for other parents. I don't want anyone to lose their job, especially just before the holidays but, this Santa needs a little Santa 101.

We haven't seen a Santa, because dd wont go, she is freaked when she sees them. So we dont have to worry about that.

But we tell her that her list is so long and santa has a lot of kids in the world to see, so she might not get everything on her list.

But yeah.. I would be ticked off too!

I can't count the number of Santas that they have seen and never has this happened.

I overheard Santa talking to several young children in a department store several weeks ago, and he reminded them to be very good until Christmas. That part was fine, but then he told them they could be "rowdy and bad" from after Christmas until March since his elves didn't come out to watch until the end of March! The parents just stood there and smiled at him. I couldn't even figure out why Santa was in a store before Halloween, much less why the parent's didn't correct his terrible advice to their kids.

Oh man, a free for all until March? That Santa needs to be stopped.

 

[rentayenta]

My dds have asked for presents in the past that are either too expensive or I didn't approve of. One time when I told one of them something was too expensive or what not, she replied, "Well, I can just ask Santa, Mommy." Luckily, I was quick on my feet and told her, "Santa won't bring anything that the Mom and Dad say no to." Boy was she disappointed then!

That's a good thing to say. My oldest DD asked for a new cell phone and we told her no. She said the same thing, she'll just ask Santa. I told her that Santa knows we cannot upgrade her plan until late 2--8 and that he would never approve something that we said no to.

I feel silly and happy enough to say, what if it was Santa and KNEW already....
NOT, but what a warm thought if Yes Virginia there is a Sanata Clause!
I hope that the Santa got a clue over this and still has a job!
dianne

The rule in our house is that Santa has a lot of kids to buy for so they can each pick one thing to ask Santa for and it can't be the "wow" gift as Santa can't afford to do that for everyone. That has to come from Mommy & Daddy.

I wish we would have started like that. We are actually trying to phase out Santa. This will be our 2nd year celebrating Hanukkah and although we do not buy the kids gifts for Christmas he still brings them a treat because a) Santa is non-denominational and b) I was/am too scared/sad to break the news about me and DH being Santa.

Anyway two years ago my kids go see Santa, they were 3 & 5. They both wanted pound puppies. So they tell Santa what they want. Santa then asks if they want anything else. They say no Thank you. Santa started listing out things for my 5 yo DD, don't you want some Polly Pockets? A Barbie? Etc. Then he says "What about an American Girl Doll?" Fortunatly DD doesn't like dolls and she didn't even know about AG back then, but seriously, what Santa would suggest a gift that costs $100+, especially when they started out asking for a $15 dog? I was beyond mad!

Santa must have been getting some sort of a kick back. Idiot stick Santa. I would have been livid!

My DD is scared to death of Santa and cries when she sees one in the mall, so I don't have to worry about it.

Smart girl.

 

[DawnM]

I will admit, we never did the Santa thing in our house. Oldest DS figured out as soon as he could understand Santa that it couldn't possibly be real and so we haven't ever really played the fantasy with our younger kids.

Santas in the mall scare me.....I mean, how many qualifications really do you need to be a Santa in the mall???

Dawn

I wish we would have started like that. We are actually trying to phase out Santa. This will be our 2nd year celebrating Hanukkah and although we do not buy the kids gifts for Christmas he still brings them a treat because a) Santa is non-denominational and b) I was/am too scared/sad to break the news about me and DH being Santa.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Do you guys not remember the Brady Bunch where little Cindy ask Santa to give mommy her voice back and he does!

In reality I would have spoken to the mall manager. How sad for a child to be promised a gift that he will not receive on Christmas.

We took DB to the mall last year for a 1st Santa picture (he was about a month old). DS promptly threw up all over him and santa had to make all the other children wait (he was 1/2 late getting there and we were 1st in line) while he went back to the North Pole to change his suit. I think we might avoid Santa this year!!!!!!

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

We don't do the mall santa's, as Santa lives down the street from my Grandma and Grandpa. He has been playing the town santa for the past few years (small town - under 5,000 people) and he even comes to Grammy and Papa's house on Christmas morning to suprise the kids. The only problem: his wife died a couple years ago and now he seems to be taking the Santa thing a little to seriously. My grandpa was going to loan him his old Santa suit, but "Santa" decided that it was not "jolly" enough. It always seemed plenty jolly when I was growing up....and I know it hurt my grandpa's feelings. And now, "Santa" insists that we have to be at the Grandparents house before 8 am to see him. Yeah right! I love him to death, but I am not going to wake my girls up at 5 in the morning to open under the tree gifts, get into their Christmas dresses, and over to Grammy's house to have them groggy and miserable all day! The good thing about our Santa: He wouldn't even know what a Wii was.

 

[momxx5]

You can add Mary Poppins to the list.....

In Epcot this summer we run into MP, she tells DD to go to MK and ask Ariel if she can borrow her hummerdinger

We had been to MK already that week, so off we go on our last day, wait 55 minutes to see Ariel. Simply could not appoint DD.

 

[disneygal2007]

I overheard Santa talking to several young children in a department store several weeks ago, and he reminded them to be very good until Christmas. That part was fine, but then he told them they could be "rowdy and bad" from after Christmas until March since his elves didn't come out to watch until the end of March! The parents just stood there and smiled at him. I couldn't even figure out why Santa was in a store before Halloween, much less why the parent's didn't correct his terrible advice to their kids.

sounds like santa had a little to much special eggnog if u ask me

 

[debbiet1]

If I were you I would make a call to the mall manager and mention what Santa is doing telling kids that they are going to get gifts that some parents just cant afford. Like you said luckily you have one that you're giving the kids but what about the other parents that just cant afford to give it to their kids. Its not fair to them.