Attn parents - Christmas

2

Replies

  • JennetteMac
    JennetteMac Posts: 763 Member
    my 15yo and 17yo sons will be after xbox games I am certain, they will also get a couple of books, a basketball hoop (entirely necessary for the youngest who plays a lot in teams), chocolate, sweeties, and a toothbrush each (family tradition).
    They will be spending their first multi location Christmas as my husband and I split up earlier this year. Some liaising required methinks.
    My 22yo daughter has moved to her own house, a total wreck, so needs lots of cash, building and decorating supplies, and plenty of help and and encouragement. Oh, and some cookware, as she loves to bake!

    Merry Christmas to you all hahahaha!
    :drinker:
  • Flab2fitfi
    Flab2fitfi Posts: 1,349 Member
    I have kids with Autism so the whole surprise thing causes more upset than its worth so they are each getting £100 each ( except the eldest has asked us to pre-order him a game with some of his) and Santa will bring a few small gifts.

    They like to be able to get what they want - no tantrum or upsets on the day ( even the right toy, wrong colour will cause a meltdown) but if they see something they like in a sale before xmas they can get it but not have it till xmas day.
  • nikic50
    nikic50 Posts: 209
    My "littlest" is 16 and hasn't provided a wish list yet, but I am assuming clothes and computer/videogame/DVD items will be most of it. We set our budget and then usually buy right off the list. The 18-year-old most likely will want cold, hard cash, so we'll try to find some creative way to give her that.

    My parents have given us some cash (presents too, but never overboard) every year since I've been in High School (20 years ago) & each year it is given to us differently. They are very creative...one they took branches off the trees outside & twist-tied money to the branches & called it our "Money Tree"....since my dad's favorite saying is, "whadya think, money grows on trees?!?"
  • Retiredmom72
    Retiredmom72 Posts: 538 Member
    My girls aren't little anymore, but the same rule applies. The Baby Jesus received 3 gifts and they will get 3 gifts. Chose wisely. They always get gifts from others in the family. But this has kept the wishlist from going overboard.
  • spiralated
    spiralated Posts: 150 Member
    My girls aren't little anymore, but the same rule applies. The Baby Jesus received 3 gifts and they will get 3 gifts. Chose wisely. They always get gifts from others in the family. But this has kept the wishlist from going overboard.

    That's an awesome idea!
  • diadojikohei
    diadojikohei Posts: 732 Member
    20 year old wants a double bed!
    18 year old wants ANOTHER Guitar!
    13 year old wants a new computer!
    11 year old has no idea!
  • KBrenOH
    KBrenOH Posts: 704 Member
    My girls aren't little anymore, but the same rule applies. The Baby Jesus received 3 gifts and they will get 3 gifts. Chose wisely. They always get gifts from others in the family. But this has kept the wishlist from going overboard.

    I like the idea even though I'm not religious. Great concept to make it manageable!
  • dcurzon
    dcurzon Posts: 653 Member
    My girls aren't little anymore, but the same rule applies. The Baby Jesus received 3 gifts and they will get 3 gifts. Chose wisely. They always get gifts from others in the family. But this has kept the wishlist from going overboard.

    like!

    our 3yr old gets spoilt. I try to reign in the spending, she goes overboard and has to get him this and get him that and this and that, oh and some of these as well, and you cant get that without getting this etc etc etc.
  • kelsey054
    kelsey054 Posts: 110 Member
    This is my daughters first christmas (she'll be about 9 month;) I'm not getting her clothes because so many people have bought her clothes that go all the way up to 5T. My list so far.

    - Stacking cups, drop cups and shape blocks with bucket (It's all in one)
    - Phone (the one you pull with the string)
    - A play cell phone
    - A ball that promotes crawling

    That is all I have so far, but I also plan to get her:

    - A convertible car seat (her big gift)
    - Push n' ride seat
    - A light up thing for her crib
    - Then maybe a few little things here and there if they are on sale.


    I'm a major couponer/bargain shopper. I'm pretty proud of myself to say the things I've already gotten her, I've only spent $3.71 of my own money; everything else was from promotional gift cards and coupons.


    Sorry I had to add, that my daughter doesn't have hardly any toys (she don't pay attention right now, so why waste the money;) Therefore that's why I'm going kind of over-board.
  • pawnstarNate
    pawnstarNate Posts: 1,728 Member
    cabelas-tan-camo-rideon-atv.jpg

    Cabela's camo ride on atv....$50 at cabela's
  • PBsMommy
    PBsMommy Posts: 1,166 Member
    My lil one is 7 months and it is her first xmas!
    A couple of things we will be getting her to open:
    Ballapalooza - look it up! I think I may even play with it.
    Bath tub toys - She would live in there if we let her
    Some age appropriate books
    One of them sit and stand pushy things
    Trucks - They child loves pushing trucks... and banging them on random objects.
    Some clothes

    Of course the other day I realized all we really had to get her was a couple of wipe boxes and clothes baskets and she would be in heaven.
  • Has he got a sandtray?

    My little girl is 2. She is getting a tv and blu ray player, fancy dress things, new dolls house and goodness knows what else. loads lol
  • PBsMommy
    PBsMommy Posts: 1,166 Member
    A lump of coal...

    HAHAHA:laugh:

    I am throwing that one at my husband, AKA the old lil one! :laugh:
  • tuffytuffy1
    tuffytuffy1 Posts: 920 Member
    I have a 7 year old boy who will turn 8 a week before Christmas. It is HARD coming up with ideas for both days! But he is a sports freak, baseball in particular. What we did last year was gave him the BaseballSavings.com catalogue and let him choose what he wanted -- a jersey (Texas Rangers), helmet, bat, things like that. His grandparents are getting him two weeks of Phillies Baseball Camp for next summer, an iPod and a reader (maybe Kindle Fire).
  • guardian419
    guardian419 Posts: 391 Member
    metal tonka truck! one of my favorites when I was little
  • helyg
    helyg Posts: 675 Member
    Mine aren't having big presents this year as we are going to Center Parcs as a new year treat.

    I have 2 boys aged 10 and 8 and a girl aged 6. They boys will be getting books, a board game, a DS or Wii game, some Lego. Daughter needs new jodphurs and riding boots, plus will get books and little crafty things.

    I am having a Spa session and treatments while we are at Center Parcs (family are chipping in to pay for them). Bliss!
  • Val_from_OH
    Val_from_OH Posts: 447 Member
    For those with kids that love superhero things.. last year I made my younger son a superhero dress up kit. I hit Target and other stores starting the day after Halloween when everything was marked down to half price, and bought several costumes. He and my older son still play with the costumes all the time.

    GREAT idea. My son (7) and daughter (4) would have a field day with that.

    We have a small home, and have really focused on getting each kid one or two "big" toys, and not 8000 little ones. My daughter this year will get her first bike. For my son... we haven't really decided yet. We got him a Leapster last year, which he loves, so I am not too anxious to replace that yet. I might get him one of those nice Playmobile sets - like the Zoo or Construction site.
  • guardian419
    guardian419 Posts: 391 Member
    My 10 year old is getting legos and probably a computer game, along with a ton of new clothes.

    My 2 year old... probably the Cabela's atv someone earlier linked (THANK YOU!!!) and idk what else, probably more board-books, try to find a more advanced little einstein's toy (he already knows colors, numbers, letters, animals... everything we can teach him he tries to learn), hotwheels, and clothes as well.
  • DonM46
    DonM46 Posts: 771 Member
    Son is grown, age 28. Last year, we gave him and his girlfriend each a money card with ten $100 bills.
    They were pleased.
    Probably do a repeat this year.
  • gingerjen7
    gingerjen7 Posts: 821 Member
    Books! No Christmas (or Birthday for that matter) can go by without my son and nieces and nephews getting new books. Reading is so important and it needs to be encouraged, so the first stop for present shopping is always Barnes & Noble or some other book store (I prefer the local ones, but for myself mostly--they don't seem to have a lot of kid friendly books).

    This year I am getting my son and iPad. He uses one at school and it's been very motivating for him and is really helping his development, so I know he'd love to have on at home. He's also got some Blue's Clues and Veggie Tales movies already stashed in the closet from when I got my taxes. I am also going to upgrade some of the movies he loves but has warn out to BluRay (Wall-E, UP) and there are some others (Cinderella, Madagascar 3) that I would like to get him, but I don't want all his gifts to be movies! Of course, the last thing he needs is more toys. He just throws them around and wrecks them! :laugh: Such a boy...
  • magj0y
    magj0y Posts: 1,911 Member
    So far, I have gotten his traditional pj's to open Christmas Eve.

    Good to know I'm not the only one who does traditional jammies!
  • laydeneko
    laydeneko Posts: 54 Member
    I'm not a parent, but I have 5 (12-3) nieces & 1 (4mo) nephew. The oldest niece I buy books for, the 10y I usually buy craft stuff, 5y LOVES ponies so I got a stuffed one, 4y I have no idea, 3y is getting a pony like her sister, and I'll probably be getting the baby a book as well.

    For the most part I do the same for birthdays, except this year I giving the 5y my old Nikon. She has won some awards at the local fair for the pictures she took on my mom's camera, and she has been asking me to buy her a camera. I might end up giving the oldest my Nook when I upgrade that as well.
  • rhvandan
    rhvandan Posts: 185
    My 8 year old has been asking for an ipad/tablet.. but she has issues with responsibility (which is normal for her age, I know) so right now we're testing her with my old phone that we've set up as a mini wi-fi device. She has games and email on it so she can have fun, and we can see how well she does with not losing it and not destroying it (she has a tendency to leave things in the sun, in the bathroom, etc... you know kids!). If she does well, we MAY get her an off brand one. I know my mom is getting her a kindle.. Grandma's love to spoil!

    We have 2 year old twin girls too.. luckily they just like simple things. Puzzles and wodden train sets seem to be their BIG thing. They LOVE trains and airplanes. We'll probably get them jammies (yes, I do the christmas jammies as well), some books and puzzles, and maybe bath toys or their own "big kid cups". They keep stealing my hubby and my cups.

    Since we stopped our traditional tv service (F you time warner cable! lol) and only have netflix now our daughter has been asking for less "things". It's been GREAT. No commercials.. well, mostly none. Not sure if that was what made the difference, but it's sure been nice!

    My hubby is asking for a "cut" like those worn on sons of anarchy... anyone know where to find them? I'm a minivan mom.. no clue where to find a jean or leather one...
  • paulaviki
    paulaviki Posts: 678 Member
    Oldest Boy (15) - Playstation, games, MP3 Player, Tickets
    Oldest Girl(14) - Tablet, TV, DVD player
    Second Boy - (11) Remote Control cars, TV, DVD Player
    Second Girl (11) - Camera, TV, DVD Player
    Third Girl (10) - Camera, TV, DVD Player
    Youngest Girl (8) - Video camera, TV, DVD Player

    They will also get a grip of clothes, and their grandparents buy them about 3 gifts each, from each grandparent, my kids make out for christmas. They will also get games for the family to play together, that's always a tuff one, finding something that appeals to all of us....

    I sure miss when my kids were little and less expensive, we have to save all year for christmas.

    Wow that they have very generous parents! No wonder you have to save all year! Do you fancy adopting a 30 year old? I'd like a tablet, tv and DVD player!! :laugh:
  • OkieinMinny
    OkieinMinny Posts: 834 Member
    coal...
  • MrsNina1972
    MrsNina1972 Posts: 105 Member
    22 year old son: money
    20 year old son: money
    13 year old son: bike, Kinnect (already has the Xbox 360), video games, clothes and shoes, remote control car or truck, and he loves action figures and trading cards (all this depends on report card)
  • MassiveDelta
    MassiveDelta Posts: 3,271 Member
    For those with kids that love superhero things.. last year I made my younger son a superhero dress up kit. I hit Target and other stores starting the day after Halloween when everything was marked down to half price, and bought several costumes. He and my older son still play with the costumes all the time.

    Brilliance
  • mom2handh1975
    mom2handh1975 Posts: 224 Member
    Nothing says Merry Xmas like cash.

    Love this! We spend a TON on our kids for Christmas. I can't imagine the reaction if we gave them cash instead. They would die!!!
  • tyrantduck
    tyrantduck Posts: 387 Member
    so far, my daughter is getting a purple Furby, a plush Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and a Moxie Girls walking horse/doll set. still planning on getting her a new tricycle for spring because she outgrew her old one, complete with matching helmet/pads, possibly a play tea set and dress up clothes for tea parties, and maybe a new game or two for her Leapster Explorer. She's 4... we had a huge blowout christmas last year and she got not only her leapster explorer, but her own laptop to play games on PBS kids and Nick Jr. She also uses it to watch movies and cartoons when she's bored. This year we're definitely cutting back but she's still getting mostly what she wants. My husband wanted her to have one completely insane memorable christmas in her life, just like I had when I was 3 years old. I still haven't forgotten it.
  • Kerri_is_so_very
    Kerri_is_so_very Posts: 999 Member
    Last year was a bit crazy....this year will be much less, but we are looking at putting in a new pool in the spring. We are pretty active and do all things outdoors. They tend to do better with the "less is more approach"

    Just Dance 4 is on the top of my list (No idea what I'm getting my girls...ha!!!)
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