Yes Michael, there is a Santa Claus...but...

[Lucky4me]

At what age does a person have to be before Santa doesn't consider them a child any more?

By that I mean at some point should they stop getting the same amount of gifts they have received every year throughout childhood?

My 21 year old son and I had 'the' talk the other day. I tried to explain about the spirit of Santa and all that, but he wouldn't buy it. ;;;;;; He wants his loot.

I mean I just can't see myself- oops I mean Santa buying him $200-$300 of merchandise untill he's 60, know what I mean?

Gosh, when I turned 16 Santa started getting stingy. By the time I was 18 it was a sweater and a box of chocolates under the tree and that was it. It didn't bother me in the least because I was becoming a grown up. It was expected in our house. With 6 kids, my parents had to cut back or they would have gone broke.

So, what do you-oops- I mean does your Santa- do?

Thanks!!

 

[Pam]

I would have "Santa" buy your son a sweater and a box of candy and stick it under the tree.
Pam

 

[Lucky4me]

I'm tempted Pam. The strange thing is, my friends and I were talking about this and they think I'm being a Scrooge if I cut back just because they are older.

I thought I might get some other view points. I appreciate your pity reply.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Just tell him Santa is matching him $ for $ this year... .

 

[piratesmate]

Our Santa learned that during the Depression years, when he brought/spent more on the younger children in large families, that some people didn't think it was fair - esp the older members of the families.

So by the time we came along, he was sooooo careful with gifts that we each got the same number of gifts & he spent the same $$ on each (within $0.50 - I'm not kidding! ) If one got a large gift, everyone got a similar sized item. (Yes, it was NUTS!)

Over the years, Santa continued to bring about the same amount of stuff - until my parents retired & their income was limited. I think he gave them the difference in $$.

However, I should point out that Santa never spent $200 - $300 on ANY of us.

Deb

BTW - I expect Santa will do the same thing this year as last & bring the same amount of stuff for both of my kids - one is 11 & the other is almost 22.

 

[Pam]

Now, Lucky - it wasn't a "pity post"!!

Seriously, does he spend the $$$$ on you? In my eyes, he's an adult. When I was 21, I had just gotten married 15 days before Christmas, my older 2 brothers were also married and one had an 8 month old son. My parents got us all small gifts - and we didn't even expect that.

Tell him your stock portfoli took a big hit and you have to cut back! I have 2 teenagers and I am slowly trying to wean them off the excessive spending of the holidays.

Pam

 

[Snow White]

We've been discussing that too at our house , we have 4 boys that are 19,18,16 and 15 yrs old, we're thinking it might be time to cut back on the lavish holidays and make it a little smaller and more affordable! lol!

 

[nativetxn]

We only have one child, he is 27. He gets loot when it isn't Christmas My husband is such a pushover.

As he got older his loot seemed to get more expensive. Like special drills to use as a scenic designer or books that deal with that subject. But we just have the one so we can do this.

 

[RNMOM]

I would like to ask how you find new things to get them with each gift giving occasion? I am running out of ideas. That said, our boys don't have TV's, VCRs or game systems in their bedrooms. We have 3 TV's, living room, family room and our bedroom so they get some privacy. Game system is in family room and they don't hardly touch it anymore. The games they like are all on the computer, which is in the corner of the living room. DS#1 has old computer in his room without internet service.

They both have lots of CD's and portable players and sound systems in their rooms.

This year we will be at WDW. I was planning to give them a gift bag on xmas with a gift certificate to Virgin Megastores for them to buy what they want, an hour each of water sprites on xmas eve and a couple rolls of quarters to use for arcade games or penny presses, etc. Some gum and candy and an ornament. Not much but considering the cost of the trip...

I feel that is about right when it comes to the holidays. They don't usually buy us anything. DH and I get small things for each other too.

 

[Lucky4me]

Well, he is a good kid, I'll give him that. He's gone from being a very troubled teenager to being well on his way to productive adulthood. I suppose I can give him one last major haul this year....but next year, next year I have to cut back!

 

[Lucky4me]

RNmom, I buy them clothes, CDs, gift certificates, and cash. $200 isn't enough for any really big ticket items. I also fill their stockings with necessities and fun things. I also give them a Christmas ornament. I try and find something that represents what's been going on their lives each year. Sometimes it's a stretch, but they look forward to them. I'm hoping they hang them on their own trees one day.

They've always given their Dad and I gifts. Mike loves Christmas the most. He likes to shop when we adopt a family for the Holidays, and he gives me gifts I like. I don't know if I could handle only giving him one gift this year. He wouldn't say anything and he'd appear fine with it, but I would know different.

Sometimes I think God gave me children soley to give me guilt.

 

[ASFCurly]

My Mom hasn't cut back on any of us but what her mother did was cut back when she had kids, she still gets plenty, but not as much as before we came along, that was how my grandmother decided when, I mean, Santa still gives my Mom and her brother and sister stocking gifts.