A Santa question

[elphie]

Our financial situation has changed drastically this year as I am now a SAHM. This has not been a real hardship and we prepared for it well. We have discussed with our kids that we had to give some things up now that mommy gets to stay home and explained about priorities on a level they understand. They have both had a birthday since the change happened and were completely fine with scaling back. They also understand that we won't be able to spend as much for Christmas this year- great kids, I know. My problem comes with the list they have going for Santa, we have always sent our letters early so the elves have plenty of time to make the toys but I don't know how to explain to them that Santa needs to cut back as well. Santa didn't quit his job after all. In our house we have always encouraged the kids to keep the list short (2-3 items) but Santa has always come through with everything on the list; we could afford it and our kids don't get new toys except at Christmas and birthdays. But now, we are struggling to find ways to get even the 2-3 items on the list, even with ebay shopping. My kids are 8 and 9, some of their friends don't believe anymore and some still do. Mine do and I'd like to hold onto that for one more year if I can. So, how do I keep the magic of Santa alive and still explain that he might not be bringing as much this year?

[Momto2Boyz]

In our house, Santa has always only brought one gift. We've explained to our kids that he has to make toys for the whole world, so he can only do one toy per child. And we usually try to get their first choice off their list if possible. He does that and stockings and that is it! Maybe just do one gift each from Santa (if possible), then if the question it, explain that Santa had a busy year!

A good stocking stuffer tradition that we've done since we were kids: fresh fruit! We were allowed to open our stockings before Christmas breakfast, then had to wait through an agonizingly painful breakfast to do our presents. Anyhoo, Santa always stuck fresh fruit (apples, oranges & bananas) in our stocking to fill space, and then it was the kids job to collect everyone's fruit and turn it into fruit salad for our Christmas breakfast! I still do it with our kids!

[MomToTwoBoys]

I'd tell them that Santa's having back surgery before Christmas and if he lifts too much with his magic sack, then he may not be able to deliver presents because he'd be out of commission.



I simply tell my kids that because there are other kids in the world who don't get anything, Santa needs to shift his priorities. He'll still bring them the things they want, but if they don't get everything then it's because he's giving gifts to more kids whose parents lost their jobs this year.

[monkeywrangler71]

Show them the front page of today's paper and tell them Santa lost everything in the stock market (j.k. )

[TexasPeanut]

With our son we've always just done the one good gift from Santa as well. Also Santa is responsible for putting a small useful gift in our stockings lol. Our son has always gotten one really decent thing from Santa and quite a few smaller things from Mom and Dad. I would start buying his things in September and just pick up small things here and there at not more cost than a few $ to $5 at a time so in the end it looks like he received a lot but in financial terms he didn't.

For stocking stuffers I've always done the same thing for all three of us and our stocking stuffers are always a Santa gift to each of us and candy from me. We each get one of those candy cane looking things filled with candy, for DH it's reese's peanut butter cups, for me it's peanut m & m's and for DS it's plain m & m's. I usually stick an ink pen or bookmark in mine, a small useful tool for DH (screw driver or something) and a little hot wheel car or something like that for DS. We all always get something we enjoy and something we can use from Santa.

[janis362529]

We do unconvential stockings here. I pick up plastic bins and fill it with name brand fav snacks,cereral,deserts and fresh fruit. My kids love getting Princess cereal, Hostess snacks, and the such.
This year Christmas will be smaller then last year and definitly smaller then the year before. I am thinking about doing th e1 gift from Santa idea. My 8yr old does not believe but hasn't said anything about it(last year she wanted to know why Santa wrote her name the way I do. Yea she's a smart one handwritting anlaysis of Santa. What's nice is even when we take them to the toy store for a special treat with their allowance they spend like 3hrs trying to find something they want. So toys are not big in our house except for the 3 yr old who loves anything girly toys

[zakity]

You know, kids are smart. They hear stuff about the economy. Tell them that Santa is hit hard by the economy too and may not be able to bring as many presents. That the costs of things have gone up and he can't afford to buy as much wood and paint and stuff to make as many presents.

[WV_mom_of2]

Man I miss Santa (and the Easter bunny, the tooth fairy, trick or treating). My kids are 12 and 16 and don't believe anymore.

We always had the one gift from Santa rule too and Santa had to call Mom and have that gift approved before he could bring it LOL!

I would tell the kids that times are really hard all over the country now and alot of families have no money to buy gifts for their kids at all. They are both old enough to understand higher food prices, gas shortages, etc. Tell them that Santa is going to need extra money to feed the elves because food prices have gone up and he's going to need to use their extra toys to help out those needy families. Let them choose one gift they really want and buy that from Santa. They sound like great kids and I think they would totally understand.

[BlessedMomof2]

We have always got our children ONE present from Santa, and several of the stocking stuffers. I wrap all the presents from Santa in Santa paper only.
We have always told our kids that there are so many kids, that Santa only has time to give each child one present, to make things fair. So each year they made sure the item they asked for from Santa was something they really, really wanted. It worked for a few years. Last year they realized Santa is not real. But the tradition will continue.

[nvmommyx6]

The 2 left that still believe are 7 and 9......we sit down and have a Santa discussion board lol!
We ask them what they want, let them know that they need to be realistic and look at getting practical things instead of toys and stuff!
I think you might be able to explain the economy to them in kid terms maybe and let them know that Santa is struggling to but will be tight on it this year, maybe even print a cool little letter out to the parents from Santa and show that to them!!! (jotting that idea down as we type)
Another thing we do when we have the lil discussion board is help them go through their toys and things they don't use anymore or play with or have grown out of, they donate to other kids who need new things and cannot afford it before they get their gifts too (the 7 fold thing)
I get them all 1 practical gift from Santa and we do 1 big "family" gift from him, for everyone to play or do together! I also print them out letters from Santa and those are in their stockings come Christmas morn!!
Let us know what you decide to do!
Mommy

[Bournecrazy]

i would say to yor child if you get them one santa gift, that because of all the children in the world that he can only afford to get each child one presnt, but because he can only give one out that he put all his effort into making it and so-on, so it seems special to your child that way they will be thankful and wont feel like they are missing out on presents.

i dont think i ever made a list to send to santa, we always put a pie and drink under the tree

[Wendy99]

wow tough situation .. not sure I would say the one toy thing .. problem being when they go to school and the other kids say they got this and that and that from Santa .. then you'll have the question why did Santa only bring me one toy , but brought those kids x number of toys ... I would go about it a different way and teach them to 'sacrifice'. Ask them to list 2 things on their list, knowing that Santa will only bring one of those things (they are listing 2 incase you (Santa) can't find the other) and then ask them to write to Santa about giving their "extra" gifts to those more needy. I think that teaches them a bit more about the moral of Christmas.

Edited to clarify, that I do agree with "santa" only giving 1 toy; however using Santa as the reason for 1 toy I do not agree with because I'm afraid other children get more than 1 toy from Santa & then it's difficult for your child to understand why santa gave him/her only 1. What I mean is to have your children write to santa that they only want 1 toy from him and to give the other gifts santa had planned on bringing to a less fortunate child.

[Lady_V]

We have always done the '1 gift from Santa' for a few reasons...

1 -- Why should he get all the credit giving all the 'cool' gifts

2 -- Because she has parents, and by only giving 1, 'Santa can give gifts to her friends that are still in the orphanage'. This has actually made her very happy and since she was 3, she has always asked for one gift and for her friends to be adopted...

3 -- Because we (the grown-ups) never know what we can afford year to year, so 1 is an easy number to fill...

4 -- I remember a year with no presents (first year my parents were separated and Dad was suppose to buy the gifts -- he didn't) and the next year Mom scrimped and saved and filled the living room with gifts... all from Santa. I cried and cried for hours before I finally told her what was wrong... I asked her if she thought I was a bad kid because SHE didn't give me anything. I felt as if she forgot about me... (I was 6).

I know you are looking for advice... you can always tell them that 'they are older now and Santa hopes you understand that there were so many babies born last year that he has to make sure he can get at least one to every child..."

[chris w]

My kids get one present from Santa and the stocking. My dd is 11 and still believes and she writes to Santa and he writes back. The best thing I can think of is for Santa to leave a note saying that "Your Mom gets to stay home with you guys full time now which is AWESOME, so Santa isn't going to bring you everything on your list because as your Mom told me and told you that you have to make sacrifices. Getting everything you want isn't the best part of Christmas, having your Mom there for you always is the best thing." or something like that. Use this as a learning moment and coming from Santa....Wow!

[shortstack]

Could you cut back to just gifts from Santa? That's what we are doing this year. That way we don't have to worry about buying gifts from us as well.
Could you tell relatives when they ask what to buy for your kids a thing or two off of their lists and that would leave less for Santa to bring?

Andrea